Planting Our breath

We plant our breath,
In the ground of life.
I am told that somewhere,
 there is a Buddha-field.
With this very breath,
  what is this unfolding origami revealing, Today?

These are the words the emerged after sitting with some friends, Wednesday night at a Zen group over in Easton, Maryland. There were four of us, practicing zazen (sitting to unify heart/mind). As we were leaving, someone said, “After a busy summer and people falling off, we have to replenish our numbers.” I laughed and said, “Not necessary. Quality rather quantity, as we continuously plant our breath in the ground of our life and just see who and what comes all by itself.”

Before I left, I asked about their friend and how he was recovering after his stroke. I had never met him directly, but had heard many stories and he sounded like an interesting human being. He recently became a clear teacher of “What comes through our life is not what we expected, but we can and will find a way to continue forward with dignity, through right effort.”

This person had gone to the hospital for a certain procedure, considered minor, but during his surgery had experienced a stroke. It was a powerful and dramatic turn of events. There were even times that it was not sure if he would survive, because the emerging circumstances were so dire. After his stroke, members of the group consistently and daily visited, sat, assisted and supported him in whatever way they were able. I had come to feel of their effort as a genuine, policy of caring. 

I was told that he was in the hospital close by, in a type of rehab program. One of the group asked if I would go and perhaps sit with him, since he used to practice and had an interest in Rinzai Zen. As they wrote down the location and room number, they said, let us know when you would be able to schedule a time to go and we’ll meet you there. I replied, “How about now?” And so we went. 

As I passed through the doorway, entering his room, the words “We plant our breath in the ground of life,” re-echoed and I was introduced, up close and personal. After a while, the others left and we sat and talked. We were two so-called “Strangers,” who had never met before and not life was sweeping us together, with zero tension, zero stress and just a feeling of okay.

We talked about a lot of different things, from movie development, books, technology, my experience with bariatric surgery and life in general. Through the interaction, we never said the word “Zen” or “Buddhism,” or even the word "Spirituality." It wasn’t necessary. We don’t always need to say what and who we are, especially when we are engaged in doing and being It. 

As we talked, it was easy to see the energy and flow of words, behind his eyes, as there were transitions from smiles to frowns, went back and forth as he efforted to verbally get out, what laid beneath the surface of his skin. I encouraged him to relax, words were not perfectly necessary. And then a tear emerged. I said, “I know, this is not what we expected. It can be a little scary, but at least we have each other,” and he smiled, holding and patting his right hand. We spent the rest of the time, until visiting hours ended talking about “Not what we expected” and “impermanence.” Before I left, my new friend said, “I once read this book called radical honesty. After all of this, I’m learning, life [Itself] is the real radical honesty.” I said, “Yep, it’s and unfolding case of trick or treat,” and we both laughed. 

I share this experience, not to be frivolous or random, but to say… don’t hold back from others… don’t bother to hold back from just plain old life or ourselves. Life comes and goes, all by itself and is mostly “Not what we expected.” As we plant our breath in the ground of our life, we can do it with the presence of mind that our moment’s opportunities to unfold ourselves from the elaborate origami constructs which we’ve managed to capture ourselves end. As one teach I know frequently says, “There’s no one else to be. There’s no where else to go. There is no other place to be,” other than right here right now. Thank you Eshu-san for this constant reminder.

Love All – Serve All – Every Single Day, 

Jaye Seiho Morris 淸峰, Curator
digitalZENDO 

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