Within the vast mystery of Mind there exists a propensity to seek personalized understanding. This is often done by codification, compartmentalization, identification and reductive intellectual processes of thinking and experience, that fit most comfortably with our idea of Self, and the world, as such. Each individual personality has a propensity to engage with belief systems that contain imagery and processes that bring meaning to the formations we believe we most need to comprehend our state of Being and our placement in a perceived, constructed, universal order.
Some of what we find meaning in is fantastical for anyone other than ourself. Some find meaning in psychological analysis, mysticism, religion, methodology, gurus, deities or the natural order, but most everyone, in the creation of self-narrative supported by these means. To each their own. The list is virtually endless, as diverse as the individual manifestation of Mind in each being. Some say that we seek a gradient to wholeness, a unity, non-separation from self and our psychic-physical environment; union with the Whole. Some go in for radical devotion, others for rejection. Much confusion and disillusionment has resulted from this samsaric propensity.
Generally we believe in the “truth” of our sensory experiences. Perhaps this is, in part, because we believe that our body-minds exist objectively to everything else; in-here vs. out-there. Born of self-preservation and the attempt at avoidance of a meaningless existence, humans nurture and maintain a belief that the physical and mental universe that surrounds us is ancillary to our central sense of being; that which we refer to as Me. It seems to be a safe default, and easiest to exist as a separate self within the illusion of control and the comfort of self-creating opinions forming a warm cocoon.
We may however, take a different view; that each of the internal structures that we call “myself”, and that which we refer to as “external” are but one-in-the-same. Non-dualism is a popular phrase for this idea, but does not fully encompass the deeper reality. To go one step beyond and recognize the clear awareness that subverts all sense of distinction of inner and outer is to dwell in our natural disposition of being, this is to experience our life as the clear, unalterable expanse of interdependent, co-arising of Mind.
Every perception is imbued with intrinsic awareness that is also cognizant; free of discursive thinking. When we discover this lack of distinction of inner vs. outer, reality is experienced as ground of being (fundamental, primordial state, our absolute nature, which is already perfect and always present). It is in those moments that we realize the completeness of Mind as encompassing the arrangement by which all transformation, creation and perception emerge from and are dispensed into our experience.
The vast array of Mind arising is like a movie on a screen. Although the images constantly arise and change, the screen itself, the ground of being, remains constant, containing and reflecting all light projected upon it. Neither is separate from one another, nor are they solely one, but exist interdependently and through this, manifest as one. This is the “magic of mind”.
Deep Peace & Great Love,
Issan (author)
…and Zenho, from Kathmandu
Schedule 10/15-10/22
Zenho out of town until 11/3 or so.
Issan out of town 10/18-10/24.
Wednesday and Thursday; 6:30 AM ZAZEN at the Teahouse, Andy opening.
Friday; 6:30 AM, ZAZEN at the Teahouse, Mugen opening.
Please remember: ZAZENKAI and COUNCIL: DECEMBER 1,2 & 3.
Noah’s Poem:
Lined up on the border of
Battle
But
The point is not to scare oneself into awakening
The point is not to rile oneself into the
Brotherhood of Heart
The generations and generations of
Of grief
Still must be felt
So no need to repeat repeat
Just cry and cry
And
Melt into Life
And let the tears kiss your mouth and dry upon your cheek
And see the patient trees
The laughing birds
And each other
once again
No Gate Zen Center 