Rise Together

Another Rohatsu (pronounced Row Hot Sue) is upon us and coming quickly. For those who are not aware, December 8th is the day traditionally celebrated as The Buddha's "enlightenment" day, when he attained full awakening. It's a day which has great significance, meaning and opportunity.

A couple weeks ago, someone had said, "Buddha seems so far away, so abstract, so out there somewhere. I wish I could have some small piece of that." What I was thinking or perhaps better said feeling was, that Buddha is sitting with you, right here, right now and is no other than you, at this very moment.

It's important to state and remember that Buddha is not a ,"God." Buddha is just saying, "This person, this human being, is Awake 360 degrees." Put another way, it's said we use a very small percentage of our brain, but Buddhahood would be like having your brain operate at 100 percent. Instead of seeing and being divided, we would see, feel and experience no gap, no distance and no separation. And in the moment perhaps there is ceaseless compassion for All Beings and All Things.

To know that place, I've been told by one person that, "We must sit, sit, sit in One pointed, undivided, stabilized Mind." My own teacher has said, that we sit courageously on the very brink of life and death.

This week, though I will not be at Sesshin (trans. To gather the Mind), as are my teacher and friends, I intend to practice as hard as possible and whenever I can. I hope that you get the opportunity to do so as well. We rise together.

"Let me respectfully remind you,
Life and death are of supreme importance,
Time moves swiftly like an arrow,
and opportunity is lost,
Each of us should strive to awaken,
Awaken!
Take heed. Do not squander your life."

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Clarity of Mind

"Kingyu Osho and Rice Pail," is Genjo Marinello Osho's latest Teisho to be released.

In Genjo Osho's talk, he discusses how our practice can enable us to "cut through complications," and develop a "clarity," to effectively meet not just the moments of crisis we may experience, but the "ordinary moments," too. His Teisho connects on many levels and many points, examining the vital questions "Are you awake, are you clear, are you present?"

The Teisho is available on SwitchPod or iTunes. Please note that through either service it is offered free of charge, which is in and of itself very nice thing.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Gratitude Speaks

Things as they are, it always seems easier to notice what's going wrong rather than what's going right. Add to that the projector of the mind, which can be a lot like putting gas on fire and our perspective can get really distorted, jaded or negative. That said, I want talk about a few things that I'm grateful for, especially since it's thanks giving.

1. My wife and kids. Despite the fact we sometimes go in different directions, we always end up together and on the same page. It's easy to love people when everything is going right. It's much harder when its not so right. I'm grateful that we look for the best in each other.

2. Genjo Marinello Osho and members of the Choboji Sangha. Over the past year, Genjo Osho has left a significant on my mind and heart. From what most would call a random encounter, something really special has flowered for me. Having a rudder for a boat is very important.

During Autumn Sesshin, there where moments when I felt as though I had fallen down on a difficult spiritual climb. Different Sangha members in their own heartfelt meaningful ways extended something of themselves and helped me to carry on, in a few of my tight moments. I bow deeply in the most sincere gratitude. The practice at Choboji is sharper than any razor that I have ever encountered. I feel a very strong Dharma connection.

3. Salisbury Buddhist Sangha, that I am now sitting with most Monday nights. Each member is kind, sincere and gentle. It takes *real* courage to sit, because you never know who you are going to meet on the cushion. Zazen with them was very helpful to preparing for the difficult climb Autumn Shessin. Seeing the members there is a very bright spot in my week that I really look forward to.

4. Sean, Carla and children who are very near and dear to my my family. Always present. Always funny. Always sincere. Good friends are very hard to find. The recent birth of their daughter has made for a very special Thanksgiving and addition for them.

5. My place of work and friends there. Each day, the activities the the staff engage in help to fulfill the first "Great Vow For All," However innumerable all beings are, I vow to help them all.

6. You, the people who come to visit. I appreciate and value the thoughts and feelings expressed within your comments and emails. I really hope that in some small way that I have managed to contribute something postive to your life. It's in that spirit and I continue with digitalZENDO as an important part of my Zen practice. I thank you for that, many times over.

This is certainly not an all inclusive list, but is a more a reflection of what I am noticing today. Maybe I just could have said, "I'm grateful to endless dimension universal life, for my very being," but that sounds a tad grandiose, coming from me.

Forever True Dharma Continue,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Don't Give Up

There are times when calmness does not come naturally for me. And because it doesn't feel natural and perhaps even awkward, I have to work harder than usual to get to a place where I feel reasonably "okay."

This morning, sitting down for Zazen, my mind erupted when some events that I didn't notice I was still carrying from yesterday bubbled up to the surface. My head became like a dark cloud and it was difficult for me to get traction. I looked at my watch and only 6 minutes had passed and I thought about just getting up and trying again this evening.

In that instance something spoke to me and said, "Don't give up." Maybe it was just me. Maybe it was my Family. Maybe it was my teacher, Genjo Marinello Osho. Maybe it was the Sangha or something else. What ever it was, it was very clear and there was a momentary break in the clouds. I remained on my Zafu, gaining a toe hold.

When I completed morning zazen (35 minutes), I could still see he clouds within my mind, only now they where at a distance and I could gaze at them. I felt a little less burdened and feel as though I have some wiggle room to move emotionally. The key however is not to give up and hold on to fortitude (the spiritual strength for the endurance of hardships), in this moment and within this very breath.

It is worth me remembering, that though, wind, rain and cloud may come, nowhere does the sun fail to shine in this great universe. Those are not just words. That is the reflection of something which is really true. I hope I can hang on to that.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Plum Mountain News

There is a new edition of "Plum Mountain News" available for download from the Choboji website. Among the many great articles there is a transcription (with the help of Seishun) of Genjo Marinello Osho's teisho on Joshu's koan "Mu."

The reason that I am drawing your attention to this, is a very pointed reminder for all of us. When will we cease being deluded? When will we stop living the scripts imposed on us in childhood that have nothing to do with who and what we really are? Will it happen for us in this life time? Are we expecting it to be the next? In point of fact, it's very easy to tell based on how we live our lives. Are we caught in the distractions or are we free from allowing them to consume and devour our consciousness and spirit? Genjo Osho's teisho could be a potential catalyst for helping you cut through. I know that they sure help me, especially when I'm wayward and need course correction.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

The Essence of Buddhism

Hapiness,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Life Instructions

When talking about "Happiness," Stefan Sagmeister mentioned "Life Instructions," by Chris Glass. He created the image below as a sticker. He and his friends then placed the stickers on NYC subways and other areas of the transit.

I enjoy the image very much, because works on so many levels. It has become the latest wallpaper on my laptop. It's a useful reminder about what I am supposed o be doing as a human being.



My Gratitude Goes With You,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digialZENDO

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our very dear friends, Carla and Sean on their newborn daughter who came into the world today. Very wonderful and special moment indeed!

Namaste',

Jaye Morris & Family, Curator
digitalZENDO

Moment of Clarity

We all experience moments of clarity. There is an instance that our consciousness shifts gear and is no longer separate from the vast ocean of consciousness. It's like a drop of water that falls from the sky, that lands in the ocean. It has returned home. No gaps. No distance. No separation.

What I've found interesting is, it seems that moment of clarity is just that. It's only for a moment. It's like we see the truth and then for what ever reason, something inside can actually decide to pull us back and away. And when that happens, we are back in the illusion.

Since returning from Choboji, one thing that I've been actively working on is learning how to use those so-called "Moments of Clarity" as a kind of window or door and instead of pulling back, moving though it like an open door or window. The effort is to expand the moment.

Some people would and have asked, "are you trying to get enlightened, kensho or satori?" My answer is no. The real effort for me is to "cease being deluded." I figure that I have a much better shot at eliminating delusions "here and there," rather than get some sort of enlightenment, like those old Zen Masters.

When I have a moment of clarity, it's usually leaning against some false notion or belief that I've been clinging too. If I don't pull back, things have a tendency to be flipped over and they look very different to me, than the moment prior to that. By the way, this may all seem very abstract, but in point of fact it's very concrete and tangible.

A quick example is when I went out to Choboji, I my mind was filled with "I wonder how long the sits will be? I wonder if the people will be accepting of me or will they be aloof? I wonder if I will survive the vegan diet? I wonder if it's going to rain the entire time, all my friends say it rains endlessly in Seattle?" It was just a bunch of noise and images in my head.

But then in Genjo Marinello Osho's first Teisho of the Sesshin (trans. to gather the Mind) he said something that created a moment of clarity. He said, (something that I'm paraphrasing), "You came here for authentic Rinzai Zen training. Yes it was so-called you that came here, but do not waste the sacrifice that others have made for you to be here. This will make them very happy." The instant he said that, there was a sonic boom in my mind. I had only been looking at my trip to Choboji from my perspective. I had not considered the thoughts or feelings of others like my wife, my children or my friends. They had to carry my responsibilities while I was there. They made significant sacrifices to support my being at Autumn Sesshin.

It was Genjo Osho's encouraging words that opened a moment of clarity, about the sacrifices that people made not only for those seven days, but all the days that came before and now those that are after. I've been striving to expand that clarity throughout my life, as much as I can. When I do that, I feel deep, deep gratitude, humility and appreciation.

I hope that we can all use our moments of clarity, not only to our own benefit, for others too.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Skimming the Surface

There are times when I feel so bombarded by data, people or my general environment that I stop listening fully and start "skimming." From my perspective, skimming is a lot like having the outline of an object without truly experiencing or holding he object. Put another way it's similar to reading the table of contents for a book, without reading a book, yet thinking that you read it. The truth is that we [can] end up with a fractured understanding or notion of what that particular book is.

I can go further and admit that there are times in the past that I have used "skimming," with people too. I heard the words that they spoke but not the real content and emotions inside of those words. I was too busy, trying to be efficient. And as I was busy being efficient, I was robbing the moment of any opportunity to be genuinely effective or intimate, because the efficiency created a kind of disconnect.

When I'm interacting with people, that moment is not about what I want to take away from that instance, but learning to accept what is given, as though it was a gift. When I get that email from my friends, I no longer scan the words, I fully read it and in some cases print it out so I can absorb it. No gaps. No separation. Just being present.

In getting beyond "Just skimming the surface," things not only, look different, but feel different as well. When I can stop skimming, perhaps instead of living like a ghost, a so-called real human being appears.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Daniel Goleman on Compassion

Dr. Daniel Goleman PhD. talks on "Why aren't we all good Samaritans," when the capacity is there for us, in every moment. Take ten minutes to connect with your "puddle of peace."





Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Notes on Happiness

Stefan Sagmeister, a designer who I find terribly compelling, inspired and moving shared some interesting lessons that he has learned about "Happiness," from one of his journals. I thought it would be nice to share his lessons learned with you, because of their innate clarity and elegance.

Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.

Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.

Being not truthful works against me.

Helping other people helps me.

Organizing a charity group is surprisingly easy.

Everything I do always comes back to me.

Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on.

Over time I get used to everything and start taking if for granted.

Money does not make me happy.

Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.

Assuming is stifling.

Keeping a diary supports my personal development.

Trying to look good limits my life.

Worrying solves nothing.

Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.

Having guts always works out for me.
- Stefan Sagmeister

The Forge of Zazen

I was re-listening to a Teisho (trans. place where the truth is) with Genjo Marinello Osho, entitled "No Cold, No Heat."

What struck me is where he said, "Here (Zazen meditation) is where we come to forge ourselves." He goes on to quote Dogen Zenji, "To study the way is to study the self. To forge the way we must study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To leave behind or transcend the very top heavy egocentric view of self. To forget the self or loose the self is to be awakened, enlightened, in awe of all things great, small, animate and inanimate. We have forged enough to get beyond or past our attachments to an egocentric identity. This forging is not easy. To be burned up. Think about about it, to be forged in a kiln or an iron-smiths fire. Forged like hammered iron or steel. You have to be burned up, but what comes out of the forge is somehow stronger, more shapely and sharper. And this is what we use this room, the Zendo to do. To forge ourselves. To forget ourselves. To get beyond ourselves. To come repeatedly to the awe of all things. We get little glimpses."

How wonderful and clear, Genjo Osho's expression. I can really appreciate this a great deal. The other day, I was really angry about something that was going on. I didn't think that I would get through it.

My anger was that I felt so powerless over a particular issue. It felt as though, I was being consumed by a tsunami and that I would break. But then Dharma arrangement. One of my friends, Daiki Ed Cadman sent me an email. It was nothing major. Just letting me know what he was up to and how some things are going. But somehow his steadiness enabled me to be steady... centered and somehow more focused.

When I was able to get back to the Zafu and do some Zazen, it was like plugging in to a power source. Genjo Osho once said as a kind of a joke, "there is something about sitting on the cushion and memory. Our spine is grounded. By the time I finished I felt even more deeply centered and the storm in my mind was able to pass. Sitting and Daiki helped me burn off some of my ego attachment and give myself a break. Forgetting self can be an amazing relief.

I encourage you to listen to Genjo Osho's full teisho at Switchpod. It is a stunning view and amazingly expansive. Appreciate and enjoy. I really, really, really, really hope you see and feel something useful to you.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Apply

As human beings, 99.9 percent of us have good (e.g. useful) information inside of us that can make our life healthier, happier and more effective. Our difficulties usually come from not applying this information within our life.

To offer a few examples would be the fact that "self esteem comes from oneself, not from others. Kindness and compassion are more stabilizing than anger. If nothing changes, nothing changes."

Often it seems hard to act on this positive information, for any number of reasons. It can be as simple as not being mindful to being so caught up in circumstances, that we are off balance and lose our bearing or direction. Whatever the case, coming back to and asserting that basic information is very helpful.

On the home screen of my mobile phone, I have an image of the han from Choboji. Written on the surface are three words. Clear. Quite. Clean. Having that image is kind of an anchor for me. When I get off base, I can look at that image and it reminds me what I am about. It give me the opportunity and option to be grounded.

I have one friend friend who carries a business card, with an important reminder on the back. It says, "Give more than you take." Wow. What a good reminder and easy way to recenter, when we are in a tough moment.

There is the old expression, "faith without works it dead." For me I like to say "knowledge is not power, but applying and acting on information is." when we apply what we know, we are better off. Apply.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Thoughts on Meditation

This is a very nice talk given by Sogyal Rinpoche on meditation. It's only about 10 minutes long but he manages to get a lot in. Enjoy.



Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Picking Ourselves Up

When we fall down, we have a distinct choice. We can either pick ourselves up or stay down and stagnate where we are. Those are powerful options that can determine how we feel about our lives.

In my own life there are both large and small moments where I know I had fallen down. But at the same time, in large and small moments, I found ways to pick myself up off the ground, dust off and move on. And in those experiences where powerful lessons.

An example that I can reflect upon easily is the fact that from the time I was twelve years old, until I was twenty I struggled with a fairly serious drug addiction. It runs in my family. In those years as I fell down into a kind of physical and emotional distortion, each time I stopped using, I felt like things didn't get any better. As a matter of fact in certain instances it felt like things got worse.

Just stopping the alcohol and other drug use at that time was not picking myself up. It was just not using. The picking myself up as it turned out was something that might seem kind of strange to most people. It was going to a Twelve Step Fellowship and learning to live by a set of Spiritual Principles. That was mostly Abstinence, hope, surrender, honesty, openmindedness and willingness to change. The solution to the problem was not what I initially had expected, some twenty one years ago.

It was though that process of picking my myself up from active addiction that I learned a lot about myself. And instead of waiting to so-called "find myself," I learned to decide the person that I was going to be, by actively and honestly engaging in my life. It's not a spectator sport.

One last example would be "falling down" when sitting on the zafu (meditation cushion). There have been times, when I've sat and my thoughts where like a raging wild-fire. There are days where I've had so many thoughts and feelings cluttering my mind that I feel my practice is hopeless and I just wanted to give it. It seems too far, too hard, too difficult, too nonsensical. It seems like there is no "real" progress.

But then one moment, one sit or one day later I pick myself up from my disappointment. Using faith, determination and courage; and then the entire experience changes. The clouds lift and I realize that in that struggle I learned something new about myself, that I may not have noticed before or maybe just forgotten.

When we fall down, it is our responsibility whether the issue is big or small to pick ourselves up. It is in our nature. No matter what, we don't give up.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Building Within

"As you build within by the power of thought, so will your outward life and circumstances shape themselves accordingly. Whatsoever you harbor in the inmost chambers of your heart will, sooner or later by the inevitable law of reaction, shape itself in your outward life."

James Allen
Excerpt | Building Your World

Invest in what you care about

About a week or two ago, I heard Jason Calacanis say at the end of a podcast say, "In this down turned economy, the best investment you can make is in yourself. Use this moment to study, work on and renew yourself. That's when you have your best opportunity to create something really exceptional."

On a similar note, I heard Gary Vaynerchuk when he was speaking on "Building Your Personal Brand" at Web 2.0. He started his taking by saying "There are way too many people in this room right now, doing stuff that they hate. Please stop doing that. There is no reason in 2008 to do stuff that you hate. None!" He went on to say, "Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, what to you want to do everyday for the rest of your life." Invest in what you care about.

By going to Choboji for Autumn Sesshin, it provided me a way of short circuiting some patterns, of behavior and thinking. Though I was functioning okay, before going to Sesshin (trans. To gather the Mind), I found out that I had stopped thinking and feeling on certain levels. I realized that I've been doing some things that I hated, because it seemed easier not to "rock the boat." But what I've come to realize is that by not doing what I love, I've been abusing myself on many levels.

How many times do we think that we have to live this particular lifetime? This is our life. This is our now. This is our moment. It's probably helpful to build a sense of urgency in terms of making investments in ourselves and the life that we would like to create.

When I was a kid and used to play baseball, my coach gave me some valuable advice. He said, "when someone hits you a grounder, don't wait for the ball, go to the ball. That might help us give us some better opportunities." Perhaps what Coach Nelms was also saying was, "don't wait for your life to happen to you, It's probably better that you go to it."

If we are not engaged in actions that bring us to a truer expression of ourselves (e.g. actualizing Buddha nature) and what we love, then where are our actions (mis-)leading us? It's better that we invest in what we care about.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Chance and Opportunity

Listening to Obama's victory speech the other day, he said something that caught my attention. He said, "This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change."

Expanding on that thought, coming to Zen Buddhism in and of itself, is not change. Zen is only an opportunity for things to get better for us. There are some things that we will need to do, if we are to cease being deluded. Fortunately Shakyamuni Buddha laid it out in simple fashion, which was his natural tendency. He even labeled it "The Eightfold Path," so that people would not be confused about its use and purpose.

The Eightfold Path which if applied to our daily lives, our daily moments is -

1. Right Understanding
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

These are the methods and actions that we can rely upon, to make that "steep internal climb" and journey within ourselves. We just need to remember it's not about doing these things "perfectly," but simply making genuine progress. Zen is a process rather than an event. What did Dogen say? "To study the Way is to study the self?" Study takes time and effort.

If we really seek change in our day to day lives, then we are going to have to make changes in our daily moments. Zen is not change, it's chance. It is only the [window] of opportunity. Now the only question is, will we use this opportunity well? This is Our chance. This is our opportunity. This is our time. This is our now.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Change Has Come To America

An amazing opportunity has arrived. What will we all make of it? As Bill Clinton once said, "And let us work, until our work is done."




Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

An Amazing Moment!

You voted! And now a new opportunity for change is here. This is truly a breath-taking moment for America. We really do "hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

The Message is Simple

Get up, go out and Vote. It's time for a change. Take a look around at your friends. Take a look at your life. Understand that the Clinton walked out of the White House with a budget surplus. And then look at the flaming and smoking crater left by the Republicans. Vote for the party of Hope and not Fear. The message is simple. Vote Obama!

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalzendo

Blue Sky Mind

Genjo Marinello Osho has published a new teisho entitled, "How Would You Say It?" I'm very happy to say I was there for Autumn Sesshin (trans. "To gather the Mind"), when it was given. I now too have an idea of how deeply personal, intimate and penetrating his teisho's can be.

Genjo Osho discusses the "restorative" and "healing process," which springs from intensive Zen practice, and how it results in equanimity (def. evenness of mind especially under stress) and balance "as we face the great complexity of our ordinary lives." Early on he reminds how Genki Takabayashi Roshi would often say, "What we are seeking is blue sky mind."

Genjo Osho goes on to say that as we find our "center of gravity," that we can bring to our everyday activities a "peace-of-mind, balance, awareness, and this leads to a kind of caring attention... to detail... to a clear seeing of what needs to be done and the energy and clarity to do it."

But to arrive at that State of "Peace of Mind," and "Balance," we have to do some heavy lifting on the zafu (meditation cushion). Genjo Osho points to the process of unswerving and unrelenting practice which is not theoretical but experiential. If we are capable of hearing It and absorbing It, I would think that we would be better off, on this journey that we are on.

You can download "How Would You Say It?" from SwitchPod. Your other choice is to download it from the iTunes Music Store. Please remember that both services are free and you don't have to have an iPod or some other mp3 player to enjoy them. You just need a computer.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO