Awakening
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning All,
Our film last night, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter,... and Spring" was wonderful. This Korean film tells the life cycle story of a monk, an orphan, and the orphan's life. In this film we saw Dharma transmission occur as it usually does, through the blood, seat and tears of practice. Most of us have very distorted and confused understandings of awakening. We think it is something really special, something that when we get it, we say, "Ah! That's It!"
Not always so.
Awakening occurs when we finally integrate ourselves completely. Our work practice, meditation practice, and general life practices are the mechanisms we use to complete this integration. When awakening occurs, there is Dharma transmission and because it is so, we see there was nothing transmitted, as it was always there right before us. Even on the edge of our cup as we sip our tea or on our toilet as we sit there in the morning.
The Master in the film is portrayed as a kindly man who does what is there before him to do. He loves the orphan as a man loves a child. He teaches through example and through a process of mirroring behavior to teach the consequences of our mis-steps. He insists we behave in an upright manner, knowing that doing so is also in service to the nurturance of life.
We must not forgo life for awakening. That is a big mistake and leads to instant sleep. Life itself is awakening. There it is.
_____________
My Little Honey will be leaving this morning for Memphis. She will be gone until Tuesday. So, Tripper, Pepper, and Pete-kitty will have the onerous task of keeping me company. Yet, their job will be minimized by the fact that I have a very full schedule this weekend. Tomorrow is "Sew-In" day at Zen Center. We will sew zabutons and rakusus and wagessas. Early Saturday morning I'll be driving to Tucson to have lunch with an old friend from the seventies. Then returning that afternoon. Sunday is a full service day, Zazen, Kinhin, lunch discussion, etc. and Monday I will recover.
Be well.
Good Morning All,
Our film last night, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter,... and Spring" was wonderful. This Korean film tells the life cycle story of a monk, an orphan, and the orphan's life. In this film we saw Dharma transmission occur as it usually does, through the blood, seat and tears of practice. Most of us have very distorted and confused understandings of awakening. We think it is something really special, something that when we get it, we say, "Ah! That's It!"
Not always so.
Awakening occurs when we finally integrate ourselves completely. Our work practice, meditation practice, and general life practices are the mechanisms we use to complete this integration. When awakening occurs, there is Dharma transmission and because it is so, we see there was nothing transmitted, as it was always there right before us. Even on the edge of our cup as we sip our tea or on our toilet as we sit there in the morning.
The Master in the film is portrayed as a kindly man who does what is there before him to do. He loves the orphan as a man loves a child. He teaches through example and through a process of mirroring behavior to teach the consequences of our mis-steps. He insists we behave in an upright manner, knowing that doing so is also in service to the nurturance of life.
We must not forgo life for awakening. That is a big mistake and leads to instant sleep. Life itself is awakening. There it is.
_____________
My Little Honey will be leaving this morning for Memphis. She will be gone until Tuesday. So, Tripper, Pepper, and Pete-kitty will have the onerous task of keeping me company. Yet, their job will be minimized by the fact that I have a very full schedule this weekend. Tomorrow is "Sew-In" day at Zen Center. We will sew zabutons and rakusus and wagessas. Early Saturday morning I'll be driving to Tucson to have lunch with an old friend from the seventies. Then returning that afternoon. Sunday is a full service day, Zazen, Kinhin, lunch discussion, etc. and Monday I will recover.
Be well.
