Humbled Rather Than Humiliated

Over the past few days I've been reading and re-reading a vibrant teisho given by Genjo Marinello Osho and I thought it might prove invaluable as a point of practice well worth sharing. This text is from The Blue Cliff Record, Case 66, "Ganto Laughed Loudly." This glimpse appeared in the most recent edition of the Newsletter for the Zen Studies Society, Winter/Spring 2010.

"Our this last full day of Summer Sesshin, we almost had teisho a half-hour early. Genko sent the inji [attendant] upstairs with the unenviable task of telling the Abbot that he was a half-hour early [laughter]...

We all make mistakes and are, from time to time, distracted. Ideally we should be humbled, rather than humiliated by such a revelation. When we feel humiliation, it is nearly always left over from some childhood trauma that is stimulated by our current circumstances, most often some sort of error on our part. The extent that we feel humiliated is probably directly proportional to how much baggage we're carrying from our own troubled childhood. Alternatively, to the extent that we feel humbled by an error and say, "Oh, that's right," then this is probably a good measure of how well we have processed or digested our childhood traumas. The Inji said, "Do you intend to have teisho early?" And I said, "No, there's no need to have teisho early." That's it. No more need be said.

We think that, in the process of so-called mastery, we're going to become someone we're not, or that we'll realize something that will change us. We may believe that we will in some permanent way transcend our monkey mind, get forever past prsonal history, or never make a mistake again. And, of course, all this is impossible! We'll never be without our childhood, our monkey mind, or what we call our bumpkin nature.

What our Zen practice does do for us is help us realize that we are so much more than our bumpkin nature. In the readiness of time, we begin to come to terms with the vastness of our True nature..."

So precise, so direct, so beautiful. I am ever grateful to Genjo Osho. I have a lot of appreciation and gratitude that such a point can be so well articulated and shared. It connects deeply with my heart-mind. It begs to be studied and examined closely, to see what's inside the boxes that we've constructed with our mind. I genuinely hope that you benefit from this teaching. Coming to the truth of ourselves, is an amazing gift to receive.

May Your Life Go Well,

Jaye Seiho 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

My Excellent Choboji Adventure

Last week I attended Autumn Sesshin at Dai Bai Zan (Great Plum Mountain) Cho Bo Zenji (Listening To The Dharma Temple). It was a terrific way to close out my summer and enter a new season of change. I wanted to take the time to share some of my thoughts and feelings about my experience while there.

I'm Not With Stupid

The first thing I noticed about Choboji is not so much the temple itself, but rather the Sangha (Community of Members) that makes it up. I've been to quite a few Zen/Meditation centers and Buddhist Temples. I have to say what was very noticeable was the "warmth," of its members. No one was pretentious or "holier than thou." Everyone was respectful, direct, firm and kind. The reason why I mention this is that I've been to some temples and centers that the people seemed distant, aloof, abrupt and rude, which influenced me to feel like something "intruding," in on "their" space. You have no sense of this whatsoever at Choboji.

Each person that I encountered was incredibly supportive and helpful in their own way. Their actions influenced me to feel a deep sense of trust and comfort that only served to enhance the practice there. This might be odd to say, yet it's extremely important, because I was entrusting my sense of being and sharing our spiritual life with each other.

It was clear and obvious, that each member was a pillar of Choboji, evenly supporting the temple and each other. I and others there for the first time where invited to help out in various ways like the practice of Zazen itself and Samu (work practice). Because of this, I felt like one of the family.

Running A Marathon

Choboji itself is an amazingly beautiful place. The space works well in all aspects. It's a heck of a place to run a spiritual marathon of unswerving Zen practice. Attention to detail and mindfulness is present everywhere. Looking back over my shoulder and reflecting on my experience, it's interesting to experience how well thought-out and organized everything is there. This is a *real* hallmark of maturity in a temple. My mind was able to reflexively relax. Nothing was out of place. The physical structure and environment over the entire campus was as supportive to me as the Sangha members.

In running this marathon you have to start early. That means being in the Zendo by 5:00am, to get things going. The activites are well mapped out. It's authentic Zen in training, top to bottom - in sound, voice, sitting and tone.

What was really nice is that dokusan (private interview with the teacher (Abbot) was offered twice daily. Teisho (place where the truth is) was also offered daily (more on that later). The Zazen (seated meditation) itself ranged in terms of time frame, but was completely doable. As mentioned before, we did about an hour and a half of work practice. What is really great is the relationship Choboji has with other organizations in Seattle. We got to work at an very spacious Japanese Garden. This proved to be an excellent environment for meditative practice was well. I also got to see first hand how a Koi could leap out of the water and become a dragon. If you get to see them, you will understand.

Food for Thought

I have to make a special note to you about diet at Choboji. Food is fuel and helps to sustain our practice. This is especially when you are running a marathon. To sum up the overall meals which there is simple. They rocked the house. The "Tenzo" and "Assistant-Tenzo," did an amazing job. I've had terrible experiences in the past with people who did not know how to prepare vegetarian meals well and tend to be careful. The food at Choboji really was "flawless victory."

Ed and Dee where really incredible. There was an amazing variety to the meals and yet consistently solid. The only thing that troubled me was that I wish they had a cookbook or something, so that I could continue on that aspect of the path when I came home. Perhaps only parents can appreciate the point when I say, If my kids had been there, they would have happily eaten the meals (and my girls are tough as ninja's when it comes to food).

Clear Quiet Clean

I want to preface this final part with some very down to earth talk. I've practiced Zen seriously for almost 18 years. I have read well over 150-200 books on Buddhism and spirituality and have been to a good number or Meditation centers and temples. I have also interfaced with or heard a fair number of teachers. The reason that I mention this is to say, if it's possible, I have a pretty wide frame of reference to draw upon.

My experience with Genjo Marinello Osho is easy to express. He is the condensed version of everything that is Choboji. Authentic, warm, articulate, direct, intimate, down-to-earth, anti-muddy intellectually-mentally and spiritually. His teisho's terrific. You can hear the podcasts (for free), but to see them live is a new level to the experience. They are definitely something to see. His communication skills are extraordinary.

Genjo Osho's attention to detail was nothing sort of staggering. His guidance during practice was not somewhere up in the ether or clouds, aloof and abstract, but deeply embedded and grounded. I always had the feeling that he was speaking directly into my heart and not around or over my head. On several occasions he offered direct correction and help to my siting posture. Like I said, in sesshin you are running a marathon. It's important to pace yourself correctly and have good posture and habits so you can complete the run. I really found that helpful.

I cannot conclude this article without mentioning The Vice-abbot, Genko Osho. She is a wonderful treasure in and of herself. I was able to experience a teisho with her that I found heartening and encouraging. She radiates a strength and dignity that is beautiful and disarming. Of special note, she preformed a Japanese Tea ceremony for the participants midway though the sesshin that definitely hit the mark with me.

Conclusion

During a teisho early in the Sesshin, Genjo Osho made a statement, that really penetrated my heart. He said, "Do not let this sacrifice, [that it took to come here to this Sesshin] go to waste." There was not just giving a week of my time to go practice. It's also the sacrifice of those who I trained with. There is the sacrifice that their significant others and/or families made. There is the sacrifice that Debra and my children made, to go an entire week, with me not being physically present. I am intensely grateful for that. And I can only fully express that gratitude properly, be how I live This life.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

East to West

The Buddha Dharma and Sangha are all empty.
What is there to treasure?

There is nothing to attain.
What can be transmitted?

Digesting entanglements,
Body and Mind are set free.

Nothing to do but listen to the thunder,
And follow the wind.

Verse by Genjo Marinello

Today marks a special day in America, as Eido Shimano Roshi will be giving Dharma Tranmission - Shiho Shiki to Genjo Marinello Osho, this very day. It is a Dharma lineage that travels back over two thousand years, through many notable lives such as Soen Nakagawa Zenji, Gempo Giyu Zenji, Torei Enji Zenji, Hakuin Ekaku Zenji, Rinzai Zenji, Bodhi Dharma Zenji and Shakyamuni Buddha.

While ALL beings have the Buddha Nature, there are so many of us that have slept through the alarm clock (I included). But on this day, it is the recognition that someone not only heard the buzzing bell to wake-up, but he has gotten up and is now, now, now awakened and living Life as a True Person Without Rank.

In this process, there is the genuine hope that we can and will at some point hear, taste, touch and feel the ceaseless Buddha Dharma through past, present and future time. But to do this we MUST exert and exhaust ourselves.

This is a good day to celebrate. Congratulations and thank you very much to Genjo Osho and all who have come before us. Your efforts in some way, shape and form, help us all.

May All Being Be Happy and Free,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Ummon Streches Out His Hands

“Transcending life and death. Actualizing Zen spirit he casually cuts through iron and nails, he lightly moves heaven and earth.” So begins the latest teisho (i.e. place where the truth is) of Genjo Marinello Roshi of Choboji, entitled Ummon Stretches Out His Hands.”

As ever Genjo Roshi delivers a lively expression of not of so-called “zen-spirit” but Zen (unification) itself. During his teisho he encourages us to share our realization of Buddha (one who is spiritually awake – 360 degrees) nature. This is not as we understand it but know it at this moment. With surgical precision - goes on to point out that “Zen is always pushing us deeper. Always telling us that though we are whole from the get go we are never complete. That we are always learning and that there is always more to learn. And that though right at this moment we are perfectly imperfect, we always have further to go. We are always pressing on, no matter where we are in our training or our practice, to more depth, greater realization and deeper actualization of our practice and training in our ordinary lives.”

As I listen and consider what he’s saying, I’m encouraged not just to think about what is being said, but some how to experience this moment. Not to think compassion but to be compassion. Not to talk about friendship but to be friendship. Not to talk about being a dad but being dad. Not just to embrace but to embody allowing for fewer points of separation and gaps in my life.

Please know that you can download the Genjo Roshi’s podcast using iTunes or Switchpod.com for free. Please keep in mind that podcasts are not just for people with a "iPod" but any computer or MP3 player.

Love and Respect,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO