Category Archives: Overcome Difficulties

Seeking Clarification

Continuing on the theme of meditation here is a question sent by a reader on the subject of the advisability of meditating on a question or problem in formal zazen.

Hi There,
Was hoping you might be able to clarify something for me. I have read in a few books that if you have a problem, or something that you are unsure about, and are seeking some sort of solution or clarity on it, that you should meditate on it. Does this mean that during meditation you should actively think about it and see what comes up during meditation? Or does it just mean that you just devote some time to just thinking about that one thing, rather than literally meaning meditate on it?

Kind Rgards

This is the somewhat expanded, and edited, version of my reply:

Dear Friend,
In our practice we don’t bring any deliberate thought into the formal meditation. There is no object upon which we meditate, there is simply paying attention to what is there, moment by imperceptible moment. That might include a question or problem, however one does not then deliberately start to think about it. So, while sitting formally in meditation we simply ‘let be’ neither rejecting nor hanging on, to anything. Bit like being present in a river and being the river, at the same time.

There ‘is’ obviously a place for deliberately thinking about a problem or question, however that’s ‘deliberately deciding’ to think about something. We have the power of reason and that together with ones sense of what’s right/good to do, or not do, is about how one proceeds. That along with the teaching and guidance of the Precepts.

This is the short answer. There is much that could be said. And since I know you will be here at some point for a retreat I advise you to ask your question in person.

In gassho,

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Responsibility to Animals

The following is from an article titled, The Buddhist’s Responsibility to Animals by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett. The article first appeared in the Journal of the Zen Mission Society, August 1970 and was later reproduced in the Memorial Issue of the Journal of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives Winter 1996/Spring 1997. Copyright O.B.C. 1997.

I have often thought that if some of the rich people who give so happily to animal welfare associations could be persuaded to give a little of their money to advertising in newspapers descriptions of specific animals who, for lack of homes, were to be destroyed that very day, they might do more good in solving the unwanted animals problem than in buying new humane killers for the societies to use. I have yet to find any person who could resist the appeal of a fellow creature about to face death. As the Buddhist teaching in the oldest of Scriptures says, ‘All men fear punishment, all men fear death.’ To know that a fellow creature faces that very situation within a few hours might bring the truth of the plight of animals home more clearly than any amount of beautiful society buildings could. After all, a good building gives the impression that the animals are being well cared for and need no assistance. A prominent picture in a newspaper, however, with the caption, ‘To Die Today’, would be much more effective in making the public realize its responsibilities and obligations.

I know of a woman who read this article and took this advice to heart. She regularly publishes photographs of dogs in the local newspaper that are about to be killed if they are not adopted. She says all the animals are adopted. All of them!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

If You Have a Teenager in The House, Or If You Don’t – Read On

The following comes at the end of a commencement speech to graduate aged youngsters. I recommend reading the whole transcript, several times.

I know that this stuff probably doesn’t sound fun and breezy or grandly inspirational. What it is, so far as I can see, is the truth with a whole lot of rhetorical bullshit pared away. Obviously, you can think of it whatever you wish. But please don’t dismiss it as some finger-wagging Dr Laura sermon. None of this is about morality, or religion, or dogma, or big fancy questions of life after death. The capital-T Truth is about life before death. It is about making it to 30, or maybe 50, without wanting to shoot yourself in the head. It is about simple awareness – awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, that we have to keep reminding ourselves, over and over: “This is water, this is water.”
The Guardian newspaper

Adapted from the commencement speech the late David Foster Wallace gave to a graduating class at Kenyon College, Ohio.

David Wallace will be remembered during a ceremony at Berkeley Buddhist Priory tomorrow morning.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

With The Ideal Comes The Actual

Ian in Australia reflects on learning how to make hospital corners, and then on how not to make hospital corners.

In this hand you have the theory, and in this hand the practice, and in the difference of their unfolding we make the beds our patients lay in.

Yes indeed. As we say in one of our scriptures, with the ideal comes the actual. When in the hands of our betters the transition from the innocent following of procedures to the full-on reality of the actual can be testing, or as we say good training!

Reflecting, years later, on the painful teachings coming from our seniors can be inspiring of our deepest respect, and gratitude. Especially for their patience and for their enlightened sense of humour.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

On Whose Wings Do You Fly?

No bird soars too high
If it soars with it’s
Own wings.
William Blake

This is a more subtle task than one might at first imagine.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email