Measure Twice, Cut Once

On my way along my path, I have been noticing how often a person's last ditch and often hopeless attempt at something actually works.

People often leave the thing they dislike (or simply like least) until last - then seem surprised when it seems to work.

Where does this surprise come from?

The thing you put off is usually the reason you tried the others first - They weren't as painful to attempt compared to admitting that your likes and dislikes could be wrong and that you need to start with a fresh new approach that is more likely to work. So everyone tends to fixate on the things that they could do that could go wrong or that they may do poorly in such an attempt. This results in them doing the things that would usually make them hesitate, with more mindfulness and discipline than all their other attempts. Close enough isn't good enough for the things you try to avoid. You only want to do this once! When you attempt what you think is impossible you tend to be more diligent and want to take notes so you can throw it back in the face of all those that suggested it to you. Throw it in your own face for even contemplating doing such an unlikely thing ...

The discipline, the mindfulness and the methodical diligence you apply to your task are what makes it work - Not the fact you hate it.

Having the painful things work opens your eyes to what you have been missing - the ability to access to a more honest and authentic place in the world. Shying away from the truth you see in those moments and convincing yourself that the world is against you will get you know where.

Using the memories that come from times of learning that stick in your mind and skills gained from those experiences will help to startle yourself awake and to open your eyes wide and see the real complexities of the world as it is. Such a view is priceless ...

#bowiebardo

Bowie steps out of the Bardo (the state between lives as prescribed by Tibetan Buddhism - David Bowie was Buddhist) - here is how you can aid in calling him back to earth.

It's an interesting idea - so get into it if you want to find the first Ziggy Stardust Rinpoche, the first Rock and Roll tulku from the line of Bowie.

bowiebardo.com

[repost from my personal facebook]

Zen Monsters and Zen Masters

Recently I have been thinking about my steps on an (or is it "the") spiritual path. This has been helped along by reading the book Zen Confidential: Confessions of a wayward monk by Shozan Jack Haubner. I have felt a certain kinship with its content, particularly in referring to oneself as more of a "Zen Monster" than Zen Master.

I have always had a strong interest in the viscera of spiritual practice and some pieces of wisdom I have on standby seem to reflect this -

Smile while you still have teeth

And something I was only able to articulate (somewhat) artfully in full only recently -

Don't like how you appear to the world?

Then change it by changing what it depends on:

Only after stripping away the layers of flesh can we start to polish bone

This fascination with the darkness and how it comes into play in everyday life looks to have served me well - it seems to make me different to the rank and file yogurt fanciers that appear too uptight to even pass wind. Everyone needs to pass wind from time to time. It is one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's go-to topics to bring people at ease and prove that he is as human as the rest of us - or like the rest of us: just happening to be in human form for the moment.

People, even in spiritual traditions seem soo intent on proving themselves that they get in the way of any good they are able to do. There is no shame in practicing a skill until you master it, no matter how simple. Perhaps this is why most courses in meditation and mindful thinking start with the breath, something no one has really thought about until they must and even then it is still a thing that may be trained and practiced.

People who think of themselves as great often have to tell themselves that story. If the story stops, they stop believing they have to fight off rising feeling of them being terrible. They suddenly have to face who they really are: someone capable of nasty things and someone who has to live with what they have already done. 

That makes it hard for them to look at their own life and find the lessons they can learn from those situations.

Only beings of pure light aren't afraid of the darkness - and that's because they take their own light with them. It looks like the rest of us still have some dark lessons to learn ...

Click to see more of this comic, and more from Zen Pencils

Anxiety Time: Stress vs the Buddha

Anxious: up at night.
Thinking, stressing, waiting - Thin…
(Sleep is for the weak.)

Oddly nauseous.
Fighting for my right to stay
Really not all fun.

Up early In the morn' —
Or is it still late at night?
Is there a diff'rence?

Get-ing there early:
Good, right? Please tell me that's good!
Either way: moving.

Move - Stop — Go - Stoplights - ...
Early buses take longer;
All move as one now.

People take too long!
*Fidget wheels fidget further*
When you feel like this …

Move - Keep moving! - MOVE! - move?
Moving in slow motion, eh?
I see what you do … !

“Mindfulness is it.

Meditation will help you!

Focus on the breath …

Examine the breath.

It’s okay to be like this,

We will help you through.”

Sitting firm, upright.
Zazen shuts the mind right down -
Waves of stillness work.

No one can move oceans
The depth brings the stillness home —
Silence is your friend.

Breath stills the big things
And makes all things quieter
out in out in out …

A Simple Thank You Message

Here is a simple thank you message I wrote, originally as a food prayer then generalised - feel free to add or use what is appropriate.

Thank you to all the people who stressed, strived and suffered so we may have this here today.

Thank you to all those who had to spend time away from the people and things they love for us to have this here, where it may have been better elsewhere.

Thank you for those who lived, died or suffered under incredible hardship in the past to bring this to us, here and now.

Thank you to all the people who pressed on and endured when they thought they could bear no more so we may be here today in the name of wholesomeness and peace.

We hope your suffering has no need to continue and refuse to let it go on in silence and ignorance.

Let any merit that comes from what follows go towards ending the torment of those that are tormented and come, in time, to bring peace to all - if not happiness!

I would never disparage you ...

There is a character found in Chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra, known as Bodhisattva Never Disparaging who had an unskillful (up to the point of annoying) way to practice the Dharma - to speak the words:

"I would never disparage you, because you are certain to attain Buddhahood!"

Or as put in the song Our Hero by the Dharma Cowboys:

"I would never disparage you or keep you at arm's length
Where you only see your weaknesses, I only see your strength
I would never despise you or put you down in any way
Because it's clear to me
I can plainly see
You'll be a buddha someday
I love you."

While certainly being a pleasant sentiment it is still being a bit cryptic about how this idea can be practiced.

In a highly recommended post from Ocean Gate Zen Centre they move beyond this into the multilayered lesson that can be used in daily practice from Bodhisattva Never Disparaging.

Resilience

The mental resilience to be unashamed and unwavering in practice, even in the face of great adversity.

Example - In this case, The Bodhisattva was cursed and reviled by others who lack understanding of the unique practices he was taking.
Actionable point - Trusting in the path we are taking, either by - as Buddhists - taking refuge in the Triple Gem or in different contexts simply trusting in those that can help and that have done similar things before.

Discipline

The discipline to stick with a seemingly hopeless practice long enough to see the fruits of his previous labors.

Example - Never Disparaging bore the curses of others patiently while perfecting the practice he was undertaking.

Actionable Point - When we stop to think that all hope is lost and start looking for ways out, we can easily find one. The people who can do difficult things often start by working out precisely how difficult it truly is for them, at that time, in their skin - and working to make it easier for them - moment by moment. It's easy to find hope if you never lose it to begin with. It's easier to keep going if you never stop.

Ability

Selecting a task that is "do-able" but still challenging - and often challenging for very different reasons than you would have originally thought.

Example - Never Disparaging selected to say a phrase to each person he would meet, some commentators suggest it was only those he was introduced to, others portray him as a madman repeating a phrase to all who would listen!

Actionable Point - Selecting a suitably challenging task is a challenging task in itself! You will get it wrong, so learn to be okay with that. In a Buddhist context, you could choose to nod or bow - or just simply acknowledge and smile - to every image of the Buddha that you see. Or try to say "thank you" to everyone who helps you - or gives you a small kindness, no matter how small.

I personally find the most moving message hidden later in the Chapter - After gaining powers practicing the Dharma, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging would teach what he had learned to all who asked including those that were harsh to him while he was learning. Remembering how he had suffered during his learning, and being motivated by compassion (via Bodhicitta) the Bodhisattva never once mentioned the harm inflicted upon him during his training.

In this materialistic world with the mantra "more is more" is is humbling to note that even today:

Sometimes the greatest way to help is through the use of restraint.