First Reason

June 30, 2009 Will Simpson

After the rain

"First Reason" number 91 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

The initial reasons we use to take up a new practice are not important. We start where we are.

Chögyam Trungpa said that when we develop a tenderness towards ourselves we get the opportunity to see both our potential and our personal foibles. Developing an appreciation for what is the mixture and texture of our very own lives is the grounding necessary to just start. Start, the first reason quickly becomes a memory.

I can not remember why I stepped on the path of Zen. I dabbled on the 70's reading Alan Watts, Ram Dass, Shunryu Suzuki, Philip Kapleau and others. Got the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama in San Francisco, on his first visit to America. Lots of reading and discussion. No sitting zazen practice, no work with a teacher. That started much later. But in both cases I can not remember how I got interested and at this point I'm frankly just not interested in figuring out why.

Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.

Be Decent

June 29, 2009 Will Simpson

"Be Decent" number 90 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Decent and decency are words not usually associated with Zen practice.

Being decent reminds me of being upright. The ten grave precepts. To be decent is something that comes with time, with maturity. We have to continuously mentor ourselves and be reminded to be decent. Decency is a synonym to kindness with a little more formality.

In our book group yesterday, someone referred to my confession of my occasional lack of kindness as me being judgmental. The reaction would have been the same had I used the term decent. I have to agree that to sit here and talk about some past interaction and measure the level of decency would indeed be a form of self-judgment. And yet, when in the midst of life, we can feel in our skin whether or not we are being decent. The more we practice the less we can hide from that fact.

I want to mention again my Dharma friend Robert Thurman and his most excellent podcast. Listening today as I circumnavigate the cemetery on my lunch time walk and was deeply moved. Buddhism is unabashedly about reality.

"If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview." Dalai Lama

Déjà vu

June 28, 2009 Will Simpson

"Déjà vu" number 89 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Today, déjà vu.

Déjà vu, is a feeling, sometimes a jarring feeling. It not something that can be conjured up. Déjà vu feelings arise suddenly and unexpectedly.

I tend not to have this experience often. I have grown in my practice to see these paranormal experiences and feelings as normal and ordinary. Not magical at all. If I take feelings or experiences as magical, I miss being present in the moment. I still smile and wonder.

Today treatment of this miniature feels a bit light weight. The rhythm of live undulates. Show up and the sometimes the sparks grow to flames and sometimes not.

Busy day up today. My turn to fix Sunday breakfast, Zen book group this morning, woodworking clutch this afternoon, Mary makes a new dish for dinner. Kale, Mushroom and Tomato Saute with Polenta (via Whole Food Recipe appliction for the iPod Touch). More stuff added to my todo list. PalouseZen.org and KestrelCreek.com both are down. What is with technology, so undependable.

Dumbing Down

June 27, 2009 Will Simpson

"Dumbing Down" number 88 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

The word teishō refers to a presentation of the Dharma, usually by a Zen Master during a sesshin. To call it a lecture or talk is "dumb down" the Way. Some mystery and wonder enlivens the practice. There is no need to equate the Way of Zen with Sunday School.

When I first started practicing formally with the group I now practice with, I thought there was too much romanticism with Medieval Japanese culture. Now, I see that we are a bit to casual with the practice and too quick to attempt to make it comfortable and familiar with out first seeing intimately.

Tomorrow, déjà vu.

A Loaded Word

June 26, 2009 Will Simpson

From WoodenZen

One Summer Morning

"A Loaded Word" number 87 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

We venerate the Three Treasures
And are thankful for this meal -
The work of many people
and the sharing of other forms of life.

This is the informal gatha changed before each meal at the retreats I've attended in Spokane. Aitken Roshi states that it may have originated at San Francisco Zen Center and may have ended with "and the suffering of other forms of life."

Sharing vs. suffering. In this context this is a big deal. The switch softens the gatha and in a way attempts to let us off the hook. We live and other forms of life suffer and die both directly and indirectly. Sharing makes it seem as though all those cows enjoy been paraded to the slaughter house. Or, less dramatic, do you think the eggs in the pasta with buy were produced by happy chickens? Not likely. Even the wheat we eat in our bread, I can tell you as I live next to a 800 acres of wheat, that in the process of planting and harvesting hundreds of sentient beings are killed, some quite horribly.

This switching suffering for sharing is a white wash, an extension of double speak. Sharing doesn't quite feel as upright as it once did.

No Zazen for Children

June 25, 2009 Will Simpson

"No Zazen for Children" number 86 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

I don't know. I have no children. I am supremely unqualified to say. Other than, once long ago, I was a child.

I have an idea that I would have benefited from zazen as a child. It is just an idea but maybe I wouldn't have benefited. I see my Zen practice as primarily made up of zazen and precept study/practice. As a child I was indoctrinated into the Christian cosmology by traditional Sunday school and traditional prayer. Till I was six or seven, all this was just absorbed, then I rebelled. I see a corollary here. Likely I would have taken the same path if it had been indoctrinated into a Zen practice instead of Christian practice.

I know someone who lives with two Zen Masters who are in the form of children. I'm sure that he would not agree with Aitken Roshi.

Aitken Roshi suggests that maybe one should wait till they are thirty-five before "beginning Zen practice". Yamada Koun Zenshin (1907—1989) was Aitken's teacher and was married to pediatrician Dr. Kazue Yamada. Kazue started all this by saying to Aitken "Don't let them even try. Send them outside to play."

Do we think Aitken Roshi and Dr. Yamada are suggesting no religious practice of any type till thirty-five and just play? Does this imply that one could be too old to practice Zen?

Dogen's Fukanzazengi (The Way of Zazen Recommended Universally) does not qualify any age at which to start practice.

My simple understanding of the historical context of Zen practice was that children stayed with their families till adolescences before going to live in the Zen monasteries. Male children only. So children did not routinely have a Zen practice. In those days, children would have had the opportunity to see Zen practitioners in their communities and it would have been natural to be curious. I can envision the children playing at imitating the monks but it probably was a boy thing. Cultural crap being what it is.

I am fifty-two and am only still beginning to practice Zen. I hope to continue beginning. I can not see when it would too early to begin beginning.

The Way of Yao

June 24, 2009 Will Simpson

From WoodenZen

Wallen Road Rapeseed Field

"The Way of Yao" number 85 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Dungshen Laingjie or as we more commonly no him as Tozan Ryokai, was the founder of what became the Soto school of Zen. He lived 806-869. We have him to thank for the Zen territorial map called the Five Ranks.

According to Aitken Roshi, Tozan encourages us to 'make the way of Yao' our own. Yao was one of the mythological emperors in the 'Three August Ones and Five Emperors' which according to legend ruled China between c. 2850 BC to 2205 BC. While Yao's and his son's, Shun, lives were complicated, they were moral and benevolent and are held up as examples even today.

Yao encouraged everyone in his kingdom to be playful and creative, to dance and sing with each other. Good advice even today!

I want to let all my friends know that Jack Duffy has started releasing the audio recordings of his sesshin Dharma talks. Here is the link to download. http://mountainlamp.org/audio/index.html I'm helping him with the this, so if you see problems or have suggestions let me know and I'll pass them on.