Monthly Archives: August 2008

Daily Life, Teachings

Friends in the Sangha

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Mugo_Kanzeon_and_Margaret.jpg
Margaret, loyal blog reader and long time Dharma Sister

I count myself fortunate to have known Margaret since 1981 when her sense of humour and fun injected many a ‘tea’ at Shasta with a liveliness not to be forgotten. For the last few weeks Margaret has been staying at Berkeley Priory. Her lively presence and sense of fun while here will not be forgotten. Tomorrow she leaves by car for the north. Safe travels and good fortune with your onward journey. Our paths will converge many more times.

Back in September 2005, while I was the prior in Edmonton, I posted about friendship titled Admirable Friendship the Whole of the Holy Life. Here is part of a quote from that entry attributed to the Buddha.

As he was sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, “This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.” “Don’t say that, Ananda. Don’t say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life.

Looks like Margaret left a comment to the afore mentioned post, and I left her an answer.

Information, Out and About, Overcome Difficulties

Cat Adoption

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Some time ago I posted this.

I’m glad to say that Mitra is enjoying happy times in her adopted home in Florida.

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Suzy the other (senior) cat up for adoption crossed the continent in April and is now in Oregon, waiting for just the right home to retire to.

This is for Suzy.

Daily Life, Overcome Difficulties, Teachings

Why Things Are The Way They Are

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Driving down the road, nothing particular about the day. Life had been rough. Within the last couple of years deaths of two people. Too young to die, in her view. Then there had been many years of mother care. Of mother with Alzheimer’s care.

Suddenly, she said, while driving down the road I knew exactly why everything is the way it is. Everything! And then just as quickly the knowing passed. Just like that. She wanted to keep on knowing what she had known however the moment passed and was gone.

I doubt if anything will ever be quite the same again though.

There is no knowing why these moments come to people, and not necessarily to those who follow some kind of conscious spiritual path. It’s not really necessary to know why of course. And what would one do with that knowledge anyway?

Daily Life, Out and About, Overcome Difficulties

Natural Pride

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Tomorrow a group of cyclists meet at Watson Lake just inside the Yukon, Canada. They will be writing a blog.

The following is from a comment left on a posting here titled Engaged Action published July 22nd.

In Sept 2001 Grant and I did a 10 day backpack in the Wokkpash, one of the areas along the route the cyclists will take. Incredible, rugged, and we saw not a single other human, though many other creatures, including herds of caribou and grizzly bears. On Sept. 12 we came out of the Bush along the Alaska Highway, walked to a small gas station and discovered the whole world seemed to be completely insane. We both had a strong impulse to turn around and go back in. The efforts of these cyclists are an attempt to remind us of sanity.
It is important. Best wishes;
Michele

Two of the young women on this journey grew their Buddhism while I grew mine. During my time as a novice at Shasta, and later as a senior, I enjoyed their growing up and now their emerged and inspired adulthood. As they embark on this venture, there is a sense natural pride in them, and all the others too.

Natural pride is fitting here, for them and for what they are riding for.

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Obeisance

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obeisance \oh-BEE-suhn(t)s; oh-BAY-suhn(t)s\, noun:
1. An expression of deference or respect, such as a bow or curtsy.
2. Deference, homage.
Obeisance comes from Old French obeissance, from obeissant, present participle of obeir, to obey, from Latin oboedire, to listen to, from ob-, to + audire, to hear. The adjective form is obeisant.

Taken from here.

Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame
The act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behaviour with respect to another person

Taken from here.
Also see here.

This evening we talked about the gassho which literally means To place the two palms together, and we also talked about bowing. Both fundamental to Buddhist practice.

Zen Master Dogen teaches, As long as bowing lasts, Buddhism will last. I rather like the thought that obeissance has roots pointing to listening and hearing because at the heart of bowing, which includes the gassho, is hearing. That’s hearing in the depths of ones being, and bending at the same time.

Bowing, at heart, is an expression of gratitude which has no object and no subject either. No reason to bow, just bow.

Thus it is that daily; Buddha recognizes Buddha, and Buddha bows to Buddha.

Several of us thoroughly cleaned the meditation hall, from floor to ceiling. It took most of the day. It’s been a good day.