Zen Garden

Funny how Zen won't cooperate. We start Zen practice to get something - a calm feeling, a certain prestige, or relief from anguish. And we might get that.

But we also get ourselves, our total, nightmarish selves - fabrications and delusions arising moment to moment.

Fortunately, we have the second Bodhisattva Vow:

Delusions are endless; we vow to cut through them all.

Comments

[Bob]

I find this post disturbingly accurate. I keep searching for an easier way to get this accomplished, but I can't.

[Suzanne]

Oh, give me a nice, nightmarish ego concern to sink the ol' teeth into! Can't appreciate the peace otherwise.

[Genju]

I used to have a lovely little "zen" sand and stone garden on my art table... one of my kitties got locked in the room overnight... 'nuff said... :-)

[Barry Briggs]

Folks, Thanks for your comments. The nightmare is right here with us, all the time. And - at least in my case - my teeth are deeply sunk into it at all times, worrying it like a dog with its last bone.

(And apologies for my delayed response!)

[jill i]

Barry, your posts from today and the next day (does that make sense?) are both so spot on. Feeling the yukkies at practice last night instead of the floating, inspired feeling that pervaded last fall/winter. I'll just hang on anyway.
thanks,
jill