Previous weekly posts suggested various meditation techniques. They were presented as a sincere methodology to slow down the “monkey mind” of our habitual thinking swinging from one thought to the next, a way of calmly disarming the stress of 21st century social, personal and political issues that are at the forefront of today’s news. As such, they are not an end in themselves or a temporary placebo, but are a device, an entry point into seeing our true nature. The aspiration for practice is to see through our subtle yet ever present attachments to all sorts of things manufactured by our ego. Stability is not possible if we are seeking a result or mud wrestling with our vexations. Your mind will never settle down under that approach. The most liberating truth that you can experience is that your I, my, me is total fabrication. Thoughts have a way of convincing us that they are reality when in fact they are no different from clouds. Appearing and disappearing – no substance just phenomena.
Be kind to yourself. This is important. I spent years grasping after some unknown mind state that I thought was being referred to as Nirvana or enlightenment. Throw it away. See, I’ve already saved you from this agony. Ha-ha.
Once the great Zen Master Ikkyu was on a ferry. An ascetic was also on board, a “Yamabushi” as they were called. Yamabushi can be defined as one who practices austerities to attain special energy and supernatural powers. The Yamabushi confronted Ikkyu saying “your practice is inferior. Zen monks cannot perform miracles as we do in our sect.” Ikkyu replied, “On the contrary. In zen everyday acts are miracles.” The Yamabushi full of disdain remarked, Oh really? Okay zen monk, watch this!” After a lengthy and elaborate incantation, suddenly a fiery image of Fudo Myo-O (protector guardian) appeared on the boat. Seeing this apparition, Ikkyu immediately urinated on the image extinguishing it.
He turned to the Yamabushi and simply said, “See, that’s a miracle issuing out of my own body.”
Ji Haeng Zen Master – The Desert Dragon