How Will I Apply It

It's pretty impressive, how many books, audio streams and even videos on Buddhism whatever the flavor is readily available to us. And now with the internet so readily available, the opportunities to read, hear, see and learn are just mind boggling. But despite all of this, something very simple and practical as some point has to be addressed. How and when will I apply what reading, hearing and seeing?

On Saturday, when I was coming out of Washington DC, having spent the day with the kids at the Smithsonian Museums, I was anxious to get home. I ran into a traffic jam. In heading towards my exit ramp, I got cut-off three times. My difficultly was that I was not aggressive as other drivers. I was thinking how rude these people where and was actually fuming about the situation.

I wasn't thinking, ahhh there goes Buddha, cutting me off in traffic. I was thinking, if the kids weren't with me, I'd be flipping this guy of with the middle finger. It was then that I heard the voice within say, "and this is Now... practice."

As I was sitting in the car, with traffic basically ground to a near halt, I used this incident as an opportunity to practice. The getting cut-off in traffic had successfully hooked my attention. I had to decide if I was going to allow those 10-30 second incidents ruin what was otherwise a terrific day with my kids. Could I take what I do on the zafu or from my teachers Teisho's or one of the 4 bazillion books that I've read and bring that data into my present moment?

As I sat, I realized that I was not aware or connected to my breathing. It was on automatic pilot. As soon as I noticed, I brought my awareness to the breath. Then instead of allowing my breathing to reside at the top of my chest, I moved it down below my belly-button. As soon as I did that, I immediately started feeling different and relaxed. I noticed I was gripping the stering wheel tightly. I loosed my grip and relaxed my hands. I wasn't an isolated person. I was something else. I no longer felt the need to be offended. Eventually traffic picked up and we were on our way, unhindered.

As I move through my day, my focus for today will be "How Will I Apply It?" As I interact and participate in various situations, will I be like a ghost, brushing among the living or will I be fully aware? What is the choice that I will make? For me, this is the opportunity and point of my Zen practice today.

May Your Life Go Well,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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