If we are to live a meaningful life, we each need to understand and acknowledge what we have “strewn along our path” good, bad, or indifferent–actions, words, and deeds.
Ikkyu wrote yet another profound poem when he said:
Bliss and sorrow; love and hate; light and shadow;
heat and cold; happiness and anger; self and other.
The enjoyment of poetic beauty may well lead to hell.
But look what we find strewn along our path:
Plum blossoms and peach flowers (page49)!
I resonate with his idea of poetic hell sometimes, for sure! Although I was an English Lit major in college, I was never good at writing poetry. I always felt like I was working on an assignment that was undoable, unmanageable, and frankly really bad writing! So, I avoided it at all costs… until I became a Buddhist and starting writing poems for each of my friends as a gift for their Jukai ceremony.
Each person gets a Zen name during the Jukai ceremony that embodies them as a student and practitioner of Buddhism. That’s why you see Shokai on my writings. Shokai means “inviting the world.” You can all guess why I was given that name! I’m always inviting my friends and family to meditate or read a great Buddhist book, or read my blog, or come sit with us at the Zendo.
Some students want to go even further on their path with additional studies to move into even higher positions like a monk or a teacher.
In your life you’ve created many paths from careers to families and more. Some of the paths have been easy and smooth as the ice on a lake in January or some may have been as unexpected as a summer storm. Sometimes others have strewn things on your path that may make you stumble or pause or even force you to rise to the occasion.
What have you “strewn” along your path today? What has been strewn along your path by others? How did you handle it? Like “Plum blossoms and peach flowers?” Or not…
Footnote: J. Stevens (1999) Zen Masters A Maverick, a Master of Masters, and a Wandering Poet Ikkyu, Hakuin, Ryokan Kodansha International: New York
The Secret to a More Fulfilling Life! Part 3 Living your life like Avalokiteshvara the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion
Posted in birth, BUddhism, cause and effect, chant, Christianity, discrimination, diversity, education, enlightenment, Ethics, fears, happiness, hate speech, human race, illusion, Kazuaki Tanahashi, love, meditation, Metta Prayer, Mindfulness, Noble Eightfold Path, old age, oppression, planet earth, prayer, religion, self-help, sickness, suffering, The Four NOble Truths, The Heart Sutra, Uncategorized, wisdom, Zen, tagged Avalokitesvara, Buddhism, Christianity, environment, faith, feelings, focus, Foundations of Buddhism, friends, fun, Great Compassionate Heart Dharani, humanity, inspiration, Joan Halifax, learning, prayer, questions, relationships, religion, Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, sharing, thoughts, Truth, women, Zen Chants Thirty-Five Texts with Commentary on June 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Avalokiteshvara is known as the person “Who hears the outcries of the World.” There are so many on this earth today who are crying out for help in war zones, from hurricane devastation, earth quakes, in draughts, and famines, through poverty, and more.
As you see in the picture she is depicted with many arms. In other pictures she also has many heads. I know that some of you can relate to her very well. You see her reflection in you. Every time you encourage a child or an elderly person to go beyond their struggles and challenges you are Avalokiteshvara in action. Every time you drop off food at the foodbank, or volunteer with a non-profit organization, or mow the lawn of a disabled vet Avalokiteshvara is moving through you as you. I know sometimes you feel like you could use those extra arms and at least one extra head if you had access to them. But I always say, “Fake it till you make it.”
Joan Halifax and Kazuaki Tanahashi translated the Sutra “Great Compassionate Heart Dharani” in the most beautiful way (pages 138-39).[1] Below is a list of things for you to think about or meditate on. Are these actions appearing in your life on a regular basis? If not, why not? How can you make these actions more alive and present in your life each and every day? If yes, think about a few examples of who, how, and when they appeared.
Make this your project for the year and let me know how it goes!
[1] Tanahashi, K. (2015) Zen Chants Thirty-Five Essential Texts with Commentary. Shambhala: Boston and London
Picture: Avalokitesvara B&W Foundations of Buddhism
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