We Are Christmas
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 7:03AM As we speed towards Christmas Day and things get frenzied, I wanted to share a little, before things get any more hectic for both of us. It's important to do, because I feel it's what matters most. We are Christmas!
One of my favorite koans that I worked with goes, "A student asked Ummon, what will it be, when the tree withers and the leaves fall? Ummon replied, Golden Wind!" This is so simple, clear and beautiful.
For those who are not in the know, "Golden wind," is another way of saying "Autumn," in China, because of the changing of the leaves color. It is also a way of saying, You will embody... you are the season. In this there is no doubt, for me.
Now in the heart of Winter, days away from Christmas, all the leaves have fallen to the ground and where I live there is a wide covering of snow. To my eyes, everything looks out and exposed, but at the same time very beautiful. The sunlight reflecting off the snow makes it seem exactly what my teacher, Genjo Marinello, Osho says... "The whole world is shining."
As I run around looking for the "right" gifts, in my effort to make it a "good" Christmas for a few that are close to me, especially my kids, I think and try to feel what they will be unwrapping. The truth is, we want people to unwrap a reflection of our inner light and who we are, so that they know how much we love them. We want to see that smile and receive that embrace of a hug that says, "I see you too, just as you saw me." This is perfectly fine. But I look deeper still, pushed on by the voice of my teacher.
When the presents are opened, the gift warp collected and thrown away, who is Christmas then? We are the body of Christmas.
To me Christmas says, love everybody... be kind... have hope... act with compassion and sincerity... no barriers... no gaps... no distance... all being is seamless, with no host or guest.
I know this may seem like hocus-pocus, fluffy minded thinking or "okay, sure, yeah right," skepticism, but we are Christmas itself. And this does not just apply to the 25th of December, but every day, just like every day we are Buddha. The only way however to genuinely find that out is to sit and work with our own mind, dissolving and melting the million snowflakes of distraction that influence us to think and feel that we are something different... something not Christmas...
As we live our life, we are constantly unwrapping and unfolding ourselves. My most sincere hope and effort is that we come to be awakened enough to see, realize and appreciate that, "We are Christmas," not just on that single day on the 25th of December, but every day before and after, as we unwrap and unfold ourselves within the range of each other, Buddha to Buddha, Mind to Mind.
Happy Holiday!
Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO
Reader Comments (3)
Seiho, this is beautiful; thank you for it. I occasionally get a question about being a Buddhist and having Christmas (many of us do, I think), and this is the response I wish would have arisen in answer. There is nothing I would add.
Thank you Seiho for this most beautiful post! It struck me the other day as I was reading a Holiday card, that the traditional holiday wishes are very close to the words in metta practice. Only the common man only says metta once a year . . .
May you be happy, and at peace, and healthy, and well, and at ease . . .
Deep bow,
marguerite
Jaye, may your life we well, yes!
this thought of christmas is wonderful. I have fought for years what christmas means. Finally a few years ago my oldest sister put it in perspective 'it is about being together, sharing, and loveing eachother, it is not about presents only presence!'
I loved your view, it brought tears to my eyes..
Now to spread that thought everyday to everyone.
Peace friend
All life is Energy, stop and feel it daily, it feels you