a Personal Note: Traveling Through Life

Traveling Through Life

As individuals travel through life they have the opportunity, if they are observant and mindful of their environment, to see, hear and experience the many varied aspects of life.  It is interesting how many seemingly trivial events, when observed closely and considered carefully, can be eye opening and, occasionally even life changing.  However, the individual must be open and flexible in their approach to living in order to gain full exposure to life’s depth and subtlety.

While moving through life as an independent, self-reliant person, one can regard events from a unique perspective.  Unencumbered by consideration for others, observations and consideration can be more focused.  One can do what they want for as long as they want.  One can participate in life at one’s own pace.  One can decide their level of involvement in any particular aspect of life.  One can make decisions based upon how they view life’s events.  One must always be aware of and kind to all others but realize that their only control is over themselves.  One cannot control how events impact others.

When individuals travel through life with a partner benefit is gained in sharing of perspectives of the varied events in life.  However, the noise of the other may obscure some aspects life offers and the depth of individual understanding might be lessened.  Loving couples will see and experience the aspects of life colored by the prism of their love and will miss the depth of many of life’s aspects because of their focus on their love.  In addition, their opinions and actions will be colored by the effect of the values of their partner, which seems unavoidable.

Individuals encased in groups, but are independent and self-reliant, may rise above the noise of the group to observe the aspects of life.  Often, members of a group appear unhappy because they do not have the inner strength to spiritually break away from the will of the group.

Unhappy partners often appear sad and detached.  While they are physically together, they appear to be spiritually in different places.

a Personal Note: Traveling Through Life

Traveling Through Life

As individuals travel through life they have the opportunity, if they are observant and mindful of their environment, to see, hear and experience the many varied aspects of life.  It is interesting how many seemingly trivial events, when observed closely and considered carefully, can be eye opening and, occasionally even life changing.  However, the individual must be open and flexible in their approach to living in order to gain full exposure to life’s depth and subtlety.

While moving through life as an independent, self-reliant person, one can regard events from a unique perspective.  Unencumbered by consideration for others, observations and consideration can be more focused.  One can do what they want for as long as they want.  One can participate in life at one’s own pace.  One can decide their level of involvement in any particular aspect of life.  One can make decisions based upon how they view life’s events.  One must always be aware of and kind to all others but realize that their only control is over themselves.  One cannot control how events impact others.

When individuals travel through life with a partner benefit is gained in sharing of perspectives of the varied events in life.  However, the noise of the other may obscure some aspects life offers and the depth of individual understanding might be lessened.  Loving couples will see and experience the aspects of life colored by the prism of their love and will miss the depth of many of life’s aspects because of their focus on their love.  In addition, their opinions and actions will be colored by the effect of the values of their partner, which seems unavoidable.

Individuals encased in groups, but are independent and self-reliant, may rise above the noise of the group to observe the aspects of life.  Often, members of a group appear unhappy because they do not have the inner strength to spiritually break away from the will of the group.

Unhappy partners often appear sad and detached.  While they are physically together, they appear to be spiritually in different places.

a Personal Note: a Changing of Seasons

The Changing of Seasons.

During the middle of each year I decide to rise from the comfort of my bed when the sun climbs over the shoulder of Hualalai Mountain and lights the branches of the Lychee Tree outside my bedroom window.  As the cool season comes and the sunrise drifts to the south, the early morning sun is blocked from the Lychee Tree by a giant Podocarpus Tree and a large stand of Blue Bamboo.  I lounge in my warm bed a bit longer, knowing that when there is no sun to beckon me that the morning air is cooler.  I cherish the extended lounging but eventually rise to greet the clear blue sky.  The day is wasting away.

After preparing breakfast for Pua and myself, I go to the front stoop and sit overlooking the orchard.  I place Pua’s bowl on the ground below me and whistle for her to join me.   We have our meal while enjoying the gentle breeze coming off the mountain and the myriad bird songs.  There are few other noises.  Pua eats quickly.  She is anxious for her morning walk.   She stares at me as I finish my breakfast, her tail wagging wildly.  I return our dishes to the kitchen and grab a handful of doggie treats.  The purpose of the treats is to coax Pua along during our walk.  She loves to languish over this smell or that and often falls well behind me.  It is always interesting to me that as soon as I place my hand in my pocket for a treat she races to my side, sitting attentively, awaiting her snack.  Day after day, year after year we have gone through this same ritual.  It has formed an excellent anchor for our lives together.

I arrive outside the front door with the treats where she is waiting for the first offering.  She consumes it quickly, then swivels and races down the driveway and onto the street below, tail wagging in giant circles the entire way.  I stroll behind her, noticing what new things nature has brought with the coming of the cool season.  The fig trees, which are cut to the stump each spring, are now quite large.  I don’t see many new fruit.  I wonder if the drought of the past two seasons isn’t have an impact.  The branches of the lemon trees are bowed under the weight of so many fruit.  It’s amazing the branches don’t break.  A few of the fruit are beginning to yellow.  Hopefully, the drought won’t cause them to not be juicy.

As I reach the bottom of the driveway and turn onto the street I notice my neighbor’s coffee trees, red with ripe coffee beans.  Although it is quiet now, soon I will hear the songs of the coffee pickers and the laughter of their children as they race about the coffee field.  It always brings a smile to my face when I hear the children’s voices, as they run through what they must think is a coffee forest.

Further along our course I notice the giant Tulip Trees, full of beautiful orange flowers.  I reach our halfway point, giving Pua her much expected treat.  I turn and notice how beautiful the morning sun is on a distant stand of giant Golden Bamboo.  A bit further along our path I stop at my usual place, the place where I have a panoramic view of the ocean.  The cool season sky seems to be clearer, the sights below more crisp.  Today the ocean looks beautiful and serene.  The distant ocean has a few bobbing white dots, fishing boats, and it has lines sculpted across it by the currents, as the ocean is want to do.  I don’t know why the lines appear but they vary the water’s tone, always making an interesting montage of blues.  As I stand, mellow in the warmth of the morning sun, the enormity of the picture before me comes into view.  To the right is the Golden Bamboo, bright in the sun.  Across the bottom are the dark green coffee trees peppered with red coffee beans.  To the left are a handful of large Tulip Trees, full of orange flower.  The middle is the blue of the ocean dotted with fishing boats.  But, the most amazing thing of all is the clear, crisp horizon, bending across the sky.  I am always awed at seeing the curvature of the earth and there it is, framed in nature’s beauty, spread before me.  I take a deep breath and turn to head home.  While I could rest here for too long, there is work to do and doggie treats to dispense.  After all, with good luck, it’ll be here again tomorrow morning.  So, different flowers, different fruits and slightly different temperature signal the changing seasons.  Watching nature at work is a wondrous thing.

Notes on Taking, Giving and Receiving

Notes on Taking, Giving, Receiving, Consideration:

Taking: As related to attachment…can someone take something from another unless that person is attached to the thing taken?  How much ego must one have to take?  How much ego must one have to be concerned about being taken from?

Giving (danna):  Giving without reward for giving is crucial.  Giving must be selfless.  This relates to the concept of “non-self”.  Non-sacrificial giving related to non-self which relates to selflessness, but none of those issues are real world issues but are just intellectual constructs…real world has self which is directly related to one’s values.

Consideration:  Relates to giving and to receiving…how does it relate to enabling? Projecting?  Examine one’s self before judging what amount of consideration is either given or received.

Christians are more giving than Buddhists due to the concept of non-attachment

Notes on Taking, Giving and Receiving

Notes on Taking, Giving, Receiving, Consideration:

Taking: As related to attachment…can someone take something from another unless that person is attached to the thing taken?  How much ego must one have to take?  How much ego must one have to be concerned about being taken from?

Giving (danna):  Giving without reward for giving is crucial.  Giving must be selfless.  This relates to the concept of “non-self”.  Non-sacrificial giving related to non-self which relates to selflessness, but none of those issues are real world issues but are just intellectual constructs…real world has self which is directly related to one’s values.

Consideration:  Relates to giving and to receiving…how does it relate to enabling? Projecting?  Examine one’s self before judging what amount of consideration is either given or received.

Christians are more giving than Buddhists due to the concept of non-attachment

Notes on Aloneness

Notes on Aloneness, Solitude, Loneliness

Review the concept of “no-self”…attitude can be good toward being alone if one accepts “no-self”

One must be comfortable with the “now” and must live mindfully to be comfortable with being alone.

The structure of Chinese Conji implies that a person must have other persons…one cannot stand alone but must be supported by another.

Book provoked thoughts:

Two types of Solitude:

            Solitude of the Mind and Solitude of the Body.

                        Solitude of the Body may yield loneliness.

                                    Loneliness is not good.

                                    Could indicate one cannot get along with others.

                        Solitude of the Mind can be healthy.

                                    Mental solitude can cut out idle chatter.

                                                Can create an inner peace

                                                            Must be cautious of loneliness

                                                Can serve to remove one from the worry about the future.

                                                Can serve to remove one from clinging to the past.

                                                Can foment mindfulness,

                                                            Mindfulness can yield clear comprehension.

                                                            Such focus can yield fewer mistakes in judgment.

                                    One may respond to others difficulties, but not be affected.

            One must have a strong mind that can stand alone.

            Being alone a bit each day for self-inquiry is healthy,

For self-inquiry can yield self-understanding.

            The secluded/solitary mind has:

                                    Mindfulness                  Introspection

                                    Full attention                       Contemplation

                                     Comprehension

                        All of which unifies and strengthens the mind.

           

            “When we let go the steam from the pot, we cannot cook the food.

            If we let the steam build up we can find out what’s cooking”

            (i.e., life frustrations and difficulties)

Goodbyes

Saying Goodbye to Old Vets

Ray was a tall, stately looking gentleman.  He walked gingerly with a cane but was adamant about getting himself around.  A full head of white hair framed his sparkling eyes.  He’d had many and varied life experiences.  He was full of tales that he loved to share.  It was during the telling of those tales that his eyes would really twinkle.

During the year or so that I came to know Ray he had become increasingly disillusioned with the fact that his body was not keeping up with his very sharp mind.  His was often want to bay fully ask, “What am I still doing here?”  Those within earshot who knew and cared about him would respond with some witty rejoinder but Ray’s follow-up smiles occurred less often.

Then there was Virginia.  She had a petite, elfin-like appearance with large expressive eyes framed with long golden locks of hair.  Her smile was full across her face and would come quickly, being accompanied by a very positive assessment of the state of her life.  She had been Ray’s best friend and caretaker since I had known them.  Toward the end of her time with Ray her quick smile had given way to looks of concern over Ray’s attitude toward living.  Virginia was obviously concerned over Ray’s failing health but she spoke most often of his uncharacteristically dour attitude.  Virginia’s worry showed in her expressive eyes as their sparkle gave way to distant, wondering looks.

Then, one morning, as I was sitting immersed in thoughts of one thing or another, my phone’s ring startled me back to the present.  Virginia’s steady voice came to tell me that Ray had passed into the light.  I immediately stood and walked out into the sunshine.  I don’t know why but there were tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.  Of late death has become a sobering concept.  It has not been a fear that I have felt but a melancholy for that which has been left unsaid or left undone.  I have been feeling a melancholy that comes with advancing age for those things left behind.  Virginia sounded so calm and her words brought me back to the moment.  I asked, “How can I help you?  What can I do to lighten your burden?”  She said we could talk later.  Suddenly the call was finished.  The information had been passed.  There I was standing in the warm sun with a lump in my throat and a heavy heart for Virginia.

We talked a few times over the days that followed.  We sat together on occasion, chatting idly with spurts of talk about what the future might hold.  As the days passed Virginia’s plan for a celebration of Ray’s life came into focus.  Finally, two days before the memorial service Virginia called to ask for my help.  I was to do two things.  First, Virginia asked, “Would I please count the number of people attending the service?”  She felt that she would be too scattered to remember that detail and many people who could not attend would want to know that fact.  It would salve their guilt for not being at the service that honored their friend.  It was the first hint to me of a small chink in her show of strength during this traumatic time.

Secondly and much more significantly, I was assigned the task of fetching a dear friend of theirs from the airport and escorting her to the service.  The details were interesting.  She would arrive on the morning of the service.  Upon arrival she would call me and upon arriving at the airport I was to look for a beautiful blond woman holding a carrot cake.  Those details made me smile.

The morning came and I trotted off to the airport to fulfill my promise.  She, we’ll call her Carolyn (because that is her name) called me upon her arrival.  The voice that came to me was distinctive.  The voice had a certain “je ne sai quoi” but it did not lead my mind to a “beautiful blond”.  I drove toward the passenger arrival area and saw her immediately.  She was very tan.  Her light hair that shined in the sun accented her bronzed body.  She was wearing a full-length black dress and had a white cake box firmly in her grasp.  I stopped before her.  He leaned forward and opened the door.  I turned to look at her and it was a jaw dropping moment.  It was not that she was so beautiful, although she was beautiful.  It was that her smile and manner was so warm.  Carolyn was enchanting.

We had a couple of hours before the gathering so I took her up to the farm.  She said that she needed some quiet time to rehearse her eulogy for Ray.  It was a warm, sunny morning.  Carolyn wandered off amongst the trees and I busied myself with one thing or another.  From time to time I would seek her out and observe her from afar.  When she was stand still her posture was firm, her bearing strong.  When she was moving through the field she seemed to glide between the trees.  She was such a pleasure to observe but I was careful not to stare.  I found a ripe fig and took it to her, but I was quick to retreat.

Finally, the time had come to depart for the site.  Our ride down the mountain was quiet.  She seemed to be focused, probably on her speech.  We arrived at the shore, which was hot and humid.  It was quite a contrast to the cool breeze at the farm.  After a time I turned onto a ribbon of asphalt that crept into the lava field.  Rising up from the ocean, we passed over the top of a knoll and into a square of bright green grass.  This small grass island surrounded by brown lava festooned with Pili grass was the home of the veteran’s cemetery.  The place had been very well cared for with its finely trimmed grass and polished memorial shrines.

We were among the first to arrive and set about helping Virginia and her other friends arrange the food for after the service.  As always, there was an overabundance of food but that is just the Hawaiian way.  As everything was properly placed and more people arrive small satellite groups formed.  A low hum of chatter filled the very warm air.

I stood with a group of older men.  One asked how we I had known Ray.  I responded, “Oh, not that well, I suppose.”  As the conversation moved on I thought, how well can one not from that generation know an old soldier.  When he was young there was the Great Depression racked with sorrow and despair.  His youth was sacrificed to war.  His middle age was racked with constant change and riddled by scandal and controversy.  Only father time, I thought, and his fellow travelers can truly know an old soldier.  I turned to watch the honor guard practice a short distance away.

As people took seats and the service began I moved off to the side.  There I stood watching the cadre of disabled veterans from several wars honor a fallen comrade.  It didn’t make a difference if they knew Ray.  They honored him as they hoped others would honor them when they became “fallen comrades.”  A gentle ocean breeze caressed the mourners as the eulogies were reported.  The speakers were often ill at ease and fought to gain a rhythm in their speaking.  As my mind was about to drift, Carolyn walked to the podium.  Her manner was steady.  Her speaking was deliberate.  Her tone was soft and embracing.  Her words were introspective as she recounted their friendship and regaled Ray very accomplished life.  He was a young boy, orphaned in the Depression, who became, in every sense of the term, a Renaissance Man.  Virginia spoke but by that time everything had been said.  It was time for the formalities to begin.

If any in the group was becoming bored with the proceedings, the 21-gun salute changed that immediately.  While the salute was loud, the folding of the flag was soft and fraught with solemnity.  The presentation of the flag to Virginia was accompanied by a most eloquent speech delivered by a disabled veteran from the Vietnam War that capped the ceremony.  As a final show of respect for this old soldier, 21 white doves were released.  There was a slight gasp from the group as the doves swirled and moved off across the lava field.  People sat for a moment, either uncertain of what to do next or just exhausted by the pawl of death in the hot noonday sun.  After a time some began to move toward the mounds of food and the celebration began to creep toward its close.

A few small groups gathered on the fringe of the memorial area and talked in hushed tones.  A few stood near the food and they were a bit more animated.  After what seemed like a considerate amount of time I decided that it was time to bid farewell to Virginia.  She was standing with Carolyn.  I watched for a bit.  They would talk and then stare at the ground as if in contemplation.  Then they would look up, smile, say a few words and return their gaze to the ground.  I decide to insert myself during one of the gazing episodes.  I walked up and embraced Virginia.  I whispered that it was time for me to go.  She smiled and kissed my cheek.  I took a step back and turned to Carolyn.  I placed my hand on her bronze should, which had been the first time I had touched her.  “I hope that we will meet again” I blubbered.  She smiled and turned toward me.  “That would be nice” she responded.  I hesitated for a moment, smiled into her eyes and turned toward my truck.  It was such a beautiful day and this had been a beautiful event.  It had been a wonderful experience for me.

Spirituality

Many people have asked me if I was “religious” and I have always answered that I am spiritual but not really religious.  My stated goal is to simply live a good life.  Recently I was given a piece which, I feel, clearly mirrors my feelings on this matter.

Earl Ikeda, a resident minister of the Shin Buddhist temple of the Puna Hongwanji Mission, offered the following thoughts during one of his sermons:

“Is there a Buddha or (a) God? As a human being…I will honestly say that I do not truly/really know.  I have learned that if you’re looking for something that you can touch, see, smell, hear or taste you may not find it.  But I do know that the teachings of the Buddha have given me great strength, courage, and comfort in understanding who and what I am.  I have come to some understanding of my strengths and weaknesses…the teachings have helped me cope with them.  The teachings have led me upon the path of gratitude….I believe in love, helping others, caring, feeling sad or laughing…I know that I am not perfect and have many faults…I do not have the ability or strength to say that I do not doubt nor can I say that I truly believe.  Reflecting on the many ups and downs…of life, I can say that I am truly grateful for having the teachings to reflect upon and to guide me….Life is too short to contemplate on whether there is a Buddha or a God….I only know that there is this moment…given this opportunity and gift of life, we should try to make a positive impact upon the lives of others….I believe that this is where the Buddha (or God) truly exists.”

For edification, the Buddha Shakymuni did not discourse on the existence of God evidently because he did not speculate on matters that could not be proven.

Although I have taken some editorial license in making minor omissions or additions to the text of the Minister’s speech, I do not believe that I have fundamentally altered the message the speech was intended to give.

I will be interested in your thoughts on these matters.

The Heart Sutra

Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bohdi Svaha

As the final verse of the Great Wisdom Beyond Wisdom Heart Sutra, commonly known as the Heart Sutra, this has been described to me in the following way:

            Gate                 Enter the path toward the true understanding of the emptiness of

                                    all things.

            Gate                 Look deeply and perceive the emptiness of all things;

                                    All things are empty of an independent self;

All things are inextricably intertwined.

            Paragate          Look beyond your biases and into the reality of the emptiness

of all things.

Parasamgate            Realize, accept, meditate on and internalize the emptiness of all things.

            Bohdi Svaha            Become enlightened by the reality that all things are inextricably

interconnected and basically from the One.

Also, it has been related to me that the chanted “Om” is essentially a concise statement of the same matters relating to the understanding of the emptiness and interconnectedness of all things

My Awakening Revisited

As I mourned the death of my wife on the anniversary of her passing and as I stood at the place of those life-changing events my deep sadness was overcome by an amazing sense of peacefulness.  I had the feeling that I had been touched.  Reflecting upon the depth and intensity of that moment and the feelings it introduced, I have come to the following conclusions:

I believe in an ecumenical God/Supreme Being.

I believe in Heaven/an Afterlife.

I believe that practicing the teachings of the Buddha will yield a happier, more fulfilling life that does more to better the condition of all living things.

I believe that I understand the feeling the Buddha had when he became awakened.

The Precepts: a Guide to Buddhist Living

The successful acceptance and following of the Precepts is greatly facilitated by the belief in the Buddha essence, the acceptance of the Buddha’s teachings (the Dharma), and an association with a support group of likeminded people (a Sangha).

The simple statement of the heart of Buddhist living is that one will cause no suffering for others and one will do what is possible to better the condition of all others.

A more precise elucidation of what that entails would include the practicing of only helpful acts, the taking of only what is given, being pleased with what one possesses, speaking only known truths, following only truthful perceptions, supporting the value of others, always speaking well of all others, minimizing one’s emotional excesses, showing kindness when giving of one’s self and one’s treasure, and always relating positively to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

By practicing the style of living as it is presented above one is following the Precepts.  Quite simply, the Precepts show one how to behave in a way that is not harmful to themselves or others.  More importantly, the style of living inherit in the Precepts allows one to purify their body, speech and mind.  By living within the Precepts, everything one does, says, or thinks clarifies the immaculate body, speech and mind of Buddha Nature, which is the ultimate goal of living life within the Precepts.

It is important to remember that the Buddhas were teachers, not saviors.  The following of the Precepts means that one vows to refrain from all excesses in life.  The practice comes from within and is successful when one demonstrates a willingness to compassionately apply the guidelines to one’s daily life.  The source of Buddhist morality is compassion for oneself and for all others and not an unattainable ideal of moral purity.  Human beings make mistakes.  One must realize their mistakes and work to not allow those mistakes to recur.  One may apply the Precepts to the best of their ability but when the Precepts are broken one must reaffirm a resumption of the path of following the style of living inherit in the Precepts.  In that way the realization of the Buddhist way of compassionate living may be realized.  The purpose of following the path is to make an ongoing, sustained effort of gradual life conversion for all persons rather than a model for moral perfection.

If one wonders why the following of the Precepts is important today, one might consider the Master Dogen’s words: “Times flies quicker than an arrow and life passes with greater transience than dew.  However skillful you may be, how can you ever recall a single day of the past?  Should you live for a hundred years just wasting your time, every day and month will be filled with sorrow; should you drift as the slave of your senses for a hundred years and yet live truly for only so much as a single day, you will, in that one day, not only live a hundred years of life but also save a hundred years of your future life.  The life of this one day, today, is absolutely vital life; your body is deeply significant.  Both your life and your body deserve love and respect for it is by their agency that Truth is practiced and the Buddha’s power exhibited:  the seed of all Buddhist activity, and all Buddhahood, is the true practice of Preceptual Truth.”

A Celebration of Awakening

I am practicing Buddhism in the Soto Zen spiritual tradition.  During the first eight days of December we celebrate the awakening of the Prince Siddhartha, who then became the Buddha Shakyamuni.  The celebration is called the Rohatsu Sesshin.  A “sesshin” signifies an intense period of heart-mind meditation.  The culmination of the celebration is Bodhi Day or the day of the Buddha’s awakening.  My experience in this celebration is what I will share with you.

As I have mentioned in previous writings, it is my preference to rise after the sun has arisen.  However, in the cool season the sun tends to be a bit lazy.  For this celebration each morning I rousted myself from the warmth of my bed long before the sun had given much thought to joining me.  I freshened myself, donned long, thick cotton pants, a long sleeved tee shirt and a fleece pullover, for it was quite cool.  I walked down the dark back stairs, firmly holding the railing and wondering if this is how a person without sight would feel when navigating this path.  I would walk through the garage and stand for a bit, looking into the clear night sky.  Each time I would search out Orion’s Belt, which rested just over the tops of the Koa trees to the west.

With the assurance that all was as it should be, I climbed into the truck and began my journey south.  I followed the headlights as they snaked their way down the narrow country road that skirted the mountain.  After I had passed through sleeping Holualoa town I noticed that the road had taken on an almost ominous glow.  Enormous vine covered trees, giant ferns and towering palms crept close to the roadway, creating a dark tunnel.  I moved swiftly onward.  After a time the road curved down to a main highway.  I could see ribbons of headlights from vehicles filled with workers going north to tend to the tourists.  Soon I came to the edge of Honalo village and turned into the temple parking lot.  As was my custom, I sat in the truck for a moment, listening to the hum of the vehicle tires as they rushed past the front of the temple and began moving my mindset from driving to meditation.  After a minute or two I gathered up my zafu (meditation cushion) and went into the temple’s half-lighted Kannon Hall.

I stepped into the hall and bowed.  Moving forward, I offered incense, then, hesitating for a moment at the shrine, I cleared my mind of thoughts of the outside world.  A slight smile of tranquility crossed my lips.  Quietly moving off to the left, I entered the Kannon-do (meditation area) and bowed to the dimly lit, golden meditation shrine.  Its beauty always gives me pause.  The shrine’s warmth exudes loving kindness and compassion.  I moved to a spot along the wall and placed my zafu on the carpeted floor.  I assumed my quarter lotus sitting position atop the zafu, placed my hands in front of me so as to hold the classic mudra, and closed my eyes.  I was the first to arrive, so I sat in silence, awaiting my fellow celebrants.

After all have arrived the lighting, except for the dim light of the shrine, is extinguished.  When the lights are suddenly out my eyes flash open wide, as if to allow my mind to suddenly right itself.  We sit in the darkness awaiting the bell of mindfulness.  As the bell is rung three times, the tone of which many believe is the Buddha calling us back to our true selves, we begin our voyage into mind clearing meditation.  For me, I love to follow the final ring of the bell until its vibrations have traveled across the cosmos.  The sound resonates within me long past its time of ringing.

As the sound of the bell begins to pass from my mind my eyes slowly drift partially closed.  With my eyes half closed, my meditation begins.  I pay attention to my breathing.  I breathe in and I breathe out.  I pay attention to my body.  My back is straight and my posture is slightly forward.  I release the tension of the muscles in my legs and my knees drop to the floor.  I feel my chest rise and fall ever so slightly as my breath comes and goes.  My half-opened eyes are set without focus on the wall in front of me.  Suddenly an inconsequential thought comes into my mind and I push it away.  To clear my mind of such distractions I begin to silently chant my mantra, “listen carefully, watch closely, speak hesitantly, be kind”.  I breathe in, listen.  I breathe out, carefully.  I breathe in, watch.  I breathe out, closely.  I breathe in, speak.  I breathe out, hesitantly.  I breathe in, be.  I breathe out, kind.  Over and over, until my mind is clear, I continue my silent chant.  I seek to place my mantra in the front of my mind so that it might guide my every action.  I smile at this “work in progress”.  As my focus returns to my breathing my mind is at rest.

There is a period of kinhin (walking meditation) in the midst of our zazen (sitting meditation) that allows one to unwind their body.  I’ve come to believe that there is a greater purpose for kinhin.  The real purpose of walking meditation is to teach patience and compassion.  Kinhin is practiced in a queue, which means that each person’s pace is determined by the pace of the person in front of him or her.  If the person’s pace is slow then one must have patience to adjust their pace to match the slower person.  If the person’s pace is faster then one should increase their pace to be considerate of the people behind them.  So, there you have it, an opportunity to practice either patience or considerate understanding/compassion while slowly unwinding one’s body.

Near the end of the meditation time we begin to chant.  We chant the Takkesa-ge, first in melodic, yet slightly abrupt Japanese and then in a coarser, almost spoke English.  At the end of this chant I don my Wagesa, a beautiful purple neckpiece with embroidered gold inlays, and I bow to the Buddha.  The Wagesa signifies that I have vowed to live my life by following the basic precepts of Buddhism but that subject is best left for another day.  As zazen is finished we assemble before the shrine and acknowledge the Buddha with three deep bows.  Then, seated on our zafus, we begin by chanting the opening sutra, Kaikyo Ge, then the Sangemon chant of repentance, followed by Sanki Raimon chant of taking refuge.  Often we chant the Hannya Shingyo, which extols one to reach beyond who they are, to reach beyond what they know, to seek the true meaning of all things and to seek to attain a wisdom that can lessen their suffering in life.  Finally we chant the Fueko that presents the hope for all to find a peaceful and kind way to navigate life’s travails.  The mélange of chanting tones yields a heartwarming harmony.  A sense of peacefulness settles across me and I feel an inner strength.  Finally, we rise and, again, acknowledge the Buddha with three deep bows.  Then, we depart the temple in silence.

For eight mornings we gathered to celebrate the Buddha’s awakening.  For me it has been the kindling of a sense of quiet strength of purpose in my meditation and a sonorous sense of community chanting in basic, beautiful harmony.  Each time I departed at peace with life and with a smile in my heart.

Where Will It Lead?

Traveling Through Life

As individuals travel through life they have the opportunity, if they are observant and mindful of their environment, to see, hear and experience the many varied aspects of life.  It is interesting how many seemingly trivial events, when observed closely and considered carefully, can be eye opening and, occasionally even life changing.  However, the individual must be open and flexible in their approach to living in order to gain full exposure to life’s depth and subtlety.

While moving through life as an independent, self-reliant person, one can regard events from a unique perspective.  Unencumbered by consideration for others, observations and consideration can be more focused.  One can do what they want for as long as they want.  One can participate in life at one’s own pace.  One can decide their level of involvement in any particular aspect of life.  One can make decisions based upon how they view life’s events.  One must always be aware of and kind to all others but realize that their only control is over themselves.  One cannot control how events impact others.

When individuals travel through life with a partner benefit is gained in sharing of perspectives of the varied events in life.  However, the noise of the other may obscure some aspects life offers and the depth of individual understanding might be lessened.  Loving couples will see and experience the aspects of life colored by the prism of their love and will miss the depth of many of life’s aspects because of their focus on their love.  In addition, their opinions and actions will be colored by the effect of the values of their partner, which seems unavoidable.

Individuals encased in groups, but are independent and self-reliant, may rise above the noise of the group to observe the aspects of life.  Often, members of a group appear unhappy because they do not have the inner strength to spiritually break away from the will of the group.

Unhappy partners often appear sad and detached.  While they are physically together, they appear to be spiritually in different places.

One's True Self

To know one’s self is to find peace,

            To find peace is to fulfill one’s destiny,

            To fulfill one’s destiny is to be steady and constant,

            To be steady and constant gives one insight,

You are what you are looking for…you are already what you want to become.

You can be honest with yourself only when you understand and can touch your true nature.

Go straight ahead and deal with the world in a direct and honest fashion, unhindered by what you wish things to be…in that way you may realize your true self.

Wisdom

According to Edward Conze, there no longer seems to be a search for wisdom but only a search for knowledge.  He characterizes the pursuit of wisdom as a pursuit of the meaning of life, with its search for ends, purposes and values worthy of being pursued, with its desire to penetrate beyond the appearance of things to their true reality

The wise person prefers what is within to what is without,

            Avoids extremes, excesses and extravagances,

            Knows when he has enough and is rich,
            Always has enough because they are always satisfied with what they have,

            Knows that there is no greater calamity than not knowing what is enough,
            Seeks to conquer only himslef,
            Does not strive with anyone.

Seek ultimate awareness and total wisdom through meditation.

Wisdom is achieved when one sees all things without bias or emotion.

When delusive thoughts cease tranquility arises.

            When tranquility arises wisdom appears,

            When wisdom appears reality reveals itself.

How does the ocean become the king of all streams?  Because it is lower than them…the wise person is humble in speech.

The wise person sees the simple, embraces the primal, diminishes the ego, curbs the desires.

Truth and Understanding

Identifying a truth requires that one not be attached to any of the aspects of identifying that truth for if such an attachment exists it shall cloud that truth.  Also, one must not be attached to that truth for all truths are impermanent.

Does any truth exist outside of one's mind?

Is one's true self a duality whose truth is, therefore, not recognizable?

Mindfulness develops concentration that leads to understanding.

There is no truth, only different interpretations for reality is graded and with it cognition.

There are levels of being and knowing.

Truth and Non-Duality (from the book)

            The simplicity of non-duality reveals truth.

            If one loves one’s self that will yield equanimity.

                        Equanimity yield non-duality,

                        Non-duality clarifies truth.

            No love, no hate, no concern

                        Being mindful of the now (redundant?).

            Let go of past attachments for clinging block truth.

            Let go of future concerns.

            Truth through understanding releases suffering.

            Deep understanding pushes aside petty issues.

            Why do we take things so personally when we are truly universal?

            The deepest truth is that there are no individuals

for we are each a composite of many others.

Objective of Meditation

The object of meditation is to rest one’s mind.

To rest one’s mind one must be aware of and at peace with what is happening in one’s body.

To rest one’s mind one must be aware of and at peace with what is happening with one’s feelings.

To rest one’s mind one must be aware of and at peace with what is happening in one’s mind.

Only by being at peace with one’s body and mind can one clear their mind and make their heart tranquil.

Only be being at peace with one’s body, feelings and mind can one truly accept their lives.

One’s life is a reflection of their true nature and one must realize and accept one’s true nature to achieve a peaceful spirit.

Only by accepting one’s life can one have true peace of mind and a tranquil heart.

Only by having a peaceful mind and a tranquil heart can one’s mind be at rest.

Return to the top.

Suffering

Only you suffer when you allow passion or aggression or ignorance to rule your mind

Some Basic Truths

Sincere words are not sweet, sweet words are not sincere.

Good people are not argumentative, argumentative people are not good.

The wise are not scholarly, the scholarly are not wise.

The more one gives the more one gets.

The more taboos and inhibitions there are in the world, the poorer the people become.

The sharper the weapons the people possess, the greater the reign of confusion.

The more clever and crafty the men, the more strange things happen.

The more articulate the laws and ordinances, the more robbers and thieves arise.

Some Basic Truths

Sincere words are not sweet, sweet words are not sincere.

Good people are not argumentative, argumentative people are not good.

The wise are not scholarly, the scholarly are not wise.

The more one gives the more one gets.

The more taboos and inhibitions there are in the world, the poorer the people become.

The sharper the weapons the people possess, the greater the reign of confusion.

The more clever and crafty the men, the more strange things happen.

The more articulate the laws and ordinances, the more robbers and thieves arise.

Experiencing Life

A basic tenant of life can be understood by observing a cloud…when conditions are right a cloud is manifest…the cloud never dies but becomes the rain which becomes the river which becomes the ocean which becomes the cloud…when conditions are right a human is manifest, when conditions are not longer right both the cloud and the human unmanifest.

The world is illuminated in the most beautiful light…marvel at its beauty and interconnectedness and get on with your life.

Life is as it is meant to be…enjoy

We have a limited amount of time in this life,

We must be wise in how we spend that time.

It is absolutely true that I may die today,

There is nothing that I can do about that,

I vow to live this day as if it were my last.

The most important time is now,

The most important person is the person with you,

The most important pursuit is to make the person with you happy.

Calming…smiling…present moment, wonderful moment.

Who knows where life’s path may lead,

One may only hope that a generous amount of happiness will be spread amongst the inevitable suffering that results from the impermanence of all things along the way.

The noblest way of living is to maintain mindfulness of love in one’s heart.

Kindness

Kindness is a practice of inclining the mind…one must intend to be kind.

If you want to be a rebel, be kind.

If you want to be outrageous, be ethical.

To be kind one must pay attention to the intentions underlying one’s actions.

May you be filled with loving kindness,

            May you be safe from inner and outer dangers,

            May you be well in body and mind,

            May you be at ease and happy.

A Journey

I am practicing Buddhism in the Soto Zen spiritual tradition.  During the first eight days of December we celebrate the awakening of the Prince Siddhartha, who then became the Buddha Shakyamuni.  The celebration is called the Rohatsu Sesshin.  A “sesshin” signifies an intense period of heart-mind meditation.  The culmination of the celebration is Bodhi Day or the day of the Buddha’s awakening.  My experience in this celebration is what I will share with you.

As I have mentioned in previous writings, it is my preference to rise after the sun has arisen.  However, in the cool season the sun tends to be a bit lazy.  For this celebration each morning I rousted myself from the warmth of my bed long before the sun had given much thought to joining me.  I freshened myself, donned long, thick cotton pants, a long sleeved tee shirt and a fleece pullover, for it was quite cool.  I walked down the dark back stairs, firmly holding the railing and wondering if this is how a person without sight would feel when navigating this path.  I would walk through the garage and stand for a bit, looking into the clear night sky.  Each time I would search out Orion’s Belt, which rested just over the tops of the Koa trees to the west.

With the assurance that all was as it should be, I climbed into the truck and began my journey south.  I followed the headlights as they snaked their way down the narrow country road that skirted the mountain.  After I had passed through sleeping Holualoa town I noticed that the road had taken on an almost ominous glow.  Enormous vine covered trees, giant ferns and towering palms crept close to the roadway, creating a dark tunnel.  I moved swiftly onward.  After a time the road curved down to a main highway.  I could see ribbons of headlights from vehicles filled with workers going north to tend to the tourists.  Soon I came to the edge of Honalo village and turned into the temple parking lot.  As was my custom, I sat in the truck for a moment, listening to the hum of the vehicle tires as they rushed past the front of the temple and began moving my mindset from driving to meditation.  After a minute or two I gathered up my zafu (meditation cushion) and went into the temple’s half-lighted Kannon Hall.

I stepped into the hall and bowed.  Moving forward, I offered incense, then, hesitating for a moment at the shrine, I cleared my mind of thoughts of the outside world.  A slight smile of tranquility crossed my lips.  Quietly moving off to the left, I entered the Kannon-do (meditation area) and bowed to the dimly lit, golden meditation shrine.  Its beauty always gives me pause.  The shrine’s warmth exudes loving kindness and compassion.  I moved to a spot along the wall and placed my zafu on the carpeted floor.  I assumed my quarter lotus sitting position atop the zafu, placed my hands in front of me so as to hold the classic mudra, and closed my eyes.  I was the first to arrive, so I sat in silence, awaiting my fellow celebrants.

After all have arrived the lighting, except for the dim light of the shrine, is extinguished.  When the lights are suddenly out my eyes flash open wide, as if to allow my mind to suddenly right itself.  We sit in the darkness awaiting the bell of mindfulness.  As the bell is rung three times, the tone of which many believe is the Buddha calling us back to our true selves, we begin our voyage into mind clearing meditation.  For me, I love to follow the final ring of the bell until its vibrations have traveled across the cosmos.  The sound resonates within me long past its time of ringing.

As the sound of the bell begins to pass from my mind my eyes slowly drift partially closed.  With my eyes half closed, my meditation begins.  I pay attention to my breathing.  I breathe in and I breathe out.  I pay attention to my body.  My back is straight and my posture is slightly forward.  I release the tension of the muscles in my legs and my knees drop to the floor.  I feel my chest rise and fall ever so slightly as my breath comes and goes.  My half-opened eyes are set without focus on the wall in front of me.  Suddenly an inconsequential thought comes into my mind and I push it away.  To clear my mind of such distractions I begin to silently chant my mantra, “listen carefully, watch closely, speak hesitantly, be kind”.  I breathe in, listen.  I breathe out, carefully.  I breathe in, watch.  I breathe out, closely.  I breathe in, speak.  I breathe out, hesitantly.  I breathe in, be.  I breathe out, kind.  Over and over, until my mind is clear, I continue my silent chant.  I seek to place my mantra in the front of my mind so that it might guide my every action.  I smile at this “work in progress”.  As my focus returns to my breathing my mind is at rest.

There is a period of kinhin (walking meditation) in the midst of our zazen (sitting meditation) that allows one to unwind their body.  I’ve come to believe that there is a greater purpose for kinhin.  The real purpose of walking meditation is to teach patience and compassion.  Kinhin is practiced in a queue, which means that each person’s pace is determined by the pace of the person in front of him or her.  If the person’s pace is slow then one must have patience to adjust their pace to match the slower person.  If the person’s pace is faster then one should increase their pace to be considerate of the people behind them.  So, there you have it, an opportunity to practice either patience or considerate understanding/compassion while slowly unwinding one’s body.

Near the end of the meditation time we begin to chant.  We chant the Takkesa-ge, first in melodic, yet slightly abrupt Japanese and then in a coarser, almost spoke English.  At the end of this chant I don my Wagesa, a beautiful purple neckpiece with embroidered gold inlays, and I bow to the Buddha.  The Wagesa signifies that I have vowed to live my life by following the basic precepts of Buddhism but that subject is best left for another day.  As zazen is finished we assemble before the shrine and acknowledge the Buddha with three deep bows.  Then, seated on our zafus, we begin by chanting the opening sutra, Kaikyo Ge, then the Sangemon chant of repentance, followed by Sanki Raimon chant of taking refuge.  Often we chant the Hannya Shingyo, which extols one to reach beyond who they are, to reach beyond what they know, to seek the true meaning of all things and to seek to attain a wisdom that can lessen their suffering in life.  Finally we chant the Fueko that presents the hope for all to find a peaceful and kind way to navigate life’s travails.  The mélange of chanting tones yields a heartwarming harmony.  A sense of peacefulness settles across me and I feel an inner strength.  Finally, we rise and, again, acknowledge the Buddha with three deep bows.  Then, we depart the temple in silence.

For eight mornings we gathered to celebrate the Buddha’s awakening.  For me it has been the kindling of a sense of quiet strength of purpose in my meditation and a sonorous sense of community chanting in basic, beautiful harmony.  Each time I departed at peace with life and with a smile in my heart.