During this month we’re concentrating on the teachings on Vow. What habits do you want to cultivate that support a wish to be happy, and to bring the light of Dharma clarity into the world of interbeing, in your ordinary relationships. We live into our practice not only with the Zen sangha, but with family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors and even in brief encounters with other people and animals during the daily round.Remembering the great vow to awaken encourages us to emerge from automatic habits that don’t serve us and reminds us that we can always choose this moment as an opportunity to enact our vows. To be fully alive right here now. Our vow to awaken lays the ground for looking carefully at our choices. This is the road to developing wholesome habits. We can ask ourselves, “Does this thought/ word/ action help me bring a caring heart to myself and others? Am I coming from awareness? How open am I to my innate connection with others?” Living by vow is a moment-by-moment life. Sometimes we forget, and then we remember.
~ Mushin