Sticking to It!

When I think of Zazen (sitting in unification) practice, I have a kind of mental picture that it's like climbing Mount Everest. Though Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, it's not a straight up climb, the entire way. Vertical faces are only one part. The terrain contains many different elements including hills, valleys and the weather Itself.

Having read many stories about climbing Mt. Everest, there is always the inevitable good weather turning on a dime and becoming incredibly bad. In order to make the summit, You really have to stick to the process. And despite sticking to the process, there are times and conditions where the team making the climb will not reach the summit. It happens. The conditions and time are no so-called "right."

As we sit, sit, sit - I've easily learned that I am my own mountain and can be something of an "iron" wall. There are times when my "mind" is not my ally and it almost seems to conspire against me. I can sit down, wanting to concentrate, determined as "all get out" and willing to follow my practice, so that I reach the summit and then boom! All of the sudden, thoughts about the kids, Deb, work or making dinner appear. And what I initially thought of as "good" weather turned into a storm. At that moment I can be a bit bewildered and even disappointed in myself. "No even 5 feet towards the peak today. how miserable is my practice."

When these moments happen, it's *really* important not to give up on the climb. Zen and the use of Zazen is a "life and death" matter. Climbing ourselves is not going to be easy. It never was and never will be. It requires that we stick with it not only when it's easy, but in the difficult places to. If we "give up," we never reach the summit. That is deceptively powerful truth.

I sometimes tell myself in these difficult times, "though wind, rain and cloud may come, nowhere does the sun fail to shine in this great universe." And so then I march on and continue my climb. I refuse to give up. Some day, someday, someday, someday, someday, I will reach the peak, if I just "stick-to-it." Not just for myself but all sentient being. I don't know about you, but this is why I practice, breath after breath, sit after sit.

That so-called "team" that I mentioned before is sometimes called a "Sangha" (community of people that practice Zen together) in Buddhist practice. Having people with us as we climb our personal Mt. Everest can be amazing helpful. "It is only by the grace, kindness and mercy" of others that I am here. This is a fact and I know it well. If we have the opportunity to practice with others, we should use the opportunity, if for no other reason than it will making reaching the summit much more "doable."

In our practice, I encourage you and I to "Stick-to-it" and never, ever give up. We can "ride out" the conditions of our psychological and emotional terrain. We can for more than survive our mind's "weather." We can realize our Buddha nature. I have no doubt about this. Neither should you.

Gassho (In Gratitude),

Jaye Morris, Curator
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