Today i was reminded that morning and evening when i chant in front of my gohonzon i am participating in a party of the buddhist "gods". What a celebration! So much life force! So much joy! All aspects of life celebrating together.
Two participants i have been getting to know, in a manner of speaking, are Wisdom King Craving Filled and Wisdom King Immovable. One is action, with single minded focus aiming my arrow at the heart of my desire. The other is stillness, remaining solidly grounded right in the fire of my current circumstance, using it for my awakening.
2018 is the year of glory (brilliant achievement) in the soka gakkai. For me, it begins today.
Party on!!
Friday, December 22, 2017
Monday, December 18, 2017
Today's topic
Today's dialogue topic is fear.
Wondering why i fear the outcomes of my taking action more than the certainty of the outcome if i take no action. Pondering whether i prefer calling myself lazy or a procrastinator to admitting i take no action out of fear of being seen, or feeling like a failure, or even fear of wild success.
So, today, again, i am trying to choose boldness rather than burrowing into the nest i perceive as safe that feels like home.
Onward!
There is a job out there that is mine. Where i will find enjoyment , earn money, and have time for family and for faith activities.
Without action i cannot find it.
Wondering why i fear the outcomes of my taking action more than the certainty of the outcome if i take no action. Pondering whether i prefer calling myself lazy or a procrastinator to admitting i take no action out of fear of being seen, or feeling like a failure, or even fear of wild success.
So, today, again, i am trying to choose boldness rather than burrowing into the nest i perceive as safe that feels like home.
Onward!
There is a job out there that is mine. Where i will find enjoyment , earn money, and have time for family and for faith activities.
Without action i cannot find it.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Connection
From Courtney Seiberling:
"As I remembered, something started to happen. My dad came to me. Instead of in the stiff earth, he appeared in a Neil Young song on the radio. Rather than beneath a glossed stone, he showed up in the way I preferred my coffee. Today, he's often a nudge of encouragement for everything that is possible or a reminder of all that isn't. Things end. But something else always begins. There's a magic to it all."
How wonderful it is to feel the presence of those we love, whether now separated by distance or death. The little things that remind of our connectedness make life so rich, and remind us to develop connection and meaning with the one in front of us right now.
"As I remembered, something started to happen. My dad came to me. Instead of in the stiff earth, he appeared in a Neil Young song on the radio. Rather than beneath a glossed stone, he showed up in the way I preferred my coffee. Today, he's often a nudge of encouragement for everything that is possible or a reminder of all that isn't. Things end. But something else always begins. There's a magic to it all."
How wonderful it is to feel the presence of those we love, whether now separated by distance or death. The little things that remind of our connectedness make life so rich, and remind us to develop connection and meaning with the one in front of us right now.
Friday, August 25, 2017
The quest
It seems to me that most religions or life practices are about the quest. The search and sacrifice of finding the treasure, the holy grail, enlightenment.
The buddha's ultimate teaching, the lotus sutra, is the teaching of the mystic law. Like gravity, this is not a "rule" but a statement of how things work. Mystic because it is not necessarily easy to see or understand.
This teaching is deep and amazing. It moves us not from reality to enlightenment, but from enlightenment to reality. We wake up to our true self, our "buddha nature". And we bring that treasure, that enlightenment, back to our world, our reality, our family, and share and integrate it with daily life.
Turns out my practice is about the return, with the treasure that was mine all along.
How joyful. How wondrous.
The buddha's ultimate teaching, the lotus sutra, is the teaching of the mystic law. Like gravity, this is not a "rule" but a statement of how things work. Mystic because it is not necessarily easy to see or understand.
This teaching is deep and amazing. It moves us not from reality to enlightenment, but from enlightenment to reality. We wake up to our true self, our "buddha nature". And we bring that treasure, that enlightenment, back to our world, our reality, our family, and share and integrate it with daily life.
Turns out my practice is about the return, with the treasure that was mine all along.
How joyful. How wondrous.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Go forth, woman!
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Soul
Came upon a nichiren buddhist definition of "soul" today.
"What the Daishonin refers to as his 'soul' in this passage is the life-state of the Buddha of time without beginning that resides in all people. ....It is a life of absolute freedom, bright and unfettered. It abounds with compassion towards all living beings and with sympathy for those who are suffering. It surges with inexhaustible wisdom and spiritual energy, and overflows with infinite life force, good fortune, and benefit. And, it burns with the courage to battle the negative tendencies in oneself and others, afraid of nothing.
The highest meaning of human existence is found in a life that fully savors and enjoys the wonderful life-state of the world of Buddhahood. .... There is no greater joy."
(P 27 vol 1 The World of Nichiren Daishonin's Writings)
This soul is the infinite part of me that continues -- throughout beginningless time.
Be awake! Live with this realization and remember my vow to work for each living being to know her/his true self. Awaken, cosmos!
May each action i take and prayer i make move in this direction.
"What the Daishonin refers to as his 'soul' in this passage is the life-state of the Buddha of time without beginning that resides in all people. ....It is a life of absolute freedom, bright and unfettered. It abounds with compassion towards all living beings and with sympathy for those who are suffering. It surges with inexhaustible wisdom and spiritual energy, and overflows with infinite life force, good fortune, and benefit. And, it burns with the courage to battle the negative tendencies in oneself and others, afraid of nothing.
The highest meaning of human existence is found in a life that fully savors and enjoys the wonderful life-state of the world of Buddhahood. .... There is no greater joy."
(P 27 vol 1 The World of Nichiren Daishonin's Writings)
This soul is the infinite part of me that continues -- throughout beginningless time.
Be awake! Live with this realization and remember my vow to work for each living being to know her/his true self. Awaken, cosmos!
May each action i take and prayer i make move in this direction.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Two but not two
Today is realizing ni ni fu ni. Two but not two.
I am not moving through the sorrow of tom's death into a time of joy. Neither did i leave the joy of our life together to enter the sorrow of his death.
I am holding sorrow and joy at once. In the same vessel.
As i expand my capacity i realize all potentials are within me and i am within all potentials.
Neither grasping nor pushing away are useful.
The still point and the dance are not separate.
The hurricane swirls around the eye of the storm.
The eye of the storm is integral to the mighty winds.
Two but not two. The true aspect of all phenomena is consistent from beginning to end.
Awakening to this awareness my tension abates.
I dont have to hold myself together. I contain and am contained by all.
Without efforting.
It is the mystic law -- the way life works.
I am not moving through the sorrow of tom's death into a time of joy. Neither did i leave the joy of our life together to enter the sorrow of his death.
I am holding sorrow and joy at once. In the same vessel.
As i expand my capacity i realize all potentials are within me and i am within all potentials.
Neither grasping nor pushing away are useful.
The still point and the dance are not separate.
The hurricane swirls around the eye of the storm.
The eye of the storm is integral to the mighty winds.
Two but not two. The true aspect of all phenomena is consistent from beginning to end.
Awakening to this awareness my tension abates.
I dont have to hold myself together. I contain and am contained by all.
Without efforting.
It is the mystic law -- the way life works.
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