The Great Silence
enfolds the world.Who could have guessed
Its tenderness?”
Daizui MacPhillamy
********************
He died in his own bed
Ten years to the day.Shortly before
a snowflake
fell on his face.He smiled,
he was home.
I miss him still, his council in particular. Today alone, driving south I spoke out loud. Telling him about this and that, asking into the thin clear air.
There is that which is not born, and does not die.
Start by taking care of your boots, she said. I can’t remember the question but it was something to do with being more compassionate towards oneself. This exchange took place at a Spiritual Direction Ceremony at Shasta in the 1980’s. A ceremony where the novice monks ask the senior monk leading the ceremony a spiritual question. That’s asking a largely unrehearsed question, out loud in the presence of all the other monks. Beautiful in its’ simplicity and a time of circulating generosity. I remember that answer well. Perhaps because I already believed in taking care of my boots. At that time mine would have been around 7 years old, mended at great expense and were never the same again unfortunately.
The answer might have been to take care of ones sandals or anything used regularly. In a certain way taking care, keeping clean, keeping preserved and in good repair is a way of expressing gratitude for the service items of personal use give us. Thinking about it now that answer was really a very good one. Having compassion for oneself starts with taking care of, and thus being grateful for, all that one comes into contact with. Perhaps it is that the distance between me and my stuff gets smaller. Acceptance becomes all embracing. Just thoughts at the end of a long day.
I found out yesterday walking boots are best sent to specialists for new soles and for general repairs too. That’s what I plan to do with mine. Those boots will be 7 years old later this year.
One of the temples of the order I am part of has published a cookbook. No ordinary cookbook this one – Kwan Yin Loves Pie. I’m showcasing Grants Politically Incorrect No-Nonsense Pancakes. As an aid to memory, since the recipe calls for one of everything, Grant suggests singing/humming One-is-the-loneliest-number…. and other similar songs. And here is Rev. Master Koten on Chocolate Chip Scones
These scones are delicious as they are,
but the chocolate chips
bring them up to a
whole new level. Koten
Obviously this is much more than just a cookbook. More a window on the lives of those who gather around this temple. There is teaching on the important ingredient, love. I’d say the background smile coming through this book is as important.
One of the congregation members reports:The cookbook is a fundraiser towards getting some building done at Dragon Flower Mountain (Lions Gate Buddhist Priory’s rural temple in British Columbia Canada), which I know all are hoping can maybe start this summer (2013.)
The book can be ordered by email and paid for on-line. In addition the temple has generously posted a pdf version of the cookbook. Be sure to make a donation if you download the pdf. Every dollar counts.
I was just talking to one of the monks at the temple in deepest rural British Columbia letting them know I am posting this. Apart from saying a friendly hi I wanted to make sure somebody drove up the mountain to the ‘upper cabin’ to check email regularly to catch your cookbook orders.
This must be what it’s like for new parents. That’s not quite believing the little one has, after all that waiting, actually arrived. Quickly followed by the dawning realization that one’s life work has just manifested! In the spirit of this article, Unfolding the Buddha’s Teaching where I speak of ownership of the project, this certificate represents the birth of THE project, not our project. Now is the time to draw in the growing cast (of those who want to become involved with the project) and get specific about the work that can be done to help the business along. But I am getting ahead of myself. Rev. Alicia and I need to get our heads together first to make sure we are on the same page in terms of what’s needed right now.
Field of Merit is Born
Yes, ‘the project’ is moving right along and from time to time I draw attention to that here on Jade Mountains. I quite deliberately keep the two sites running in parallel though. Jade is my personal blog and Field of Merit is a ‘temple’ website. However the unfolding of this project, to set up a rural retreat, is so important to me it is natural I will draw attention to it. When it is up and running Jade will be here talking about the unfolding of daily life there. Where ever there might end up being.
Preamble: This post is shining a spotlight on the fact that, realize it or not, we are all active agents in the flow of change and following the Precepts and living a reflective life is paramount in minimizing harm to self, other and society generally. Please forgive me, I am most likely preaching to the converted!
That all compounded things are subject to change is a universal Truth. There is no way out, round or under change. In Buddhist doctrine Anicca is the Pali word for impermanence (change) and is one of three universal Truths marking out how Buddhists understand existence, The Three Marks of Existence. Sometimes these three Truths extend to include Nirvana and are then termed The Four Seals of Dharma. There are other variations on the collective term used.
Change itself is not something we will or want or don’t want since, as a universal Truth, Anicca can’t be argued with, obviously. So when talking about engaging with change it is specific change that’s being referred to. We humans quite often want what we don’t have, and don’t want/like, sometimes, what we do have. That all covers a huge amount of ground both for individuals and within society generally. That’s ranging from the material/physical world, what can be seen and held to, through to matters of the mind and heart which are hard to pin down. Views, opinions, emotions, and the like cannot actually be divorced from the material and the physical, however it can be helpful to make a distinction.
Having and not having, and having a problem either way, is one of the descriptions of suffering – Dukkha. We feel or say that we are subject to change, or (painfully) being subjected to change. Both tend to imply that we do not have much influence on what happens to us and perhaps the society we enjoy being part of. As Buddhists we encourage active intelligent engagement with what comes before us. We do, and rightfully, have a place in influencing the course and direction of our individual and collective lives. The truth of Anicca makes this possible! Without a changing present there is no chance of a future. We’d be stuck with now!
During a conversation I had recently, which originally sparked off my thoughts about change, the subject of the wisdom, or otherwise, of engaging in a process of dialogue to influence specific changes was on the table. Here are my thoughts on engaging in dialogue with a view to influence change. Each person comes to the table with unique skills and experiences as well as a unique world view. Each person is beautiful and blessed with intelligence of all varieties. Compassion, love and wisdom are ever present. Also those around the table carry, as night follows day, a degree of habit energy (karma), which is a universal Truth in itself. I remember in a previous article on Jade Mountains referring to this habit energy as the elephant in the corner, the koan arising. In other words the koan arising and the energy that goes with it can be so obvious few think to acknowledge, and take active responsibility for, its presence. Because it is obvious! That room, whereever debate and discussion is taking place, can be anywhere: be it on-line, on the phone, in the street or via the written word. Never before has communicating been so easy or so sophisticated, and so rife with potential TROUBLE, on a global scale!
We have come a long way from kids taunting the neighbour’s kids from the safety of the woods at the back of their garden, and then running away. Or shouted conversations, often enjoyable ones, across the hedges while hanging out the washing. Put kindly, dialogue and debate covers a multitude of possibilities.
Please accept the following as non-judgemental, just my way of expressing a wish for there to be generally fewer bruises and less blood shed in the world when we are out and about talking to one another. So, I make a plea, put in common parlance, for acknowledgment and ownership of ones personal agenda: it will always be there. Respect yourself and others and where you and they are coming from. And keep a watchful eye on your ethical compass.
Understanding basic Buddhist doctrine and practicing the truths embedded therein stand us all in good stead. And I for one could do better in terms of study. At the risk of sounding bossy or preachy – to be effective, to effect change for the good, we do need to keep in mind our spiritual roots and abiding Refuge. That’s, rightfully, where we are coming from. Here is some reading should you have the time:
The Four Seals reveal what is unique about Buddhism among all the world’s religions. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche said in an article titled Buddhism in a Nutshell: The Four Seals of Dharma, “Whoever holds these four [seals], in their heart, or in their head, and contemplates them, is a Buddhist.”
This quote came from here.
On Jade Mountains I tend not to post directly about Buddhist doctrine and weave in the basics in a conversational way. This is because I assume non-Buddhists read Jade just as much as Buddhist do and it is important to be inclusive of all who come here. The Rinpoche quoted above is from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and the article pointed to is a transcript of a talk given to committed Buddhists in his tradition. That’s good to keep in mind if the approach taken is unfamiliar or difficult for you in some way. Read, if you get to it, with an open heart and mind.
With thanks to a sangha colleague who applied her editors red pen to this text.