Does the Thought Count?
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
It is a Sunday morning and my week begins anew. Odd, to think in such a way. Last night we were at some friend's home having dinner and conversation. Before we left, I was at the computer (of course) and as I sat here, I thought about Havdallah. Havdallah is a Jewish ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath. The thought, I admit, came and went, and I did not even suggest that we take our Havdallah set with us. In this set, beautifully hand made for us by a artist who is a member of our Temple, there is a candle, a spice box and a kiddush cup, all to make a blessing at the close of Shabbot.
We human beings do have our ways of making things sacred and they are remarkably similar. A Buddhist alter has the same elements: candle, cup, and incense. We stand before this alter to make blessings and offer them to the universe, thus offering ourselves to the universe in its service. Some of us deify the universe, we call it God. OK. No problem.
Yet, is the thought enough?
When I thought of the close of Shabbot, the Havdallah set, and so on, was the thought enough or must one do the ceremony? The same is true in Zen. Is the thought of standing before the alter, lighting the incense, bowing, and reciting a sutra, the same as doing so? Or is the thought of folding ones legs on a cushion to practice Zazen the same as doing so?
Maybe, maybe not.
The function of these is, ultimately, to bring body, mind, and universe together as One. In the practice of doing so, we see that we are, originally One- not Two. So, as we practice and discover our True Nature, then each moment, regardless of the moment and its content, is sacred and our essential opportunity to be buddhas in the world.
In such a case, just the thought brings body, mind and universe together. Our mind then is our field of practice.
Still, most of us are not there yet. So, for most of us, the thought is decidedly not enough. It is for us, that practice centers, churches, and synagogues are built.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
It is a Sunday morning and my week begins anew. Odd, to think in such a way. Last night we were at some friend's home having dinner and conversation. Before we left, I was at the computer (of course) and as I sat here, I thought about Havdallah. Havdallah is a Jewish ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath. The thought, I admit, came and went, and I did not even suggest that we take our Havdallah set with us. In this set, beautifully hand made for us by a artist who is a member of our Temple, there is a candle, a spice box and a kiddush cup, all to make a blessing at the close of Shabbot.
We human beings do have our ways of making things sacred and they are remarkably similar. A Buddhist alter has the same elements: candle, cup, and incense. We stand before this alter to make blessings and offer them to the universe, thus offering ourselves to the universe in its service. Some of us deify the universe, we call it God. OK. No problem.
Yet, is the thought enough?
When I thought of the close of Shabbot, the Havdallah set, and so on, was the thought enough or must one do the ceremony? The same is true in Zen. Is the thought of standing before the alter, lighting the incense, bowing, and reciting a sutra, the same as doing so? Or is the thought of folding ones legs on a cushion to practice Zazen the same as doing so?
Maybe, maybe not.
The function of these is, ultimately, to bring body, mind, and universe together as One. In the practice of doing so, we see that we are, originally One- not Two. So, as we practice and discover our True Nature, then each moment, regardless of the moment and its content, is sacred and our essential opportunity to be buddhas in the world.
In such a case, just the thought brings body, mind and universe together. Our mind then is our field of practice.
Still, most of us are not there yet. So, for most of us, the thought is decidedly not enough. It is for us, that practice centers, churches, and synagogues are built.
Be well.