When all things are Buddha-teachings, then there is delusion and enlightenment, there is cultivation of practice, there is birth, there is death, there are Buddhas, there are sentient beings. When myriad things are all not self, there is no delusion, no enlightenment, no Buddhas, no sentient beings, no birth, no death. Because the Buddha Way originally sprang forth from abundance and paucity, there is birth and death, delusion and enlightenment, sentient beings and Buddhas. Moreover, though this is so, flowers fall when we cling to them, and weeds only grow when we dislike them.
Zen Master Dogen [1200-1253], Shobogenzo
Once upon a time a baby fish asked an older, larger fish about the sea.
"What is the sea?" he asked. "I keep hearing about it, but I don't know what it is."
"Why the sea is all around you, little one," said the grown-up fish.
"If that's so, why can't I see it?" asked the young fish.
"Because it is everywhere. It surrounds you. It's inside and outside you. You were born in the sea and you will die in the sea. What's more, you yourself are the life of the sea. When you swim you reveal its presence. Its just because it's so close to you that it's very hard to see. But don't worry, it's here."
One Hand Clapping, written by Rafe Martin and Manuela Soares.
Buddhism is not a set of doctrines. It has no dogma. It just teaches us about becoming buddhas. It is a way of spiritual self-development, but above all it is a way of action, first, last and always. We must do something with this. We don't just sit around and talk about it, or sit on our cushions and gulp it all down for ourselves. We give it away; we radiate it. There are no shortcuts; there are no bypasses. There is no instant magical potion. We must go it on our own, on our two feet alone; yet we are always aware of our interrelatedness. Through each thought, each action, we can help or hinder one another. We take one step at a time, just as in kinhin [walking meditation]. Just one step at a time. What we do will not be perfect, we know that. But, as R. H. Blyth says, "Perfection means not perfect actions in a perfect world, but appropriate actions in an imperfect one."
Subtle Sound, written by Maurine Stuart
Submitted February 18, 2018 at 10:08PM by WanderingRonin77 http://ift.tt/2EBKWG0
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