Life's Lessons
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Sometimes it takes a little time to get the teachings life offers us on a daily basis.
My daughter, Not Son-in-Law, and Grandson Tate arrived from Memphis yesterday for a week long visit. It is the first time Not Son-in-Law Pete and Grandson Tate have been to New Mexico and it is so good to see them again.
Tate has 'love 'em -- hate 'em' issues with the pups. Puppies are wonderful in books, but the REAL thing? Hmmm, he is both curious and frightened. We know he will learn to enjoy these friends, but he doesn't and all of this learning will take a little time.
Just so, Zen: The books about Old Masters reveal a romantic view, with enlightenment always at the end of the tale. Our Zen is difficult. It is frightening. It is boring. It is nothing very special.
Zen is just sitting quietly and letting things do what it does. In the doing, Buddha Mind unfolds before us from within this serene reflective sea we call Mind. Many aspects of our existence arise, some of which we only experienced once. Some very ugly things can emerge from the dark waters; some very pleasant things float by; all must be seen for what they are.
In the meantime we sit. We learn that this meantime is the only time. The meantime is every moment Zen. It is the time apart from the meantime that does not exist anywhere but in our imagination.
This is a true teaching and a very valuable one for each of us.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Sometimes it takes a little time to get the teachings life offers us on a daily basis.
My daughter, Not Son-in-Law, and Grandson Tate arrived from Memphis yesterday for a week long visit. It is the first time Not Son-in-Law Pete and Grandson Tate have been to New Mexico and it is so good to see them again.
Tate has 'love 'em -- hate 'em' issues with the pups. Puppies are wonderful in books, but the REAL thing? Hmmm, he is both curious and frightened. We know he will learn to enjoy these friends, but he doesn't and all of this learning will take a little time.
Just so, Zen: The books about Old Masters reveal a romantic view, with enlightenment always at the end of the tale. Our Zen is difficult. It is frightening. It is boring. It is nothing very special.
Zen is just sitting quietly and letting things do what it does. In the doing, Buddha Mind unfolds before us from within this serene reflective sea we call Mind. Many aspects of our existence arise, some of which we only experienced once. Some very ugly things can emerge from the dark waters; some very pleasant things float by; all must be seen for what they are.
In the meantime we sit. We learn that this meantime is the only time. The meantime is every moment Zen. It is the time apart from the meantime that does not exist anywhere but in our imagination.
This is a true teaching and a very valuable one for each of us.
Be well.