Recently I had a most pleasant Zoom “one on one” with Kwang Roshi, dharma heir to the legendary 20th century teacher Suzuki Roshi, the author of “Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind.” Roshi and I first met first during the 90’s when at an International Zen Buddhist Conference, I was assigned as his attendant.
Kwang Roshi is the Abbot of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. Now well into his 80’s, he is a formidable no nonsense, clear teacher.
I asked him about his concerns related to Covid #19 and perhaps the practice he recommended to all his students, considering the existential health ramifications of the pandemic. His answer was one I’d like to share this week. First Kwang Roshi asked me to breath in a tidal breath and then while exhaling, begin lowering my waist forward almost to where I would be touching the floor with my forehead.
I did as he said. Roshi then commented, “So….did any thoughts appear as you bent forward to the end of your exhalation? The answer was “no.
Try it yourself and see. Partly physiological in it’s execution, the gap between thoughts manifests and this is where we want to place our attention. If nothing else, you will begin your meditation period with a direct connection to “before thinking mind.”
I came across a quote recently by renowned spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle. I found it humorous. He said “People have been repeating the words of Jesus for two thousand years and in all that time, who has really understood them? Maybe one or two Buddhists.”
There are no historical references to Jesus during ages 12 to 30, a period of some 18 years as he was maturing. Scholars have speculated and some historical references were located that point to his being a monk in a Buddhist seminary. Whether true or not, Jesus displayed remarkable evidence even in early youth of being a gifted spiritual teacher.
Back to now. As your awareness of the present moment increases, your pre occupation with a unique “personal story” that you are always anxious to share will decrease. Our “personal story” is always treasured as special and earmarked with Hollywood style drama. Whether this drama is toxic or pleasant it nevertheless reinforces a sense of a separate identity. We constantly rework our “story” in the hopes of making it compelling to a listener. We can’t simply leave it alone, How else would we be able to keep our audience. Ha-ha.
Step out of the dialogue you are having with the voice in your head. Zen Master Seung Sahn used to refer to it as our back street driver. At any time during the day when you recognize that you are creating personal suffering through your narrative, open the door to other possibilities. Focus on your breath. Bring yourself back to the wisdom, precision and beauty of this moment. Remember, throughout your whole life it is now, not some memory of the past and not some projection of the future. Just relax into now.
Great love, Great compassion, Great Bodhisattva way is not just a Buddhist saying from some sutra archive. Being present in each moment manifests this saying as a living reality.