Humane Antennae

October 4, 2009 Will Simpson

"Humane Antennae", number 164 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Today's miniature is contains a cute story of the Roshi being caught parked in a no parking zone. Aitken was a bit obtuse and acted the cranky old man. The security guard played along. A humane human.

This little tidbit was in my email this morning. Looking through my email and also at twitter is like opening thousands of sweet notes to the heart.

This is from Tricycle's Daily Dharma.

The Teacher in Everything

In taking up Zen Buddhism, we find that the life of the Buddha is our own life. Not only Shakyamuni's life, but the lives of all the succeeding teachers in our lineage are our own lives. As Wu-men Hui-k'ai has said, in true Zen practice our very eyebrows are tangled with those of our ancestral teachers, and we see with their eyes and hear with their ears. This is not because we copy them, or change to be like them. I might explain Wu-men's words by saying that in finding our own true nature, we find the true nature of all things, which the old teachers so clearly showed in their words and actions.

But the authentic experience of identity is intimate beyond explanation. And it's not only with old teachers that we find complete intimacy. The Chinese thrush sings in my heart and gray clouds gather in the empty sky of my mind. All things are my teacher.

- Robert Aiken Roshi "The Teacher in Everything," Tricycle, Fall 2001

Read the complete article on tricycle.com

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.

Grandmother's Admonitions

October 4, 2009 Will Simpson

"Grandmother's Admonitions", number 163 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

The measure of a teacher is not on-line or IRL, in a book or in person, virtual or tangible or even live or dead. The measure of a teacher is shown in the student.

I'm not so good a judge of the quality of a Zen teacher. We sometimes see some with real social problems with so called Zen teachers. Some are eloquent some are artistic. Some not so much so. Some are techno-geeks some are technophob's. Some times we like the teacher some we don't. All this matters not as it is the minds game of picking and choosing.

Look at the students to measure the depth of the teacher. Gather trusted friends and listen to their advice.

Everywhere I look I see that I can take a more active responsibility for my Zen practice. This is my part of the Student/Teacher equation. As I up my game, I'm met with more expansive teachers. On-line or in real life does not matter.

Hands together in peace.

How to Make a Baby

a short educational film

by Cassidy Curtis and Raquel Coelho

January 2009

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

Pleasant Memories

September 27, 2009 Will Simpson

"Pleasant Memories", number 162 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Artist: Sunao Hironaka (1903-1990)

Title: Untitled

Medium: Watercolor

Overall Dimensions: 27"x22" framed

Price: $800

Available at Cedar Steet Galleries

Probably not this painting, but one by the same painter stimualted a flood of pleasant memories for Aitken. He was not moved particularly by the painting but the painter. Not really the painter but the painters wife. Not really the painters wife but his memories of the times he and his parents spent with her. Funny how with mind, one thing leads to another.

One of the fringe benefits of having a disciplined mind. "Pleasant Memories!"

Counting Seconds

September 22, 2009 Will Simpson

"Counting Seconds", number 161 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

I continue to be moved by the sweetness of these miniatures.

Different from Aitken, I learned to mark seconds with "One, one thousand, two, one thousand, three, one thousand..." I don't remember who it was that instructed me so.

If learning as a thing, is comprised of the thing and the circumstances of the learning, I've remembered the thing but not the circumstances of the learning. Does this disadvantage my learning? It doesn't feel that way. Yet it makes it hard to reminisce.

Hopefully, reminiscing will be a skill developed over time. The question is do I have enough time left? I'll have to reminisce vicariously. (Wow, where did that come from?)

This seems a train of thought going nowhere thankfully. Time to measure out the breakfast oatmeal.

As irrigators lead water where they want, as archers make their arrows straight, as carpenters carve wood, the wise shape their minds.

~The Dhammapada

created by Raynor

Helvetica the movie

Holocaust Survivors

September 17, 2009 Will Simpson

"Holocaust Survivors", number 160 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

This miniature is contains a moving story of a Holocaust survivor that confronts the squatter in his old family home with almost disastrous results. He involves his twin daughters and in so doing passes on his horrors. Actions lead to consequences, it never ends.

I seem to be slowing down with my digestion of these miniatures. I've started with our sangha looking at the Shodoka and this may interrupt my activities here. Maybe not. I've come all this way through this book and am dedicated to finish.

Definition :: tittle - the dot on top of the "i" and "j" typological jargon.

The Foreign Groom

September 17, 2009 Will Simpson

"The Foreign Groom", number 159 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

I have to admit that today's miniature is uncomprehensible to me. Aitken describes some Tang period polo figurines on display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. He then proceeds to make a story about the figurines. In the end the frozen polo player is "focused on whacking the ball for all time."

Is that the joke or there something more serious going on? There is no point to this. Indeed the words flow out and it is what it is. Relative and absolute collide as the polo player "whacks the ball for all time."

Here is yet another demonstration of the power of the Internet. A Google search produced the link below. It is the relevant two minute segment of audio from the 'Honolulu Academy of Arts audio tour'. Here the narrator describes the polo players and the history of the piece. I imagine this is the same thing Aitken heard or maybe he went 'old-school' and read the placard. Sorry, no images.

http://www.honoluluacademy.org/audiotour/English/25.mp3

Uncle Max

September 16, 2009 Will Simpson

"Uncle Max", number 158 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

This miniature is not about Uncle Max but is really a node to Aitken's love of his Aunt Margaret. She was the foundation on which Uncle Max depended. They share a simple life and in the end is sounds as though they both were bodhisattvas, one supporting the other.

This "just being herself" is the highest embodiment of love.

"I just think I'm myself" (5:00 minute mark).