The Fragrant Emperor

August 5, 2009 Will Simpson

"The Fragrant Emperor", number 127 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Be decent. This is a reoccurring theme, both in this book and in life. We can not be reminded too much to "be decent".

This "be decent" is something that would be helpful in our current political and economic situation. I see so much indecency on the news, particularly around health care reform. I recently heard the argument that the divide in health care reform debate was one between those that valued personal freedom more and those that valued societal cohesion more. What makes this debate particular to Americans is that those who value personal freedom over all else have been a disruptive element of American society since its inception.

I'm encouraged by a recently Op-Ed piece on The Health Care Blog titled "Health in all policies" by physicians Susan Blumenthal, M.D. and Denis Cortese, M.D. In it they frame the conversation so as to shift things away from a conversation about 'disease and death care' and move towards a focus on health. Living healthy and encouraging healthy behaviors is the way out of the mess we are in.

"... medical care alone does not determine our health status. Decades of scientific research shows that our health habits – the choices we make regarding tobacco, alcohol, food and exercise – and the communities we call home – with their transportation systems, workplaces, schools and environments – all impact our health. That's why health promotion and disease prevention must be cornerstones of health reform. A broad range of policy changes, such as regulating tobacco products, nutrition policy changes including implementing healthier school lunch programs, encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption, labeling food content in supermarkets and restaurants, funding bicycle paths and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, expanding parkland development and improving air and water quality – when taken together – can dramatically improve the health of Americans."

I think the doctors tread too lightly on the troubles with our food supply. There is a correlation between the health of our farms and the health of our people. Commodity subsidies, price controls along with the corporatization of the farm has degraded the health of our food supply. Problems in our food supply and the problems of our health are intimately related.

"You can only know you know after you've been it. And in order to be it, you've got to give up knowing you know. It's a fantastic paradox." Baba Ram Dass

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.

Wrong as Hell

August 3, 2009 Will Simpson

"Wrong as Hell", number 126 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

What things are 'wrong as hell'? Poverty, AIDS, hunger & war.

Agree or disagree, see the following.

"Accept every moment as an opportunity presented to you to practice facing reality as it is." Dainin Katagiri

At Waimanalo Pier

August 2, 2009 Will Simpson

"At Waimanalo Pier", number 125 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

This miniature is about the opportunities a parent has for kindness. Not having kids, I can only relate in a relative way.

Yet kindness is never not appreciated. At home or work there is always room for more kindness. There can never be too much kindness.

Robert Aitken says "Sunday should be a day of sympathy and support." This is a bit too defined and restrictive. Not likely his intent. Sunday is no special day. Every day, every moment is an opportunity for kindness. It is true we don't see as much kindness at work or school. We can say "I'll be kind today, right now and not wait." Certainly Aitken wasn't suggesting reserving sympathy and support and only bringing it out on Sundays.

Yet, traditions can be built and be very helpful. Regularly taking time to rest and revitalize was likely the original intent of the sabbath.

"When you forget yourself and put your wholehearted effort into facing every moment, then you can really enjoy your life." Dainin Katagiri

Truth Telling

August 1, 2009 Will Simpson

"Truth Telling", number 124 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Telling the truth is part of Right Speech. Right speech is more than telling the truth.

Speech is a tool, a powerful tool that some of us are less then fully skilled at using. I include myself in this group.

I noticed yesterday that I was using speech to protect myself. Not speaking is a use of speech. It is my nature to withdraw and become quiet when confronted. Maybe more skillful than blurting out but still leave plenty of room for improvement.

This, examination of my actions is made available to me because of my zazen practice. Separating experiences from thoughts about them changes the tone of life lived through me. When I'm uncritical, don't watch the thought patterns, I slip into old and predictably poor modes of interaction. Seeing a small gap in the flood of thoughts is occasionally enough to wake me to a more skillful mode of interaction.

Right speech starts with no thought. To be clear what is meant by thought, any thought that is heard in your head, is one told to us by ego, by our conditioning. Examine the truthfulness of the stories we tell ourselves.

My experience is that they are not a reflection of reality. They are usually just a reflection of other stories we've told ourselves before. These stories are seem so real, so personal. Our stories plead with us to listen to them. Yet when we do we are not comforted by them. A story about a story about a story based on something told to us by someone else living in their own stories. How did all this start? This makes them untrue, false, dare I even say that they are lies.

It is the stories we tell our selves that get in the way from us speaking in uplifting ways. Drop the stories is the work. Not at all easy.

Zazen is the tool of choice for this kind of work.

Now for something completely different. I found this in my RSS reader today an would love to share. Fun, light and oh so true.

BUDDHA'S DOGS By Susan Browne

I'm at a day-long meditation retreat, eight hours of watching my mind with my mind, and I already fell asleep twice and nearly fell out of my chair, and it's not even noon yet. In the morning session, I learned to count my thoughts, ten in one minute, and the longest was to leave and go to San Anselmo and shop, then find an outdoor cafe and order a glass of Sancerre, smoked trout with roasted potatoes and baby carrots and a bowl of gazpacho.

But I stayed and learned to name my thoughts, so far they are: wanting, wanting, wanting, wanting, wanting, wanting, wanting, wanting, judgment, sadness. Don't identify with your thoughts, the teacher says, you are not your personality, not your ego-identification, then he bangs the gong for lunch. Whoever, whatever I am is given instruction in the walking meditation and the eating meditation and walks outside with the other meditators, and we wobble across the lake like The Night of the Living Dead.

I meditate slowly, falling over a few times because I kept my foot in the air too long, towards a bench, sit slowly down, and slowly eat my sandwich, noticing the bread, (sourdough), noticing the taste, (tuna, sourdough), noticing the smell, (sourdough, tuna), thanking the sourdough, the tuna, the ocean, the boat, the fisherman, the field, the grain, the farmer, the Saran Wrap that kept this food fresh for this body made of food and desire and the hope of getting through the rest of this day without dying of boredom. Sun then cloud then sun. I notice a maple leaf on my sandwich. It seems awfully large.

Slowly brushing it away, I feel so sad I can hardly stand it, so I name my thoughts; they are: sadness about my mother, judgment about my father, wanting the child I never had. I notice I've been chasing the same thoughts like dogs around the same park most of my life, notice the leaf tumbling gold to the grass. The gong sounds, and back in the hall, I decide to try lying down meditation, and let myself sleep. The Buddha in my dream is me, surrounded by dogs wagging their tails, licking my hands.

I wake up for the forgiveness meditation, the teacher saying, never put anyone out of your heart, and the heart opens and knows it won't last and will have to open again and again, chasing those dogs around and around in the sun then cloud then sun.

Sixty Miles an Hour

August 1, 2009 Will Simpson

"Sixty Miles an Hour", number 123 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Each day I look at these miniatures. Sometimes nothing, sometimes something. That is how it goes. Learn not to have expectations, to see each opportunity as a gift. Smile with the universe.

The Listening Project

July 30, 2009 Will Simpson

"The Listening Project", number 122 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

This will seem a bit odd. A disconnect from the title of this miniature.

Inter-cultural strife is usually the result of deeply held convictions about injustices done decades or centuries ago.

In this miniature, Robert Aitken presents this in the context of a project meant to heal war strife in the former Yugoslavia.

My life is a microcosm of this phenomena. Much of the interpersonal strife in my life can be directly attributed to ideas that float up in me. Ideas of superiority or of certainty well up in me and prevent me from seeing what is real and helpful.

I can see this in the context of moment by moment life as I live it, here and now with my partner, reading Sunset Magazine. I see her certainty about the situation, how the story is melded to match an idea of superiority.

In the old days, I may have joined in. In recent days, I may have chided her. Today I break through to see myself here and now. I see the ways that I do the same. Hugs and holding hands seems to be the clearest course of action. Love and companionship are the antidote to certainty and superiority.

My partner is my greatest teacher.

Remembered in Museums

July 29, 2009 Will Simpson

"Remembered in Museums", number 121 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Evolution does not only work in the species realm. Societies and cultures evolve sometimes in ways we like and sometimes they violently morph and die. This death is sometimes self-inflicted, otherwise when so called advanced societies subvert so called primitive societies, much cultural knowledge has to be rediscovered.

Just as with species extinction, our involvement in societal degradation is unavoidable. Watch for romantic or dismissal portrayals of lost societies. Both are common traps.

Museums hold all the evidence of once thriving societies. Cultures now dominant will one day be reduced to a curator's dream.