{ Monthly Archives }
i have plans which will bring benefit and pleasure to my friends. i may also upset a few people. i don’t know for sure,of course,but it is possible. what is sure is that i am putting more energy into trying to avoid what may happen than in getting on with what i know will bring about good.
i’m looking for karma-free existence here. there ain’t no such thing.
i needed to rest. i was so tired that i was barely functioning. if an original thought had popped into my mind i would have dropped dead from shock. but when i am that tired my mind becomes agitated,rest comes hard.
i needed to just put everything,body and mind,down. so why the resistance?
i refer to a quote from dogen,’just be alert in every encounter’. it has relevance for me at those times when i seem to be idling,on auto-pilot.
be alert,be here in this moment.
a friend’s relationship has ended. she said,’i wanted so much to make it work,i couldn’t see what was really going on’. having been in the same situation,i knew just what she meant.
encouraged by her words,i have taken another look at myself. there is that which i want and i need to take care not to act on it. i need to ask,’is this good to do?’
the snow disappeared fast. its white beauty turned to grey slush. a lesson in impermanence. and a lesson in attachment and craving. all things pass.
i want it back!
i have a new t.v. it has a seemingly endless choice of programmes. i could watch soaps all day without repeating an episode. but i don’t need a t.v. for this. there seems to be a soap opera running in my mind. and it always seems to be a repeat.
why do i choose to keep playing it? i don’t know. but i know i don’t have to pay attention to it.
it’s snowing! everything is covered in snow. i woke up to wonderland and i can’t wait to get out in it. this is a rare event. children will be seeing snow for the first time. a day to be remembered.
a simple act of nature brings such beauty and joy. it makes the heart sing!
dogen says that the koan arises naturally in daily life. doesn’t it just? a question i have often heard asked is,’what is a koan?’. one answer i liked was,’that which is a spiritual trial to us’.
i’m never going to be short of a koan or two.
when i come into conflict with people i want to get away or fight.but this only continues suffering.conflicts need to be faced but gently.when trying to walk against a gale blowing off the sea,i can’t force my way.if i lean gently into the wind i can make some progress.
gradually storms abate,suffering lessens.
yesterday i was with other people.today i am on my own.yesterday was a day of meditation and ceremony.today is one of cleaning,shopping and paying bills.different but the same. each day we just deal with whatever is in front of us.
different scenery,same practice.everyday zazen.