Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, Weatherhill, New York, 2000.
This small book is a series of talks given by Master Suzuki to his disciples during their zazen practice. He speaks in the manner of the great Buddhist masters with many parables from nature and not always so easy to follow - until you let go of the need for understanding and just let the words fall into your consciousness and then let them go.
This "listening/reading" is not easy for this ISFJ personality. But about 2/3's of the way through the book, I realized that that was exactly what I was doing. Everything seemed to come together in a small aah-ha moment. I remember thinking, "Oh, this is what Jerry meant when I asked for a book."
Nirvana and the Waterfall story, page 92, was the story of the aah-ha. That dipper of water, the lake in front of me, the waterfall of individual drops falling 1340 feet and feeling so good to be part of the river again finally got through my big mind.
Other writings which meant a great deal to me include, page 111, But there is no certain way that exist permanently. There is no way set up for us. Moment after moment we have to find our own way. Some idea of perfection, or some perfect way which is set up by someone else, is not the true way for us.
Page 115, It is not necessary to make an effort to think in a particular way. Your thinking should not be one-sided. We just think with our whole mind, and see things as they are without any effort. Just to see, and be ready to see things with our whole mind, is zazen practice. If we are prepared for thinking, there is no need to make an effort to think. This is called mindfulness. Mindfulness is at the same time wisdom. By wisdom we do not mean some particular faculty or philosophy. It is the readiness of the mind that is wisdom.... Wisdom is not something to be learned. Wisdom is something that will come out of your mindfulness. So the point is to be ready for observing things, and to be ready for thinking. This is called emptiness of your mind. Emptiness is nothing but the practice of zazen.
Page 119, But oneness and variety are the same thing, so oneness should be appreciated in each existence. That is why we emphasize everyday life rather than some particular state of mind. We should find the reality in each moment and in each phenomenon.
Page 128, Actually, good and bad is not the point. Whether or not you make yourself peaceful is the point, and whether or not you stick to it.
Page 138, We must have beginner's mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change. Nothing exists but momentarily in its present form and color. One thing flows into another and cannot be grasped. Before the rain stops we hear the bird.
Anyone who enjoys Zen will enjoy this book. But Zen is not easy, at least not for this thinking, planning, controlling personality. That is why I sit.
May you find the Peace of the River for all your Drops of Water. Cyn
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Dance of Hope - Book Review
The Dance of Hope by The Rt. Rev (Retired) William C. Frey, Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, CO, 2003.
I bought this book at our church rummage sale; the title caught my eye as this summer has seemed a little hopeless to me. He says in his forward that I am the reason he wrote the book - those who feel less than hopeful in the present world. Bishop Frey is the retired Bishop of Colorado and a former Bishop of Guatemala. He and his wife have served congregations in Colorado, New Mexico, & Guatemala. For him the power of hope comes from reading the Bible. This is something that I have not found particularly helpful in finding hope. But Bishop Frey has some interesting points of view on common Biblical stories and his book held my interest (although not to the exclusion of reading several others at the same time).
Some of the points I marked are ---
page 41, "The saving remnant ceases to have the ability to save when it's constituents become so conscious of their own virtue that they begin to look with disdain on those outside their fellowship. When the gathering becomes the holy huddle of the "saved" and can no longer shed a tear, much less toss out a lifeline to those who are perishing,it fails in it's original purpose." A little later, he says, "I've know many clergy who, only half in jest, have said that there are no problems in their congregations that a few well-chosen funerals wouldn't solve." Cyn speaking, Ah, yes, please help me from becoming one of those funerals!
page 53, "The way back to Eden is barred, and the story can only go forward. We pass this way but once, and our stories have a beginning and an ending. As we saw earlier, it isn't a no-fault universe, and actions have consequences. Life is very real and reality bites." Cyn speaking, everyday is a new opportunity to make amends or do-over or move forward. There is no reverse in life.
page 105, "The last chapter ended with the question. Yes, but how?" In a few sentences Bishop Frey suggests the question should be, 'Yes but where?' "Any authentic recovery of hope will take place in community with other people." Cyn speaking, this community this summer, the ones which have sustained me are a small group of church friends, a group of quilters, and most strongly my yoga & meditation practice as taught by my Yogis & Buddhist friends.
page 108, "A baptized person is a sign of promise for all people. The Eucharist is a promise for every meal. The church is a promise for all human society." A preview of coming attractions. Cyn speaking, not so sure why I marked this one except that I like the way the sentences build on each other.
page 141, "Benjamin Franklin said that the most important thing he had ever learned was that he was accountable to God. While that might sound like a frightening discovery, it's really good news. To be accountable for anything, first of all, means that you count, that you have dignity and are valued by someone, that you are important in the infinite scheme of things. That is a truly awesome thought. To believe in a God who doesn't hold us accountable would be to believe in a God who doesn't care." Cyn speaking, this holds true in life with real people, to be accountable in your work place, worship place, etc, means that you do count!
page 150, "Donde huelgan las palabras, comienza la danza-- Where words come to an end, the dance begins!" Cyn speaking, ah, yes, the dance of life. Words must cease and dancing begin or life holds little joy. Stop to smell the roses. Dance the gospel book down the steps and into the congregation. Invite a friend for coffee. Live your life don't wait until tomorrow, or next week, or whenever. Right now, this moment is the right time.
page 194, "...Dag Hammarskjold to write, 'For all that has been--Thanks! For all that shall be--Yes!' Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future, and faith is the courage to dance to it today." Cyn speaking, Thanks to all of you who have sustained me without knowing it. Yes, I will believe in hope and I will dance it today.
May the DANCE Enliven your feet and Warm your Soul! Cyn
I bought this book at our church rummage sale; the title caught my eye as this summer has seemed a little hopeless to me. He says in his forward that I am the reason he wrote the book - those who feel less than hopeful in the present world. Bishop Frey is the retired Bishop of Colorado and a former Bishop of Guatemala. He and his wife have served congregations in Colorado, New Mexico, & Guatemala. For him the power of hope comes from reading the Bible. This is something that I have not found particularly helpful in finding hope. But Bishop Frey has some interesting points of view on common Biblical stories and his book held my interest (although not to the exclusion of reading several others at the same time).
Some of the points I marked are ---
page 41, "The saving remnant ceases to have the ability to save when it's constituents become so conscious of their own virtue that they begin to look with disdain on those outside their fellowship. When the gathering becomes the holy huddle of the "saved" and can no longer shed a tear, much less toss out a lifeline to those who are perishing,it fails in it's original purpose." A little later, he says, "I've know many clergy who, only half in jest, have said that there are no problems in their congregations that a few well-chosen funerals wouldn't solve." Cyn speaking, Ah, yes, please help me from becoming one of those funerals!
page 53, "The way back to Eden is barred, and the story can only go forward. We pass this way but once, and our stories have a beginning and an ending. As we saw earlier, it isn't a no-fault universe, and actions have consequences. Life is very real and reality bites." Cyn speaking, everyday is a new opportunity to make amends or do-over or move forward. There is no reverse in life.
page 105, "The last chapter ended with the question. Yes, but how?" In a few sentences Bishop Frey suggests the question should be, 'Yes but where?' "Any authentic recovery of hope will take place in community with other people." Cyn speaking, this community this summer, the ones which have sustained me are a small group of church friends, a group of quilters, and most strongly my yoga & meditation practice as taught by my Yogis & Buddhist friends.
page 108, "A baptized person is a sign of promise for all people. The Eucharist is a promise for every meal. The church is a promise for all human society." A preview of coming attractions. Cyn speaking, not so sure why I marked this one except that I like the way the sentences build on each other.
page 141, "Benjamin Franklin said that the most important thing he had ever learned was that he was accountable to God. While that might sound like a frightening discovery, it's really good news. To be accountable for anything, first of all, means that you count, that you have dignity and are valued by someone, that you are important in the infinite scheme of things. That is a truly awesome thought. To believe in a God who doesn't hold us accountable would be to believe in a God who doesn't care." Cyn speaking, this holds true in life with real people, to be accountable in your work place, worship place, etc, means that you do count!
page 150, "Donde huelgan las palabras, comienza la danza-- Where words come to an end, the dance begins!" Cyn speaking, ah, yes, the dance of life. Words must cease and dancing begin or life holds little joy. Stop to smell the roses. Dance the gospel book down the steps and into the congregation. Invite a friend for coffee. Live your life don't wait until tomorrow, or next week, or whenever. Right now, this moment is the right time.
page 194, "...Dag Hammarskjold to write, 'For all that has been--Thanks! For all that shall be--Yes!' Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future, and faith is the courage to dance to it today." Cyn speaking, Thanks to all of you who have sustained me without knowing it. Yes, I will believe in hope and I will dance it today.
May the DANCE Enliven your feet and Warm your Soul! Cyn
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