Moment of Clarity

We all experience moments of clarity. There is an instance that our consciousness shifts gear and is no longer separate from the vast ocean of consciousness. It's like a drop of water that falls from the sky, that lands in the ocean. It has returned home. No gaps. No distance. No separation.

What I've found interesting is, it seems that moment of clarity is just that. It's only for a moment. It's like we see the truth and then for what ever reason, something inside can actually decide to pull us back and away. And when that happens, we are back in the illusion.

Since returning from Choboji, one thing that I've been actively working on is learning how to use those so-called "Moments of Clarity" as a kind of window or door and instead of pulling back, moving though it like an open door or window. The effort is to expand the moment.

Some people would and have asked, "are you trying to get enlightened, kensho or satori?" My answer is no. The real effort for me is to "cease being deluded." I figure that I have a much better shot at eliminating delusions "here and there," rather than get some sort of enlightenment, like those old Zen Masters.

When I have a moment of clarity, it's usually leaning against some false notion or belief that I've been clinging too. If I don't pull back, things have a tendency to be flipped over and they look very different to me, than the moment prior to that. By the way, this may all seem very abstract, but in point of fact it's very concrete and tangible.

A quick example is when I went out to Choboji, I my mind was filled with "I wonder how long the sits will be? I wonder if the people will be accepting of me or will they be aloof? I wonder if I will survive the vegan diet? I wonder if it's going to rain the entire time, all my friends say it rains endlessly in Seattle?" It was just a bunch of noise and images in my head.

But then in Genjo Marinello Osho's first Teisho of the Sesshin (trans. to gather the Mind) he said something that created a moment of clarity. He said, (something that I'm paraphrasing), "You came here for authentic Rinzai Zen training. Yes it was so-called you that came here, but do not waste the sacrifice that others have made for you to be here. This will make them very happy." The instant he said that, there was a sonic boom in my mind. I had only been looking at my trip to Choboji from my perspective. I had not considered the thoughts or feelings of others like my wife, my children or my friends. They had to carry my responsibilities while I was there. They made significant sacrifices to support my being at Autumn Sesshin.

It was Genjo Osho's encouraging words that opened a moment of clarity, about the sacrifices that people made not only for those seven days, but all the days that came before and now those that are after. I've been striving to expand that clarity throughout my life, as much as I can. When I do that, I feel deep, deep gratitude, humility and appreciation.

I hope that we can all use our moments of clarity, not only to our own benefit, for others too.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Skimming the Surface

There are times when I feel so bombarded by data, people or my general environment that I stop listening fully and start "skimming." From my perspective, skimming is a lot like having the outline of an object without truly experiencing or holding he object. Put another way it's similar to reading the table of contents for a book, without reading a book, yet thinking that you read it. The truth is that we [can] end up with a fractured understanding or notion of what that particular book is.

I can go further and admit that there are times in the past that I have used "skimming," with people too. I heard the words that they spoke but not the real content and emotions inside of those words. I was too busy, trying to be efficient. And as I was busy being efficient, I was robbing the moment of any opportunity to be genuinely effective or intimate, because the efficiency created a kind of disconnect.

When I'm interacting with people, that moment is not about what I want to take away from that instance, but learning to accept what is given, as though it was a gift. When I get that email from my friends, I no longer scan the words, I fully read it and in some cases print it out so I can absorb it. No gaps. No separation. Just being present.

In getting beyond "Just skimming the surface," things not only, look different, but feel different as well. When I can stop skimming, perhaps instead of living like a ghost, a so-called real human being appears.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Daniel Goleman on Compassion

Dr. Daniel Goleman PhD. talks on "Why aren't we all good Samaritans," when the capacity is there for us, in every moment. Take ten minutes to connect with your "puddle of peace."





Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Notes on Happiness

Stefan Sagmeister, a designer who I find terribly compelling, inspired and moving shared some interesting lessons that he has learned about "Happiness," from one of his journals. I thought it would be nice to share his lessons learned with you, because of their innate clarity and elegance.

Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.

Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.

Being not truthful works against me.

Helping other people helps me.

Organizing a charity group is surprisingly easy.

Everything I do always comes back to me.

Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on.

Over time I get used to everything and start taking if for granted.

Money does not make me happy.

Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.

Assuming is stifling.

Keeping a diary supports my personal development.

Trying to look good limits my life.

Worrying solves nothing.

Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.

Having guts always works out for me.
- Stefan Sagmeister

The Forge of Zazen

I was re-listening to a Teisho (trans. place where the truth is) with Genjo Marinello Osho, entitled "No Cold, No Heat."

What struck me is where he said, "Here (Zazen meditation) is where we come to forge ourselves." He goes on to quote Dogen Zenji, "To study the way is to study the self. To forge the way we must study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To leave behind or transcend the very top heavy egocentric view of self. To forget the self or loose the self is to be awakened, enlightened, in awe of all things great, small, animate and inanimate. We have forged enough to get beyond or past our attachments to an egocentric identity. This forging is not easy. To be burned up. Think about about it, to be forged in a kiln or an iron-smiths fire. Forged like hammered iron or steel. You have to be burned up, but what comes out of the forge is somehow stronger, more shapely and sharper. And this is what we use this room, the Zendo to do. To forge ourselves. To forget ourselves. To get beyond ourselves. To come repeatedly to the awe of all things. We get little glimpses."

How wonderful and clear, Genjo Osho's expression. I can really appreciate this a great deal. The other day, I was really angry about something that was going on. I didn't think that I would get through it.

My anger was that I felt so powerless over a particular issue. It felt as though, I was being consumed by a tsunami and that I would break. But then Dharma arrangement. One of my friends, Daiki Ed Cadman sent me an email. It was nothing major. Just letting me know what he was up to and how some things are going. But somehow his steadiness enabled me to be steady... centered and somehow more focused.

When I was able to get back to the Zafu and do some Zazen, it was like plugging in to a power source. Genjo Osho once said as a kind of a joke, "there is something about sitting on the cushion and memory. Our spine is grounded. By the time I finished I felt even more deeply centered and the storm in my mind was able to pass. Sitting and Daiki helped me burn off some of my ego attachment and give myself a break. Forgetting self can be an amazing relief.

I encourage you to listen to Genjo Osho's full teisho at Switchpod. It is a stunning view and amazingly expansive. Appreciate and enjoy. I really, really, really, really hope you see and feel something useful to you.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Apply

As human beings, 99.9 percent of us have good (e.g. useful) information inside of us that can make our life healthier, happier and more effective. Our difficulties usually come from not applying this information within our life.

To offer a few examples would be the fact that "self esteem comes from oneself, not from others. Kindness and compassion are more stabilizing than anger. If nothing changes, nothing changes."

Often it seems hard to act on this positive information, for any number of reasons. It can be as simple as not being mindful to being so caught up in circumstances, that we are off balance and lose our bearing or direction. Whatever the case, coming back to and asserting that basic information is very helpful.

On the home screen of my mobile phone, I have an image of the han from Choboji. Written on the surface are three words. Clear. Quite. Clean. Having that image is kind of an anchor for me. When I get off base, I can look at that image and it reminds me what I am about. It give me the opportunity and option to be grounded.

I have one friend friend who carries a business card, with an important reminder on the back. It says, "Give more than you take." Wow. What a good reminder and easy way to recenter, when we are in a tough moment.

There is the old expression, "faith without works it dead." For me I like to say "knowledge is not power, but applying and acting on information is." when we apply what we know, we are better off. Apply.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Thoughts on Meditation

This is a very nice talk given by Sogyal Rinpoche on meditation. It's only about 10 minutes long but he manages to get a lot in. Enjoy.



Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO