Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

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There was a man who searched constantly for the perfect dewdrop, feeling that when he found it, his life would be complete. However, no matter how many dewdrops he stared at, there was always something missing. None matched the image he held in his mind. He rejected  so many dewdrops. Like him, we search and search for that which will make our lives complete, rejecting or judging most of what we see. Yet, as we engage in Zen practice, little by little we come to realize, that each dewdrop, each person, each moment is truly perfect as it is. How thrilling.

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Uchiyama Roshi has said we are like travelers on a train, who get caught by the scenery again and again. Rather than be able to take the trip in peace and gratitude, we become embroiled by all kinds of scenes that pass by. Often we, even get pulled off the train and forget where we were head. Lost among the passing scenery, it can be hard to move along. This is also a wonderful description of practice. Yet, as we learn a new way to take the journey, to stay rooted on the train  and allow all kinds of scenery to come and go  a whole new vista arises.

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Although so many of us feel separated, and disconnected during this holiday season, the practice of Zazen tells us that this is not so. Even when we cannot see those we care for, even when we cannot go to a familiar place, the sense of oneness, connection and deep wholeness is available every moment of the day. As we practice, we discover that when we do not reject any moment or experience that arises, when we become one with it, that sense of wholeness and unity takes us to the reality that we are all, always together. Our lives and worlds are always whole.

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The best way to give thanks is to experience and share the Goodness, Value and Beauty of every day that is given to us. But how to do this in the midst of pain, fear and anguish? What makes a day like that Good? Ummon, great Zen Master, tells us that "When there are no unnecessary thoughts in your mind, Everyday Is A Good Day". The thoughts we have about what happens, the anger or catastrophic expectations acts as a filter to what is truly here, moment by moment. As we do not chase after or empower those thoughts, we see beyond them to the Goodness available with every breath we take.

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The Wheel of Time is relentless, turning constantly.  It seems that it cannot be stopped as it turns relentlessly. No matter how much we want to do something over, or control what comes next, the wheel of time, laughs at us, just turning without stop. It pushes us from day to day,  era to era, taking over our lives. But there is a way to take back our time, to enter our lives and live differently. Once we discover the Great Pause, the wheel of time becomes powerless to shove us around anymore.

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There are so many ideas, memories, beliefs and people who want to live our life. They can take over at any moment, over ride what is true for us, and push us into all kinds of actions and beliefs. They shove us around mercilessly, until it is easy to forget who we really are.  Or, we can cling to something in the past, keep trying to fix it or relive it, and that can live our life now. But each moment is unique, fresh and altogether free and beautiful. As we practice zazen, we become more and more able to greet ourselves and the moment just as it is now, and live it fully and beneficially, no strings attached.

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When we are flooded with all kinds of events, news, hopes and fears, it is easy to get lost. Desperate to understand what is happening, and make things right, we jump into the confusion and flail around. Adding confusion t confusion only makes matters worse. However, there is another way. Stop,  sit still in the middle of all appearances, and become a Beholder of whatever arises, within and without. Then true clarity, equanimity, compassion and wisdom appears.  Zazen is the practice of becoming a Beholder... finding a large perspective, and becoming able to see the great beauty and wonder of everything.

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"The Whole World Is Medicine, What Is The Illness?" is a Zen Koan for today's world. There is so much suffering, fear, and conflict that can be solved easily. We do not see that the pain we feel is due to the way we are responding to the never ending cycle of change. We do not see we are clinging to suffering, making it stronger, and that this can be easily changed. This Podcast is the basis of my new course, Sacred Psychology Counseling.
Come listen to the podcast and find out more.

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Everyone wants to be themselves and not have to obey another. There's a sense we must fight, rebel and say No to life as it is. But all the time we are not aware that we are still being obedient. We are automatically obeying our feelings, impulses, thoughts and repetetive patterns. Then we feel stuck and frozen, not knowing why. As we truly explore what it means to be Obedient, we find a strong power within. We find that we can open our hearts and mind to what life as it unfolds, and instead of fighting it, make its acquaintance. Despite our likes and dislikes, and automatic reactions, we then become willing to deeply greet life as it is.

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These days we sail in choppy waters. Life changes on a dime and it seems as though there is no place to anchor our lives, or the boat we sail in. Many lose hope and feel out of control, not knowing where they are headed or what to count on. However, there is a way to go through the sea of life, no matter how turbulent and be planted in a boat that is safe and secure. In this voyage, we do not fight the wild ocean, but learn how to stay planted and centered and be befriend whatever comes along.

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