The Dharma Is As Deep As The Ocean

During Zazen, continue to be fully absorbed in posture and breath, instead of developing all kinds of mental constructs. This coming back to the simple reality of the present moment, in embodied awareness and in the rhythm of the breading, has the power to reunite us with who we really are. It is becoming intimate with oneself. As an inner island of self, that is always renewable, resilient, joyful, compassionate, connected, and courageously addressing the needs of the world.

Transcript

During Zazen,

Continue to stay fully absorbed,

In posture and breath.

Instead of developing all kinds of mental constructs,

This coming back to the simple living reality of the present moment,

In embodied awareness and in the rhythm of the breathing,

Has the power to reunite us with who we really are.

It is becoming intimate with oneself,

As an inner island of self,

That is always renewable,

Resilient,

Joyful,

And courageously addressing the needs of the world.

While we are sitting like this,

We can observe our mind,

And see clearly in our desires,

In our fears,

The desire for praise,

For pleasure,

For gain,

For fame,

Recognition,

Being seen,

Being heard,

Which lead to all kinds of attachments which make us suffer.

Or the contrary,

Our fears,

Our fears for pain,

For loss,

Blame,

Or disgrace,

And from this fear we develop all kinds of aversions.

Now,

In a world of turmoil,

How do we liberate ourselves from these attachments and these aversions,

The so-called worldly dharmas,

These preoccupations of the mind that risk to become obsessions.

Generally,

They activate our sympathetic nervous system,

And raise our stress levels.

In view of these concerns,

Nagarjuna advises us not to allow them to occupy our mind.

He says,

Regard them with equanimity.

But how to cultivate equanimity?

Like-mindedness.

Buddha Shakyamuni,

Advises us to develop equanimity through wise attention.

That means to be continually mindful,

From moment to moment.

That is,

As we continuously come back to the concentration on body posture and breath.

But also,

And especially,

Beyond Sazen,

During the Gyoji,

In our daily life.

The Gyoji,

Or means,

By oneself.

And this practice by oneself,

Is not necessarily a very actionable,

Active practice.

It is continuing to see,

Clearly,

How all these phenomena that create turmoil in the world,

Are just that.

They are just phenomena.

As worrisome as they may be,

They are just,

At the surface,

Temporary phenomena that continuously change.

That,

In themselves,

Have no permanent substance.

They're like waves on the ocean.

While true reality is in the depth of the mass of the water,

Is deep as the ocean.

Why would we be concerned with a little wave at the surface?

Thank you.