"Faults and Weaknesses" number 22 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.
Faults, weaknesses are just the stuff of character. Anger, confusion, laziness, greed, craving, these are the just the terms we use to describe the faults of our character. Character like the Earths character. Like the Earths nature to expand and contract, Like the polar ice caps, like natures seasons, like the Earth's crust. Our character is our crust and it too expands and contracts along the fault lines of our character.
Faults, weaknesses are just the stuff of character. Anger, confusion, laziness, greed, craving, these are the just the terms we use to describe the faults of our character. Character like the Earths character. Like the Earths nature to expand and contract, Like the polar ice caps, like natures seasons, like the Earth's crust. Our character is our crust and it too expands and contracts along the fault lines of our character.
The Noble Eightfold Path
is sometimes divided into
three basic divisions (graphic via Wikipedia)
| Division | Eightfold Path factors |
| Wisdom |
1. Right view |
| 2. Right intention | |
| Ethical conduct |
3. Right speech |
| 4. Right action | |
| 5. Right livelihood | |
| Concentration |
6. Right effort |
| 7. Right mindfulness | |
| 8. Right concentration |
In this miniature, Aitken Roshi suggests a ninth path factor, that of "Right Perspective". Right Perspective of our character, of the Earth's character. Yes indeed.
