"Awareness of Time" number 94 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

How often do we lose awareness of time? More and more but still undependable. Time is such a tenacious thing. Wait, time a thing? What the hell is time anyway? Is it real or just something made up in mind? That is a dumb question! Everything is mind! But this thing called time is so sticky, it has such a hold on us, keeping us stuck in our delusion.

Practice is made up of time and non-time and the coming to grips with both. Aitken tells us that marking time while practicing will prevent the chance to let body and mind drop away. This matter of forgetting the clock is important.

Recently, I've had taken up the duties of timekeeper during Palouse Zen Community's Thursday night sittings. Now it is especially tough as I want to keep the practice period flowing smoothly. This is a new practice opportunity for me, to let the timer support me.

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.