Sunday, February 21, 2021

February 21, 2021

Instructions to the Cook 

- article by Kathleen Dickey

Over the winter break, Jill Kaplan gave me the book,  Instructions to the Cook by Bernie Glassman and Rick Fields, which uses cooking as a metaphor for studying Zen.  Bernie Glassman was known for his extensive community activism, including founding the Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York and the Zen Peacemakers.  In it, he says,

"The accomplished Zen cook is something of an alchemist. He or she can turn poisons into virtues. [They] don't do this by adding a secret ingredient but by leaving something out:  attachment to the self. For example, anger is considered a poison when it is self-motivated and self-centered. But take that attachment to the self out of anger, and that same emotion becomes the fierce energy of  determination, which is a very positive force."


In the chapter called "Basic Ingredients", Glassman says, "According to the way of the Zen cook, Beginner's Mind has three basic ingredients: doubt, faith and determination."  

What I love about these passages is their paradoxical nature, that challenges me to wonder: how can my negative emotions be transformed?  My personal demon I call "self-doubt" - so I am intrigued by the idea that doubt could be an essential ingredient.  Glassman addresses this: "Doubt is a state of openness and unknowing. It's a willingness to not be in charge, to not know what is going to happen next."   This is interesting - because if I examine my "self-doubt" it is totally connected to wanting to be in charge. What a concept: to let that go!                                Photo by Kathleen Dickey


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
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Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
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