From Mushin:
Emerging from a winter’s retreat, I feel great gladness to be in daily practice with you all again. I’ve had a chance to rest deeply and renew my own practice journey in a way that I haven’t in years, reminding me of the challenges of solitary practice. Stepping out of the zen center routines made it necessary for me to entrust the immediate moments to an ego that might prefer entertainment and distraction. There were moments when I found myself reluctant to STOP in the midst of the stimulation of this “saha” world of suffering and impermanence. Still, after all these years of practice! But long practice also has left me prepared for the spaciousness, rest and refreshment of “non-doing” that came with letting go of my teaching responsibilities for some weeks. After years of regularly practicing with dharma friends, and paced by the weekly schedule, I’d taken for granted how precious and rare the opportunity is to practice together. What energy it lends to our individual vows. Without the Zen center, everyday practice was solely up to me and can be so partial, out of habit. Taking myself in hand and returning to a life of vow over and over, living the life of a hermit, with no reminder bell or han to start and stop being fully present. I celebrate once again this priceless refuge. This includes regularly retreating together in sesshin! Realizing “non-doing” in the stream of activity that is everyday life, is essential, no matter how challenging. What a gift,
each moment,
immediate,
present,
thoroughly,
right here
for whatever is
emergent.
I bow to you, Mushin