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Zen should synonomous with a life lived seamlessly. Here are some
thoughts. Use them, discard them, re-write them, but make your life
meaningful.
Daily Practice:
Begin your day with a short gatha, "This morning I vow with all beings to
see the world clearly as it is and to reduce violence and bring compassion to
all beings." Sit zazen.
In the evening, sit zazen.
As you lay down in bed, recite to yourself, "This evening, as I go to sleep, may all beings rest and be renewed through peace and love." A Program for Daily Living:
Most religions seperate the sacred from the profane. They see a
certain place or activity as either being something special or being invested
with something sacred. Not so, Zen. In Zen, we live our entire lives,
from moment to moment, as a sacred activity. There are no seperations
between the sacred and the profane, in fact, concepts such as those are seen as
marks of a deluded
mind.
Exercise. Please try to do at least thirty minutes of exercise per
day. This can be done through running, walking, biking, swimming, weight
training, or through individual or team sports. Make notes of your
training efforts, the thoughts and feelings that arise. Use these notes on
your posts to Team Zen. They can be wonderful enhancements to your practice.
Eating. Please prepare your meals thoughtfully and mindfully. By
thoughtfully, I mean prepare them with your good health and joy of living in
mind. Good food is clean, fresh, and filled with nutrients. Thoughtful
preperation requires planning as to both amounts and a balances of
protien, carbohydrate, and fats, as well as attention to vitamins and
minerals. Mindful preparation includes taking care to prepare food with a
compassionate heart. We acknowledge through the process that this food
comes from somewhere, beings have offered their lives, or had them taken, in
order to nourish uis. We should be thankful and respectful of this, as
well as show this reverence through our gentle and mindful behavior in the
kitchen and at the table.
Working. Each of us must go through a day supporting our lives.
Some go to work in offices. Some in factories. Some work at
home. Some build things, some make things, some think about things. Some
study things. Work is essential to our well-being. It is what
grounds us and connects us to the larger environment. Through the
activities of work we make ourselves a part of the universe. When we see
our work in this light we realize just how important it is to make that work the
best possible work. Work that brings benefit to everyone and harms no one.
Caring for Others. This is the core of your daily experience.
When we begin to see our lives as a vehicle for the caring for and nurturance of
others, we begin to see ourselves more clearly and at the same time live lives
that are much more fulfilling and wonderful. Every moment of social life offers
us an opportunity to practice caring for others. All that is requires is a
willingness to set yourself aside and act for the sake of what is there in front
of you. How hard is that?
Consider posting comments regarding your Sitting, Eating, Working, and
Caring for Others practices to Zen Living. Sharing with otheres is an important
ingredient to a healthy, emotionaly and spiritually fulfilling life.
With palms together,
Be well,
Rev. Sodaiho ___ Visit us at: http://www.daihoji.org Daihoji Zen Temple 5 Arrow Road Cloudcroft, NM 88317 Donations Welcome! Current Building Fund: $217.19 Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi Yahoo! Groups Links
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