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Discussion of Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind
July 8, 2015 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This Wednesday July 8 at 7:00pm, we will have our next monthly discussion of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind (pages 102 – 110). The chapters for this session are:
- Transiency
- Quality of Being
- Naturalness
Because each existence is in constant change, there is no abiding self.
What does it mean that there is no abiding self?
Because we cannot accept the truth of transiency, we suffer.
Why do we resist change, and how does that cause suffering?
If you are suffering, you will have some pleasure in the teaching that everything changes. When you are in trouble, it is quite easy to accept the teaching. So why not accept it at other times? It is the same thing.
We say, “In calmness there should be activity; in activity there should be calmness.” Actually, they are the same thing; to say “calmness” or to say “activity” is just to express two different interpretations of one fact.
How are calmness and activity the same, or inseparable?
Today I am sitting in Los Altos. Tomorrow morning I shall be in San Francisco. There is no connection between the “I ” in Los Altos and the “I ” in San Francisco. They are quite different beings. [read this entire paragraph – it’s phenomenal]
How is my ‘self’ this moment independent from my ‘self’ in the next moment?
How are you and I the same, and how are we different?
“There is no body and no mind!” …. Because you think you have body or mind, you have lonely feelings, but when you realize that everything is just a flashing into the vast universe, you become very strong, and your existence becomes very meaningful. This was Dogen’s enlightenment, and this is our practice.
Why do we experience loneliness?
What is practice?
Moment after moment, everyone comes out from nothingness. This is the true joy of life…..
Something which comes out of nothingness is naturalness, like a seed or plant coming out of the ground. The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground, with its surroundings. As it grows, in the course of time it expresses its nature.
What is naturalness? How do we express it?
The true practice of zazen is to sit as if drinking water when you are thirsty. …… You do not have to force yourself to drink water when you are thirsty; you are glad to drink water. If you have true joy in your zazen, that is true zazen….
When you do something, you should be completely involved in it. You should devote yourself to it completely. Then you have nothing. So if there is no true emptiness in your activity, it is not natural.
What is emptiness?
What is the source of joy?
Thanks,
