Pine Wind Zen Community Audio

"Even if the Sun were to rise in the West, the Bodhisattva knows One Way." For many Americans the Sun indeed rose in the West on Election Day and the reaction has left us with age old questions. Who are We? Who do we want to Be? Tonight we will explore The Way of the Bodhisattva - The Spiritual Warrior in the face of disappointment, grief, and impermanence. (Seijaku Roshi, Rabbi Richard Simon)

For so many of us fear can be crippling, stifling, getting in the way of our hopes and dreams, and yet it doesn't have to be that way! When we understand how the mind operates from moment to moment, especially when it is fearful, we can apply ancient wisdom, well-honed and proven to weaken the grip of fear - We can Be Courageous in the Face of Fear and Transform it for Our Benefit!

We are witnessing the most polarizing politics in modern American History. Should Bodhisattvas (Spiritual Warriors) become involved in the political arena as a method of helping everyone attain the requisites of a spiritual life? My answer to this question is "Yes." When we enter into the political discussion with Wisdom and Skillfulness, we are not dirtying our hands in a messy, mundane world that we should abandon, we are staying true to our intention of shedding light in the darkened corners of our world guiding everyone to the true and lasting happiness found on the spiritual path. Don't just be angry or worried, do something with that anger and fear - ENGAGE! (Recorded March 19, 2016)

"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of our lives alone, we find it with another." Love is a Force of Nature. It pervades the entire Universe. It runs through everyone and everything. Revealing and available right here, right now. Yet Loving oneself and others continues to be the single most difficult experience in people’s lives. We will explore LOVE as a Force for Change, Healing, Renewal, and Direction. How we can access this pervasive energy at every moment even when it seems impossible. If we never discover Love's Energy for ourselves first and learn how to manifest it in everything we do and every day of our lives, nothing will change. Learn how to Love Mindfully, Compassionately, and with confidence.

In a Nation torn by so much polarization, violence, and so much inequality, how do we begin to heal and find the ground to come together. If we don't we can only expect more pain, more suffering. In the first 78 minutes we will watch the Award Winning Documentary "The Power of Forgiveness" followed by a group discussion and a Dharma teaching by Seijaku Roshi on the Healing Power of Forgiveness and Living a Compasionate-filled Life.

http://www.thepowerofforgiveness.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1-BDwAqaPg

Living Mindfully helps us develop awareness of those habitual reactions rooted both in our genetic make-up and our early childhood experiences (pain body), then we retrain our minds to "respond", rather than react habitually, more skilfully and with real compassion for ourselves. Seijaku Roshi will begin by summarizing the teachings in Part 1, and guide us through several "mindfulness techniques" on and off the cushion designed to empower anyone to navigate through life's disappointments skillfully and with confidence.

"The road to the truth is paved with disappointments. When life disappoints we need not be "dis-appointed". The key is to stay the course. The truth which liberates us is never far away" Living Mindfully helps us develop awareness of those habitual reactions rooted both in our genetic make-up and our early childhood experiences, then retrain our minds to react or "respond" more skillfully and with real compassion for ourselves. Tonight Seijaku Roshi will leads us through a process well-honed and proven to empower anyone to navigate through life's disappointments skillfully and with confidence.

The Present is full of Yesterday and is moment to moment Creating tomorrow. "According to our yesterdays so shall today unfold, according to our interaction with the unfolding of today, so shall our tomorrows manifest." - Buddha

The Buddha encouraged personal investigation of the mind as an essential practice leading to the highest level of conviction and of wisdom.This includes recognizing delusion, the root of all fear and anxiety, as unskillful mental factors. In this way Buddhism has tended toward the deconstruction of Pretense, not only in religious doctrine but in its many common everyday guises. We will explore the "Anatomy of Now" the present moment and see how it is "Full of Yesterday", and learn how to "separate the chaff from the wheat" in order to harvest a healthy and fulfilling tomorrow.

Is "Independence" an Illusion? What is the real meaning of "Freedom"? Do we have "Free Will"? What about my "Choices"? Is there such a thing as "Pre-destination" and "Free-Will"? The Buddha encouraged personal investigation of the mind as leading to the highest level of conviction and of wisdom. This includes recognizing delusion the root of all as unskillful mental factors. In this way Buddhism has tended toward the deconstruction of Pretense, not only in religious doctrine but in its many common everyday guises. The aim of Zen Spirituality is "Freedom", but what does it mean to be "truly Free"? Where do I find my own freedom from fear, stress, and anxiety in an Inter-Independent reality?

"What is lacking is virtue. Virtue is a force-of-nature a conduit for change. A force always to be reconciled with sooner-or-later. The only thing that has ever brought about real change in our world is the virtuous. The only thing that has caused war, poverty, injustice, and discrimination, are the non-virtuous." - Seijaku Roshi

The Buddha characterized "The Way" as "The Noble Life". to live Nobly involves living "Authentically", at the level of "Excellence", and as a Benefit for others.

The "Seven Heavenly Virtues" provide a context for living mindfully and, as a force for change in one's personal relationships and one's relationship with others including the Natural World. When embraced as a "way-of-living" they prove to be a powerful force for healing, renewal, and miracles.