The Houses We Live In

[Yugen]

The Houses We Live In

It is wonderful reading all your posts - the equanimity and sense of place without attachment is lovely to see. You all inspire me.

I have begun to sleep outside on a semi regular basis. There is a wooden deck on the back of our house and it serves as a perfect tent platform. One night every couple of weeks I set up and sleep outside, listening to the wind. A few nights this winter the temperatures went below zero. I did sleep outside in my winter down bag.... I built a snow windbreak around the tent with my Avalanche shovel and once in the bag was quite cozy. It's the transitions (in/out) that suck.... I will be doing lots of kayaking and camping with my youngest son this summer so really plan on sleeping outside a lot. A home whose roof is framed by he canopy of trees.

I've been reading a lot about spiritual wanderers and the present crop of free climbers who live/d in caves or traveled from farm to farm or renovated VW campers (Bassho, the Desert Fathers, Nanao Sakaki, Alex Hommold) - these are usually considered pursuits for young people and I am 55 years old. Limitations are self imposed and it is somewhat joyful to sleep diagonally in the back of my Subaru or in a bivvy sack on an island. The coffee tastes better and every sunrise is different. Life becomes very basic and we enter the rhythms of nature. I'm thinking John Muir too. The possessions of a home become limited to what you can carry on a small pack or even better in a pocket. A favorite stone, a small book, a dog biscuit for my traveling partner. A Twix bar to serve as emergency motivation for my son when we have to make a last push to get over Tumbledown and back to our campsite before sunset.

Deep bows
Yugen

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[RichardH]

We live three generations in a midtown house that has been in the family for almost 50 years. The mortgage was long paid off, ownership responsibilities, taxes and costs are shared. It is something like a coop. This way of life is very rich and involves mutual care in many ways. The stresses are surprisingly small and the relationships intimate. It requires shared values. The nature of my work means I can live anywhere, and I would prefer to live outside the city, but commitments have been made, and responsibilities too deep. Perhaps in the future. I have a separate studio for work above an old movie theater for the past 15 years. It is small, as the original landlord said.... " barely big enough to swing a cat in",.. but well organized. The building has just been sold and will be torn down to make way for a condo development in a year or so. A new studio must be found. My personal effects are few. I don't buy for myself much (not being humble here). Spending money on art supplies or on things for our child is easily justified, but I am uncomfortable with shopping for myself. T shirts , pullovers, some jeans and such. I used to have a lot of Dharma books, a big bookshelf full, including a lot of monastery published books on Theravada Buddhism, as well as popular Buddhist writings, but most of these have been donated locally. The books are starting to accumulate again now. I have a laptop, an ipod now (which is actually pretty useful, joking aside), a camera... But mostly I have intimate relationships. The "possession" I value most is a professional reputation, earned slowly over the years, for being an artist who is devoted to the craft. ..But this is ephemeral.

That's about it.



Gassho
Daizan

sat today

[Yugen]

Daizan,
Deep bows. Beautifully said.

Yugen


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[Mp]

Daizan,
Deep bows. Beautifully said.

Yugen


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I also agree beautiful put Daizan. =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Ansan]

Hi Ansan,

Your way of life sounds wonderful. Do you think its for everyone?

Gassho, Jishin, _/st\_

Thank you for sharing, Ansan. I've been so inspired by people sharing here. Lately I have not been so content with my home. No matter how much I clean and purge through kids' things, it always seems dirty and cluttered. The rugs, baseboards and cupboards are falling apart and need to go. However, I've learned a lot, from Shitou, and from many of you, to be content. Thank you all.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

I sympathize with your frustrations, Joyo. When you find a home, house, location, or any mansion that doesn't need constant cleaning or repair, please let me know! I have been trying to train my dogs to put away their toys. Hah! Doesn't work. Or the cat to clean her own litter box. Doesn't happen. It is just life. Clean, dust, eat, sleep, sit, clean...the tape keep on running. Just life and isn't it wonderful??

Hello Jishin. Nope. Many of our friends and family have expressed their opinion: "I couldn't live out here in the desert!! It is too quiet!" or "Oooh, look at the stars...I want to live out here!" or "When I retire, this is exactly what I want to do." or "No running water, GAK!" or "Aren't you afraid of the snakes?" Everyone makes their own choices and that is just the way it should be. Sometimes, I feel as though we made a mistake by moving out here; most of the time, I am thrilled we did.

Gassho,
Ansan

SatToday

[Ansan]

Yes, Zen Practice is living in this house ...



We also find that we are ourselves just this House, and the House is who we are all along. House and householders, not separate, not two.

Gassho, J

SatToday

Gassho
Ansan

SatToday