Please join us on Saturday May 30th, 8:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. for a Meditation in Life discussion with Valorie Beer on Practicing with Grief and Fear.  The discussion be soon after our Saturday morning service that runs from 7:00 a.m. to 7: 30 a.m.

The Meditation in Life Discussion Series are informal conversations that view our lives in the context of experience with Zen practice. This discussion is open to all and does not require any background with Zen practice.

Valorie has provided the following list of Suggested Readings for this discussion:

• Regarder of the Cries of the World (see at the end of this announcement, from Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra)
• Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart
• Pema Chodron, The Places that Scare You
• The Story of Kisagotami
• The Story of Patacara
• Harold Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Please Join via Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/807694090

During the discussion please mute yourself if you are in a noisy area, and remember to unmute yourself if you are speaking.

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Regarder of the Cries of the World  (Lotus Sutra, Chapter 25)

Listen to the deeds of the Cry Regarder, who well responds to every quarter;

Her vast vow is deep as the sea, inconceivable in its eons.

Serving many thousands of kotis of buddhas, it is a great pure vow.

Let me briefly tell you.

Those who hear the name and see the Regarder of the Cries of the World,

And bear that being unremittingly in mind, will be able to end the sorrows of existence.

Though others with harmful intent throw them into a burning pit,

Let them think of the Cry Regarder’s power and the fire pit will become a pool.

Or driven along a great ocean, in peril of dragons, fishes, and demons,

Let them think of the Cry Regarder’s power and waves cannot submerge them.

Or if from the peak of Sumeru, people would hurl them down,

Let them think of the Cry Regarder’s power and like the sun they will stand firm in the sky.

Or if pursued by the wicked and cast down from Mount Diamond,

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power, not a hair shall be injured.

Or if meeting with encompassing foes, each with sword drawn to strike them,

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power, all their hearts will turn to kindness.

Or if meeting suffering by royal command, their life is to end in execution,

And they think of the Cry Regarder’s power, the executioner’s sword will break in pieces.

Or if imprisoned, shackled and chained, arms and legs in gyves and stocks,

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power, freely they shall be released.

Or if by incantation and poisons they seek to hurt the body,

And they think of the Cry Regarder’s power, all will revert to their originator.

Or if, meeting evil rakshasas, venomous dragons and demons,

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power, at once none will dare to hurt them.

If encompassed by evil beasts, tusks sharp and claws fearful,

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power, the beasts will flee in every direction.

If scorched by the fire-flame of the poisonous breath of boas, vipers and scorpions,

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power, instantly at her voice they will retreat.

Clouds thunder and lightning flashes, hail falls and rain streams;

They think of the Cry Regarder’s power and all instantly are scattered.

The living, crushed and harassed, oppressed by countless pains;

The Cry Regarder with her mystic wisdom can save such a suffering world.

Perfect in supernatural powers, widely practiced in wisdom and tact,

In the lands of the universe there is no place where she does not manifest herself.

All the evil states of existence, hells, ghosts and animals,

Sorrows of birth, age, disease, death, all by degrees are ended by her.

True regard, serene regard, far-reaching wise regard, regard of pity, compassionate regard,

Ever longed for, ever looked for!

Pure and serene in radiance, wisdom’s sun destroying darkness,

Subduer of woes of storm and fire, who illumines all the world!

Law of pity, thunder quivering, compassion wondrous as a great cloud,

Pouring spiritual rain like nectar, quenching the flames of distress!

In disputes before a magistrate, or in fear in battle’s array,

If they think of the Cry Regarder’s power all their enemies will be routed.

Hers is the wondrous voice, voice of the world-regarder,

Brahma-voice, voice of the rolling tide, voice all world-surpassing,

Therefore ever to be kept in mind, with never a doubting thought.

Regarder of the World’s Cries, pure and holy, in pain, distress, death, calamity,

Able to be a sure reliance, perfect in all merit,

With compassionate eyes beholding all, boundless ocean of blessings!

Let us bow in reverence to the Regarder of the Cries of the World.