Thursday, December 29, 2011
True Passion
No matter what activity we undertake, the same universal laws apply. When this awareness permeates our life, we will pursue the creative arts with the same passion that we wash the morning dishes, tend our gardens, or skip stones on a glassy lake.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Fate
It is not true that we are guaranteed a comfortable and secure existence. Until we die, we are more or less exposed to every possibility. The complex mechanism of cause and effect limits our power to control events. We can put the odds of a desired outcome in our favor, but we can never be certain that the future will be as we imagine it.
Even a cursory reading of the newspaper will turn up an example of a surprise ending to an ordinary life. The New York Times recently reported a Christmas gathering that ended tragically when a fire killed several family members. This is an unpleasant story and we may feel horror at the harrowing events and sympathize with the human suffering.
But we seldom simply fold the newspaper after commenting to our wife or children that here is another clear instance of cause and effect. C'est la vie.
Such is life. We attempt to drive circumstances in a corner where we fancy that we are masters of our fate. This is a terrible delusion. We cannot control events in that way.
The only way to be the master of your fate is to practice accepting things as they are--whether agreeable or disagreeable. This may be easy to talk about, but it is a very difficult practice.
Why wait until a challenging circumstance finds you out of practice? Study how to act without fear.
Even a cursory reading of the newspaper will turn up an example of a surprise ending to an ordinary life. The New York Times recently reported a Christmas gathering that ended tragically when a fire killed several family members. This is an unpleasant story and we may feel horror at the harrowing events and sympathize with the human suffering.
But we seldom simply fold the newspaper after commenting to our wife or children that here is another clear instance of cause and effect. C'est la vie.
Such is life. We attempt to drive circumstances in a corner where we fancy that we are masters of our fate. This is a terrible delusion. We cannot control events in that way.
The only way to be the master of your fate is to practice accepting things as they are--whether agreeable or disagreeable. This may be easy to talk about, but it is a very difficult practice.
Why wait until a challenging circumstance finds you out of practice? Study how to act without fear.
Do as a wise man should and prepare for ill and not for good.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Finding a True Teacher
The problem is that your chances of bumping into a true sage are small. You are more likely to run into a charlatan.
If I were to start over again, I would approach the Truth by choosing a teacher from a familiar tradition. I can recommend three whom, from my studies, I now know that I could trust to lead me back to myself.
From the Christian tradition, I would choose the great Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. I would metaphorically sit at his feet by reading and re-reading New Seeds of Contemplation until I mastered his Way. Then I could express my true being in my own way.
From the Buddhist tradition, I would choose Shunryu Suzuki to whom I am very much indebted. Although Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is a spiritual classic, I have found that it was easier for me to master my teacher's way by reading Not Always So.
The reason is rather interesting. Both Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind and Not Always So are transcriptions of talks given by Suzuki. Both books were edited by one of his disciples. Trudy Dixon, who edited Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, is the more capable of the two. The lectures flow smoothly. The polish evident in the final work, however, seems to hide the true spirit of Suzuki. It is as if his personality was partially rubbed out.
The more rough-hewed editing of Not Always So unintentionally captures a fuller, more realistic, portrait of the great Zen Master. Both books have value.
But if your mind is inclined toward science and you are suspicious of organized religion, then I would recommend the Free-thinking tradition of Krishnamurti. Even the titles of his books such as The Awakening of Intelligence and Freedom from the Known hint at a new approach and a spiritual challenge.
Although I would choose one teacher to begin my study of THE WAY, I would not hesitate to read the others as well. I have found that a different point of view can invigorate my conviction that being is all.
If I were to start over again, I would approach the Truth by choosing a teacher from a familiar tradition. I can recommend three whom, from my studies, I now know that I could trust to lead me back to myself.
From the Christian tradition, I would choose the great Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. I would metaphorically sit at his feet by reading and re-reading New Seeds of Contemplation until I mastered his Way. Then I could express my true being in my own way.
From the Buddhist tradition, I would choose Shunryu Suzuki to whom I am very much indebted. Although Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is a spiritual classic, I have found that it was easier for me to master my teacher's way by reading Not Always So.
The reason is rather interesting. Both Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind and Not Always So are transcriptions of talks given by Suzuki. Both books were edited by one of his disciples. Trudy Dixon, who edited Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, is the more capable of the two. The lectures flow smoothly. The polish evident in the final work, however, seems to hide the true spirit of Suzuki. It is as if his personality was partially rubbed out.
The more rough-hewed editing of Not Always So unintentionally captures a fuller, more realistic, portrait of the great Zen Master. Both books have value.
But if your mind is inclined toward science and you are suspicious of organized religion, then I would recommend the Free-thinking tradition of Krishnamurti. Even the titles of his books such as The Awakening of Intelligence and Freedom from the Known hint at a new approach and a spiritual challenge.
Although I would choose one teacher to begin my study of THE WAY, I would not hesitate to read the others as well. I have found that a different point of view can invigorate my conviction that being is all.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Realization
How many of us realized before death that fear is the problem? The few that did were either ignored, misunderstood, or crucified.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Mystery of the Universe
The study of objective truth requires science. It is the study of cause and effect.
The study of subjective truth requires intuition. It is the study of reality as a direct experience without the intermediary of thought.
The study of subjective truth requires intuition. It is the study of reality as a direct experience without the intermediary of thought.
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