Zen Gifts begins on Wednesday, February 13th, known also as Ash Wednesday. The blog runs for 40 days through the end of the winter and ends on Sunday, March 31st, a spring day also known as Easter. Anyone may read the blog and make comments. Please restrict your comments to the contents of the blog material. During the 40 days we will read and look at the Oxherder pictures. We will use them as a way to look at the gifts of Zen.
Everyone is welcome. www.asinglethread.net
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
What's Happening?
The Self & The Ox
Know thy self. Study thy self. Contemplate thy self.
The Self, Confused
The Self Sees Traces
The Self Runs for The Back End of the Ox
The Self Lunges the Dark Ox
If you are reading the book, please read Chapter five.
The review of the pictures reminds me of what it is like to learn to play a musical instrument or learn any new skill. The first four pictures are what it takes to get us going...deciding that I want to learn something new...starting out with small steps...not wanting to practice....the practice...the practice. And now I can actually play a song. Marilyn
I have been working during this Lenten period with the practice of doorways---being aware as I pass through them. At first, there was mostly surprise and disdain to see that I am never mindful as I pass from room to room, I am always busy trying to get somewhere, quickly, with my mind full of thoughts and without present moment awareness. Then, I realized that my practice was to see my conditioned mind without judgement, as an opportunity to recommit to mindfully going through the doorways. I began to settle down for moments during the day, usually after I had passed through 3 or 4 doors in a hurry, not noticing, then finally waking up. Though I commented earlier this week that I am less tethered to the wild bulls, in truth, I remain firmly tethered, going after all kinds of mundane stuff all day long that I get attached to perfecting, accomplishing, crossing off the list. The practice is slowly helping to get that conditioning out of the drivers seat.
For the longest time, I sought only for myself. I wanted to clean myself up, I wanted to be a "normal", functioning person in the world. And of course I wanted everyone else to be clean (at least my definition of clean). The first three pictures are cleaning up: I knew something was "wrong" and I wanted to fix me. When I saw the backend of the WAY, I thought I had "gotten it." And like the ox, what I thought I had "gotten" kept wandering away. After all the pulling and tugging and fighting with the ox, I no longer sought just for myself. My practice, and the practices of all are mutually beneficial. I didn't need anything to be clean (neither me nor anyone else). I am walking with the ox--together freely, not tethered. By the truth and virtue of this practice: May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness; May all be free from suffering and the causes of suffering; May all have equanimity; Without too much attraction or too much aversion.... Toni
The review of the pictures reminds me of what it is like to learn to play a musical instrument or learn any new skill. The first four pictures are what it takes to get us going...deciding that I want to learn something new...starting out with small steps...not wanting to practice....the practice...the practice. And now I can actually play a song.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Build capacity.
ReplyDeleteI have been working during this Lenten period with the practice of doorways---being aware as I pass through them. At first, there was mostly surprise and disdain to see that I am never mindful as I pass from room to room, I am always busy trying to get somewhere, quickly, with my mind full of thoughts and without present moment awareness. Then, I realized that my practice was to see my conditioned mind without judgement, as an opportunity to recommit to mindfully going through the doorways. I began to settle down for moments during the day, usually after I had passed through 3 or 4 doors in a hurry, not noticing, then finally waking up. Though I commented earlier this week that I am less tethered to the wild bulls, in truth, I remain firmly tethered, going after all kinds of mundane stuff all day long that I get attached to perfecting, accomplishing, crossing off the list. The practice is slowly helping to get that conditioning out of the drivers seat.
ReplyDeleteFor the longest time, I sought only for myself. I wanted to clean myself up, I wanted to be a "normal", functioning person in the world. And of course I wanted everyone else to be clean (at least my definition of clean). The first three pictures are cleaning up: I knew something was "wrong" and I wanted to fix me. When I saw the backend of the WAY, I thought I had "gotten it." And like the ox, what I thought I had "gotten" kept wandering away. After all the pulling and tugging and fighting with the ox, I no longer sought just for myself. My practice, and the practices of all are mutually beneficial. I didn't need anything to be clean (neither me nor anyone else). I am walking with the ox--together freely, not tethered.
ReplyDeleteBy the truth and virtue of this practice:
May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness;
May all be free from suffering and the causes of suffering;
May all have equanimity;
Without too much attraction or too much aversion....
Toni