Embrace Your Life
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
There is a beautiful birdsong out my window this morning. The courtyard looks lush. My two pups are curled at my feet and I slept for eight hours. Alas, no race last night. I was late getting away from the El Paso Zen Group and on my way to the race, I was stopped by a train that could not seem to figure out which way it needed to move.
All is well, however, my muscles feel refreshed and tomorrow morning I look forward to a nice three mile run through the hills surrounding my home.
This morning I'll be at Zen Center offering a teaching based on the text, At Hell's Gate by Claude Anshin Thomas, then lead the Zen services in the Zendo. From there I will be coming home as we have guests at 1:00 for poolside lunch. Maybe a walk afterwards with my lunchmates will follow.
Our lives are rich and full of opportunities to be challenged. We rise to the challenge and grow, deepen, and mature as human beings. Sometimes we open, like a flower, and become the buddhas we are. Once we are open see with a clear mind, nothing has changed. Yet the entire universe is different. I can say, "the grass needs to be mowed" and "the grass needs to be mowed". Both say the same thing, but are entirely different statements based on whether they are said as buddhas or mortals.
In the one case I mow for the sake of caring for the grass. In the other case, I mow as a chore. Mowing grass, caring, and me are one, versus, mowing grass and me in opposition.
Do not be in opposition to your life. It is the only life you have. Cherish it. Embrace it. Open to it.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
There is a beautiful birdsong out my window this morning. The courtyard looks lush. My two pups are curled at my feet and I slept for eight hours. Alas, no race last night. I was late getting away from the El Paso Zen Group and on my way to the race, I was stopped by a train that could not seem to figure out which way it needed to move.
All is well, however, my muscles feel refreshed and tomorrow morning I look forward to a nice three mile run through the hills surrounding my home.
This morning I'll be at Zen Center offering a teaching based on the text, At Hell's Gate by Claude Anshin Thomas, then lead the Zen services in the Zendo. From there I will be coming home as we have guests at 1:00 for poolside lunch. Maybe a walk afterwards with my lunchmates will follow.
Our lives are rich and full of opportunities to be challenged. We rise to the challenge and grow, deepen, and mature as human beings. Sometimes we open, like a flower, and become the buddhas we are. Once we are open see with a clear mind, nothing has changed. Yet the entire universe is different. I can say, "the grass needs to be mowed" and "the grass needs to be mowed". Both say the same thing, but are entirely different statements based on whether they are said as buddhas or mortals.
In the one case I mow for the sake of caring for the grass. In the other case, I mow as a chore. Mowing grass, caring, and me are one, versus, mowing grass and me in opposition.
Do not be in opposition to your life. It is the only life you have. Cherish it. Embrace it. Open to it.
Be well.