You can hear the day’s activity start up in the dark of mid-winter dawn, even before the dim light of the emerging day swells slowly in the cloud-choked sky. This moment on Earth, filled with the clouds of war, flood, and growing violence brings us all to the importance of maintaining a steady practice. Presence, kindness, and generosity. Response-ability. Zazen is where we start. Regular zazen, daily zazen, helps us to steady our own hearts and maintain our balance.
Being present and open, we can notice the opportunities each day to be of service and share the load. We can notice even very brief moments of clouds parting and sunlight slanting through. We can be an instrument of light and caring, no matter where we are. Even as we help others, we are helping ourselves to stay grounded in a true caring connections with all of life.