put your simple faith in this

bruno bisang

 

The

great truth of zen

is possessed by everybody.

Look into your own being and seek

it not through others. Your own mind is

above all forms; it is free and quiet and sufficient;

it eternally stamps itself in your six senses and four elements.

In its light all is absorbed. Hush the dualism of subject and object,

forget both, transcend the intellect, sever yourself from

the understanding, and directly penetrate deep

into the identity of the buddha-mind;

outside of this there are

no realities.

 

…Put your

simple faith in this,

discipline yourself accordingly;

let your body and mind be turned into

an inanimate object of nature like a stone or

a piece of wood; when a state of perfect motionlessness

and unawareness is obtained all the signs of life will depart and

also every trace of limitation will vanish. Not a single idea will disturb

your consciousness, when lo! All of a sudden you will come to realize

the light abounding in full gladness. It is like coming across the

light in thick darkness; it is like receiving treasure in poverty.

The four elements and the five aggregates are no more

felt as burdens; so light, so easy, so free you are.

Your very existence has been delivered

from all limitations; you have

become open, light, and

transparent.

 

Yuanwu

zen letters

 

when the mind is seen for what it is

paul caponigro

 

The purpose

and result of quietly

observing the self is to forget

the self. When the mind is seen for

what it is and fascination with

its activities dissipates,

reality, which was

always present,

appears.

 

It is at

this point that we

understand that nothing

is problematic and life

becomes thoroughly

enjoyable.

 

Wei wu Wei Ching, Chapter 46

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she who is filled with goodness

innocence

 

She

who is filled with

goodness is like a newborn child:

wasps and snakes will not bite it, fierce

beasts will not attack it, birds of

prey will not pounce

on it.

 

Its

bones are soft

and its muscles weak,

but its grip is firm. It hasn’t yet

known the union of male and female,

yet its organ stirs with vitality.

It can howl all day without

becoming hoarse,

so perfect is its

harmony.

 

To

know harmony is to

know the eternal.  To know

the eternal is to be

inspired.

 

Prolonging

life is not harmonious.

Coercing the breath is unnatural.

Things which are overdeveloped must

decay.  All this is contrary to Tao,

and whatever is contrary

to Tao soon ceases

to be.

 

from The Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu,

Chapter 55

 

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equanimity in all you say think and do

fefo bouvier

 

Give proper nourishment

to yourself and

others.

The image of this hexagram is that of an open mouth. It comes to remind us that the nourishment of our bodies and spirits is important and merits our conscientious attention.

The I Ching teaches us that if we wish to gauge someone’s character, we should notice what he nourishes in himself and in others. Those who cultivate inferior behaviors and relationships are inferior people; those who cultivate superior qualities in themselves and others are superior people. This is a test that we should apply to ourselves as well as to others.

What you put into your body is obviously important. Because it determines your fundamental physical well-being, it is wise to be moderate and thoughtful about the food you eat. What you put into your mind is even more significant, and regulating it is a more subtle art. This hexagram gives us three-part advice on that subject.

The first counsel is that we should not feed our minds on desire. When we forego our equanimity and begin to desire something or someone, a host of other inferior influences comes into play: we become ambitious about obtaining the object of our desire; we become fearful that we will not; if we do achieve it our ego is gratified and strengthened and it soon issues another demand for us to meet. A self-reinforcing cycle of negativity is thus created. Therefore it is wise to hold yourself free from desire.

The second counsel is that we begin and continue in a regular practice of meditation. Sitting quietly with our eyes closed for even as little as ten or fifteen minutes a day begins to “clear the waste” out of our hearts and minds, making room for the nourishment of peace and wisdom to enter in. To sit in meditation is tune your ear to the voice of the Sage, and it is the most powerful way of gaining his assistance.

The final counsel is that we observe tranquility in speech, thoughts, and actions. By cultivating calm and equanimity in all that you say, think, and do, you nourish your superior self and that of those around you. One who follows these three counsels now will meet with good fortune.

 

from The I Ching, or Book of Changes

Hexagram 27 / Providing Nourishment

 

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note to self and others

my home office on maui

 

This

is an absolute necessity

for anybody today. You must have a room,

or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know

what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know

who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody,

you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where

you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and

what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation.

At first you may find that nothing happens there.

But if you have a sacred place and use it,

something eventually will

happen.

 

Joseph Campbell