Keep Your Appointment

Zen Master Sheng Yen once wrote, "In Chinese the sentence 'Better to unify the mind' can be translated as 'Guard the One'. What is this one? The mind can be split up, discriminating, filled with illusory intellectualizing. The mind needs to be focused, brought to a single point. Guarding the one means bringing the mind to this single place, and that is done through the method of practice (Zen Meditation)."

Last night, I was looking at a project my mom put together from the family reunion that was held back in July. As I looked at all the pictures, especially those of my Dad, I was literally asking "Who is the one that was captured in those pictures? Where is he now?" The questions were more reflex than anything thing else. Birds naturally learn how to fly, people naturally learn how to walk, the sun all by itself knows how to shine. There's no trouble at all.

Though, there were a lot of problems, especially after his stroke and the drinking took over, there was a, "Without pause I still Love him very much," feeling. None of us are as graceful as we'd like to be. We are who we are. If I look at things from a particular angle, everyone is doing the very best they can at any given moment. Sometimes, there's just turbulence.

Over the years, as I've endeavored to answer or better understand certain (nagging) feelings or questions, I've learned there's no substitute for Zen practice. While it's almost near impossible to "think," our way into fully awakening the Mind, we can certainly practice and live our way into It. Diligence is a valuable trait to own, when it comes to this. Just not giving up 5 minutes before the miracle happens. Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice everyday. Otherwise, we may get the opportunity to stay in peoples that we might not prefer.

Practice enables us to "Guard the One," our True nature and person without rank or post. I hope you can clearly hear those words, "The person who has no rank or post," I really mean that. Sit after sit... breath after breath. Our mind really does need to be focused. As the adage goes, we spend to much time majoring in minor things, disconnected from our genuine purpose. Though we may not always know where we are, our Buddha nature does. We have an appointment to keep. Please show up for It.

Practice Well,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Comments

[Jack Daw]

Practice, accept, adapt, repeat.

I don't know if it is that simple but it should be. I have recently gotten the comment that I am calmer than I used to be. More accepting of my surroundings and the events that occur (both positive and negative).

I was asked if it was "that Buddhist stuff" that did it. I said "No, just accepting life". Maybe our practice (sitting, chanted etc) is really just training our mind to accept without thinking, to react without analysis.

Maybe not.

Thanks Jaye for your personal post. It got me thinking (damn).

Cheers,

[Jack Daw]

I should also mention that my life has not truly tested my practice yet. Things have been fairly simple and easy for me so far. But change is not known for its puncuality.