This Jisei, or death poem by the 19th century Japanese poet Kiba captures so poignantly the ephemeral effervescence that is a human life. Life is so fleeting. My old body: a drop of dew grown heavy at the leaf tip Kiba, 1868Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of DeathYoel […]
Life’s Fleeting Nature: Kiba’s Poignant Jisei Death Poem Read Post »
I love this quote by Shunryu Suzuki. It’s not about having special experience. No experience will ‘save you’ or give you eternal happiness. You cannot take refuge in particular experiences, however uplifting or extraordinary. Not satori, not insight, not enlightenment, not getting there. Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual
Nothing Special – Shunryu Suzuki Read Post »
All experience is mind is probably a misleading title for this post. It seems to suggest that experiences are ‘something’, and that this something is ‘mind’ – a thing. It’s as if there is this thing called mind which exists, and our job is to discover it, to reveal it. But actually, it doesn’t! Instead,
All Experience is Mind Read Post »
… it’s about opening to what is, every moment … and being able to fully open to whatever arises. That’s all. It ain’t about getting somewhere, having any particular sort of experience rather than another, however so called spiritual, or getting enlightened. No place to go, nobody to be … Just open and rest in
What’s it all about? Read Post »
From a reply on a Dharma list, where someone asked: I have an object such as watching the breath but I am constantly distracted. Please elaborate on “In order to keep from being distracted, that object is a support”. Hi there, one way you could approach this is by reviewing your intention – what is
Using an Object as a Support for Concentration and Awakening Read Post »
I’ve recently discovered a blog called if you see the dhamma … written by Joseiem, which I’ve really enjoyed reading, and commenting on. I thought I’d just lift a set of replies I posted to Joseiem’s comments. I’ve used the title of this post to highlight what I’m trying to point at, not to characterise
Starting from Experience and Starting from Thought Read Post »
Is there anything more beautiful in this world of ours than a deep blue, almost clear sky, with traces of white puffy cloud? How indescribable is the depth of that ‘blueness’ …. seen in mind, in the present, with full awareness? Sky’s vast openness perfectly mirrors the nature of mind … open and unlimited, vivid
In reply to a question from her son, Gangpa Muksang, as to what is the meaning of ‘devil’ Machig Labdron replied: That which is called devil is not some actual great big black thing that scares and petrifies whomever sees it. A devil is anything that obstructs the achievement of freedom. … Most of all,
Reflections on Machig Labdron – The Material Devil Read Post »
Having just had my first real positive breakthrough with my slipped disc, after 7 years of pain, I was reflecting on what different views it is possible to form on the myriad shifting conditions of ones life, and how differently those views must then impact on your life. I’ve just had a successful course of
Half Empty or Half Full Cup? Read Post »
I thought I’d share some experiences in meditation ….. The Ocean and the Waves …. thoughts are like gossamer ripples on the surface of the ocean. Waves are not something other than the ocean. They are just an aspect of it, not different in nature. Thoughts kinda ripple on the surface of it. Really fragile
Meditation on Mind Read Post »
