Friday, July 23, 2021

July 23

July 23

A friend sent these to me...what it said to me was a show of good will in the world. 

Bows, Camille

















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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows for:
    • Rosemary Catherine Scarlett, Angela Scarlett's mother who died on the evening of July 20th, 2021
    • Bill McElhinny, Ruth Sherer's partner who died on May 9, 2021 from cancer (Ruth was a member of ZHS many years ago)
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Enzo, the Sanchez/Luna family dog who died on July 4th, 2021
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Les Kaye, who has finished his second round of chemotherapy and slowly recovering his strength
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke

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Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021

July 21

 

The Buddha’s Last Instruction -  by Mary Oliver

“Make of yourself a light,”
said the Buddha,
before he died.
I think of this every morning
as the east begins
to tear off its many clouds
of darkness, to send up the first                                    
signal -- a white fan
streaked with pink and violet,
even green.
An old man, he lay down
between two sala trees,
and he might have said anything,
knowing it was his final hour.
The light burns upward,
it thickens and settles over the fields.
Around him, the villagers gathered
and stretched forward to listen.
Even before the sun itself
hangs, disattached, in the blue air,
I am touched everywhere
by its ocean of yellow waves.
No doubt he thought of everything
that had happened in his difficult life.
And then I feel the sun itself
as it blazes over the hills,
like a million flowers on fire --
clearly I'm not needed,
yet I feel myself turning
into something of inexplicable value.
Slowly, beneath the branches,
he raised his head.
He looked into the faces of that frightened crowd.

- Submitted by Jill Kaplan

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows for:
    • Rosemary Catherine Scarlett, Angela Scarlett's mother who died on the evening of July 20th
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Enzo, the Sanchez/Luna family's dog who died on July 4th
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Les Kaye, who is finishing another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke

__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Saturday, July 17, 2021

July 17

 

Submitted by Kathleen Dickey:

Leigh Hyams: How Painting Holds Me On The Earth, Writings from a Maverick Painter and Teacher

Creative Expression is available, one way or another, to anyone at every stage of life, in every culture, and it is accessible at any time. We have only to learn how to access it and to use it openly and freely, by overruling conventional, limited ideas about what is acceptable. Giving ourselves permission to fly with paint, with dance, with music, with poetry or film. Attitude is everything.

The act of drawing and painting renews us. When we step behind the screen of words that papers over so much of our lives, we find a path that can lead us to our real selves. Painting is a process, not an end, and not a product.

Painting, done with the right spirit, keeps us honest, curious, sensitive, and very present in our lives.”

(Persimmon at Filol / watercolor by Misha)

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Enzo, the Sanchez/Luna family's dog who died on July 4th
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Les Kaye, who is finishing another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke

__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Thursday, July 15, 2021

July 15

Suffering and Empathy

by Jim Little

After my talk Can/Should We Compare Suffering, some interesting conversations and thoughts have arisen
with others.  One such question is how does suffering impact my ability to have empathy for others?

Take for example a mom who has been putting in long hours at work, to then come home to make dinner for the family among the other tasks she has on her plate.  Over dinner she brings up the fact that work has been especially hard and she would like some help around the house with chores.  Going around the table the husband recounts his work-load and tough day, followed on by the son and his trials and tribulation with school, returning back to the mom.  In conveying her difficulty in a request for help, the conversation turned toward a comparison of difficulties as justification for not helping.

It's not hard to imagine this type of conversation in a family or work setting.  In fact, I have been a part of such a conversation where a list of difficulties was used in an appeal for help.  What I find interesting about this anecdote is to consider WHY the other family members compared their suffering instead of seeing a request for help; empathizing with mom and the extra things she has taken on.  More generally, how can our suffering/difficulties make us unavailable to be empathetic toward others?

If we see a house on fire, we rush to it in the event there is a need.  If we see a house with weeds, do we rush with the same zeal to mow them?  There seems to be something inside that informs us that a need is there, but another thing that seeks to apply some value or worth to it.  We might think, "There's nothing more important right now than getting my neighbor out of the burning house!"

  Thinking, "I'm too busy with work to deal with that burning house right now" doesn't seem to fit the situation.  This gets right to the difference between comparing suffering and recognizing need. Of course, most of the time I'm not presented with burning buildings, but more subtle situations where the suffering may not be so clear or obvious.


I think it comes back to habit.  I am wrapped up in my own life, my own issues, my own suffering.  If I'm so habitually preoccupied with my "stuff" I am not really present when those moments, deserving of empathy, arise.  But if I can break that habit, stopping my "story" long enough to consider your situation, empathy, compassion and an appropriate response, can arise.  I see zazen as my practice of pausing that story, widening that gap between the event and my impulsive reaction, to become present in recognizing your suffering, to be empathetic.

What prevents you from being empathetic?  What is your antidote?  How do you work on recognizing need in others?


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Enzo, the Sanchez/Luna family's dog who died on July 4th
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Les Kaye, who is finishing another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Monday, July 12, 2021

July 12

 Remembering Kobun Chino Roshi

 (from an old collection of anecdotes from Jikoji Zen Center): 

“I’m pretty sure—when one sit about 10 or 15 years on and off, without exceptions all become very intuitive and judgement of things are very correct. But social communication is
very poor.  Good example is here.  Sociality is almost zero.  Don’t know how to please people by word.  Always make people mad when I speak.  If I sit with you maybe 5 or 10 more years you will disappointed with me that I had nothing.  And finally I may sit alone.  No one come along.  That feels my way and my fate.  That’s alright.  Sociality is very very bad.  I’m not talking just myself.  Most of you are like that, too…I hear from many different people that people around are very nice people and kind, although most of them are very strange, everyone carry very crazy part.”  





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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Enzo, the Sanchez/Luna family's dog who died on July 4th
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Les Kaye, who is finishing another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Saturday, July 10, 2021

July 10

 The Dalai Lama’s Vow 
(after Shantideva, the Way of the Bodhisattva):

 

With the wish to free all beings

I shall always go for refuge

To the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha,

Until I reach full enlightenment.

 

Enthused by wisdom and compassion

Today in the Buddha’s presence

I generate the mind for full awakening

For the benefit of all sentient beings.

 

As long as space remains,

As long as sentient beings remain,

Until then, may I too remain

And dispel the miseries of the world


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows in honor of:
    • Enzo, the Sanchez/Luna family's dog who died on July 4th
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Les Kaye, who is finishing another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

 

Am I my brother's keeper? 

Reflection and artwork by Kathleen Dickey



Our Saturday discussion 

about using anger skillfully 

made me want to share this collage 

I'm working on, 

"Am I my brother's keeper?"  

Translating some powerfully strong feelings 

into images  is letting me step back 

and see where 

I can be most helpful.





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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who is recuperating
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Monday, May 31, 2021

May 31, 2021

 

In honor of Memorial Day, 2021


May all sentient beings who have 
served in war,
died in war,
suffered in war
be honored on this day.

May all sentient beings who have
lost their families in war,
their homes  and livelihoods,
their place of birth and connection
be honored on this day.

May we remember and honor them, 
carrying them in our hearts 
throughout space and time.



_______________________________________________________________________

Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who is recuperating
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Friday, May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021

 From Zen Master Dogen Zenji's Fukanzazengi  


Who would take wasteful delight in the spark from the flintstone? Besides, form and substance are like the dew on the grass, destiny like the dart of lightning - emptied in an instant, vanished in a flash. Please, honored followers of Zen, long accustomed to groping for the elephant, do not be suspicious of the true dragon. 

Submitted by Sylvia Hawley




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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, May 9, 2021

May 9, 2021

Happy Mother's Day!

Buddhist tradition and folklore is full of divine maternal figures who offer compassion, loving care, and protection, from the radiant wisdom mother Prajnaparamita, to the Earth Mother goddess Prithvi, to Tara, the Mother of all Buddhas.

There's a Tibetan teaching that recognizes all beings as having been a mother in a previous lifetime.  The teaching also asks us to contemplate the kindness of our own mother or whomever it was that took care of us when we were young.  What would it look like to bring this wisdom into our lives today?

This Mother's Day, we're celebrating the sacred role of the mother in Buddhist teachings as well as the mother features in our own lives--however difficult or imperfect our relationships with them might be.  May we honor those who gave us life, knowing that there is no one right way to be a mother.

From Tricylce Magazine, submitted by Bill Clopton

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Tuesday, May 4, 2021

May 4, 2021

Mahapajapati Opens the Door

Mahapajapati was the aunt and foster mother of the buddha and a queen of the Shakyas.  Many women turned to her for counsel when their husbands and sons left home to join the Buddha's order.  She was the first to ask the Buddha if women could also ordain.

The Buddha replied, "Don't set your heart on this."  She asked two more times and received the same answer.  She departed in tears.

Later Mahapajapati and five hundred other women cut off their hair, put on saffron-colored robes, and walked barefoot for hundreds of miles to where the Buddha was teaching.  Weeping, they stood outside the gates. Andanda saw them there and asked Mahapajapati, "Why are you crying/"

"Because the Buddha does not permit women to ordain."

Ananda went to the Buddha and said, "Your aunt is standing outside with swollen feet, covered with dust, crying because you do not permit women to ordain.  It would be good, Lord, if women had permission to ordain." 

The Buddha replied, "Enough, Ananda.  Don't set your heart on this." Ananda asked two more times to no avail.  Then he asked, "Are women able, Lord, to realize the full fruits of the the way, even arahantship?"

"Yes, Ananda, they are."

"Since women are able to realize perfection, and Mahapajapati was so kind to you--caring for you and suckling you at her own breast--surely it would be good if women were allowed to ordain." The Buddha relented, and the sangha of women was born.

From "The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty Five Centuries of Awakened Women" (Edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon)

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Marya Shahinian, who has had two outpatient surgeries and is recovering
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is recovering after finishing a successful round of chemotherapy...his tumors are gone!  
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, April 26, 2021

April 26, 2021

Bodhisattva Ceremony 

on the April 'Super Moon'


Thus on this Full Moon evening 

We offer the merit of the Bodhisattva Way

Through all world systems

To the unborn nature of all being.





__

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows in honor of:
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who will need to undergo another round of chemotherapy
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is continuing  chemotherapy treatments  
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
Posted by at No comments:
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