Celebrating Rohatsu

Today... December 8th, is the remembrance of Shakyamuni Buddha's day of gaining Fully Awakened, Seamless Mind. He was 35 years old, having practiced meditation for many years. In his final push of 49 days, he practiced zazen, ceaselessly.

As the Morning Star rose in the sky in the early morning, seeing it, Siddhartha completely dissolved all barriers and illusions of mind and became Enlightened, experiencing Nirvana. Having done so, Siddhartha now became a Buddha or "Awakened One."

This moment became an opportunity for each of us, to come to know the Truth of our lives. My personal feeling is, This opportunity is best expressed in Hakuin Ekaku Zenji's poem, "Song of Zazen," as translated from the Chobozenji Sutra Book.

"Sentient beings are primarily all Buddhas.
It is like ice and water,
Apart from water no ice can exist;
Outside sentient beings, where do we find the Buddhas?

Not knowing how near the Truth is,
We seek it far away,--what a pity!
We are like him who,
in the midst of water,
Cries in thirst so imploringly;
We are like the child of a wealthy person,
Who worries about having enough money.

The reason why we transmigrate through the
six worlds Is because we are lost in the darkness
of ignorance;

Going astray further and further
in the darkness,
When are we able to be free
from birth-and-death?

As for Zazen practice in the Mahayana,
We have no words to praise it fully.
The virtues of perfection such
as charity, morality, etc.
And the invocation of the Buddha's name,
Confession, and ascetic discipline,
And many other good deeds of merit-
All these return into THIS!

Those who have practice zazen,
Even for just one sitting,
Will see all their evil karma erased;
Nowhere will they find the evil paths,
But the Pure Land will be near at hand.

With a reverential heart,
if we hear this Truth even once,
And praise it, and gladly embrace it,
We will surely be blessed most infinitely.
But, if we concentrate within,
And testify to the truth that
Self-nature is no-nature,
We have really gone beyond foolish talk.

The gate of the oneness
of cause and effect is opened;
The path independent of differentiation
runs straight ahead.

To regard the form of no-form as form,
Whether going or returning,
we cannot be any place else;
To regard the thought of no-thought
as thought,
Whether singing or dancing,
we are the voice of the Dharma.
How boundless the cleared sky of Samadhi!
How transparent the perfect moonlight
of the Fourfold Wisdom!

At that moment what more need we seek?
As the Truth eternally calm reveals itself,
This very place is the Lotus Land of Purity,
This very body is the Body of the Buddha."

I'm hoping that we on a path that can bring us,happiness, freedom and peace. I'm hoping we can celebrate the miracle that is our life.

Happy Rohatsu,

Seiho, Curator
digitalZENDO

Energy and Time

Some may be surprised to know that the term "Kung Fu," doesn't mean "martial art" or "fighting." Properly translated it means, "Energy and Time," and with those two elements all things are possible, as with apply them to our life.

As most of you are probably aware by now, David Carradine transitioned yesterday. Though to some he was a "TV Character," he actually was my introduction to Buddhist thinking and being. It was a weekly show that consistently demonstrated the practical application of Buddhist principles, in day-to-day life. He regularly showed how with "Energy and Time," we could cut through and solve our problems. That's what the story was about.

Here's just one exchange between The Master and Student characters that's worth noting:

Young Caine: You cannot see.
Master Po: You think I cannot see?
Young Caine: Of all things, to live in darkness must be worst.
Master Po: Fear is the only darkness.

Elegant and true. There are times that I can personally recall being so fearful and anxiety ridden by situations I was facing that I was blinded (mentally) and could not see or notice options, solutions or exits, to what I was facing. But watching Carradine each week, I got a sense of human being faced with difficult challenges and finding a principle centered, character driven way of cutting through them. It was nothing short of amazing to me. It was great story-telling.

Perhaps not so well know is the fact that David Carradine was in a movie called, "Circle of Iron," which was written by Bruce Lee. The story focused on "Cord," (A seeker) the central character facing a series of physical and mental challenges which if he was successful would be granted access to look at "The Book," which would grant perfect enlightenment for those who read it. David Carradine is a kind of mentor. His character doesn't even have a name (interestingly enough).

Eventually, with some nudging and encouragement Cord reaches the book. When he looks inside, every page contains a large mirror, wherein as he turns each page, he clearly see's the reflection of himself. He laughs and understands, "There's no enlightenment outside of myself. It's within and connected to every single thing in this universe."

Those are good memories for me. I liked and enjoyed those characters a lot. The location that I place him within my mind is one of fondness. The unique wave of his life has been fully absorbed into the larger ocean of Being. In closing.

I feel that David Carradine's own words would be best to end this post today. It is attesting to what he attained through "Energy and Time."

"If you cannot be a poet, be the poem." David Carradine 1936-2009

Rest Well in the Dharma,

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

September 11

I wanted to take a break from the normal storm of activity and take a moment to remember a tragedy that has touched and effected us all. Not only here in the United States, but across the waters towards our neighbors. With that in mind, I offer this prayer...

"With a wish to free all beings,
I shall always go for refuge,
To the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha,
Until I reach full enlightenment
Enthused by wisdom and compassion,
Today in the Buddha's presence,
I generate the Mind for full awakening
For the Benefit of All sentient Beings
As long Space remains,
As long as sentient beings remain
May I too remain and dispel the miseries of the World."

May All Beings Be Happy and Free,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

A Home Going

The best expression on life and death that I can recall ever hearing was from Roshi Philip Kapleau, in his book, "Zen - Merging East and West." The short version is to think of yourself as a wave on the ocean. For a time that wave is in many ways, separate, distinct, has it's own sense of character and lifespan as a wave. And once the wave has exhausted itself, it throw off the illusion that it was ever *really* separate from the ocean on which it rode and full and clearly merges and is seen as one." It is the beginningless, beginning. The endless end.

Before I had first gone to Dai Bosatsu Zendo, Junpo said something that I thought was kind of odd. He said, "Come home soon." At that time I could not fully appreciate the depth of his encouragement. But now, I can see a just a little further down the road and so it means something a little different.

So today is the formal recognition of Aunt Polly's Home Going. The funeral is today at 11:00AM, here in Pittsburgh. We will honor her life, her memory and not just who she was, but who she IS and how that continues on.

Though, I may not have talked about it directly over the last couple days, the grief in my family is very strong, very real and very present. There have been times when I have been alone that the tears just come from no-where. I have a thousand different feelings and sometimes when we are authentic, there is no "emotional ballet" left. This moment has been especially hard on my Mother. Last night she apologized for crying and I told her, "how does the right action ever need an apology?" This is another moment when the masks have to go. No falsehood, no illusion, no holding back. If we Love Aunt Polly, now is the time and moment that come out. It's alright.

In closing, I want to thank the many people who have not only sent my family and I private emails but Twitters to "jayezero," as well. They have really been very kind and supportive and I'm appreciative of that.

"Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you." ~Coldplay

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Aunt Polly

Yesterday, my Mother sent me an email. It simply read, "Aunt Polly died this AM," Mom. It was a short sentence that doesn't seem to adequately reflect her beauty and what she made of this life.

My Aunt, my Mothers sister is someone that I have gratitude towards. Until the age of twelve, she helped to raise my Brother and I. It was her way of supporting my Mom after the separation from my Father, given that she was getting her Masters Degree. Aunt Polly made some many things possible for us, and she never complained. Not even about the cancer which took her life. She was just consistently loving and hopeful.

I think the reason that my Mom let me know what happened the way she did is to attempt to blur something. It is the fact that my Mom is devastated and misses her Sister. She may even feel a little alone. After all, Aunt Polly was everything that the word Sister can embody. Friend, supporter, confidant, counselor, mentor, guide, partner-in-crime, family cheerleader and some much more.

In the past I've heard people say, "we're all replaceable." That may be true in some aspects but it's definitely bullshit in a hundred other ways. I cannot think of anyone who could take the place of Aunt Polly, in my heart or my Mind. There is no one that can or will fill her shoes and that's okay. Grief is grief, and like my Mother, I'm hurting too. I can tell by he tears.

Throughout her battle with cancer, she remained herself. She remained dignified. She remained Aunt Polly. Loving, cheerful and always looking for the best to come from within us. I will do my very best to answer her request, by how I live my life.

Life and Death are the Very Body of the Buddha,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO