From: Rev. Harvey Sodaiho Hilbert
With palms together, Good Morning Sangha, Some things in life become habits that ought not be. This morning I woke, vowed to see the world as it is and not to forsake any sentient beings. I came downstairs in the dark, lit the alter candle, lit incense, sat down and began to practice zazen. These are habits. These are not good things to be made a habit. Habitual behavior is routine behavior. Saying vows, offering incense, sitting zazen should never become routine. In routine we are asleep. We are not present. So, with a stroke of the bell, I woke myself up out of this sleepwalk zazen. This morning I noticed what Suzuki Roshi had to say about enlightenment. His comment was on yesterday's Zen Calender. "What do you want to get enlightenment for? You may not like it." There are two things that strike me in these words. First, enlightenment is not something you "get." It is something you are. Second, when you do, finally, "get" enlightenment, there are no likes or dislikes. So, what is this finger pointing to? We walk through our lives thinking and behaving as if mind and body are two, when in reality they are not seperate. We we get ourselves out of the picture, we "see" mind and body are one, have always been one, and were never apart. Moreover, we "see" self and other as one: always were one, always will be one. What we may not "like" is the fact that when enlightenment is allowed to be our state of being, we will not enjoy McDonalds so much or a shopping trip to the mall, or the gossip that circulates or the latest television show of film. We will be less Western, more Eastern, less Aglo, more Native American, less white or black , and more human being. In short there will be no differences and we will be less enamored with preferences. When this happens, are we still Americans? Be well, Sodaiho ___ Rev. Sodaiho Hilbert Daihoji Zen Temple 5 Arrow Road Cloudcroft, NM 88317 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It is easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
