Arriving

Arrive. Arrive in this life completely.

To arrive does not mean to seek for that moment between past and future. That snippet of time cannot be determined nor held. Seeking in this manner, is an intellectual activity that assumes a persistent, yet changing self that is separate from that which is sought. We assume that some sort of intellectual straining will bring us to the present—as if we could bring our awareness to a point-like unit of time. This is like attempting to be two places as once.

The secret that is never hidden is that we are never removed from the currently unfolding expression of Now. Never is life unfolding at some other time or some other place.

Do not dwell in fabrications and assumptions of mind. Let go and arrive.

Precise effort allows for mind to dwell in life currently unfolding.

Life currently unfolding is offered constantly.

Life currently unfolding is revealed when the idea of a separate self is has vanished.

Arriving as life currently unfolding, participation is not bound by ideas of self, self-interest, self-fortification, self-protection. Arriving as life currently unfolding, participation opens to the cries of the world.

For a related entry see Time Ripening.

© Bev Forsman and Letters from Emptiness, 2010–2012. If you share this material, please include direction to the original content. Thank you.

No to Minnesota’s Amendment to Restrict Marriage

Let me say first, that I know intimately, the fear that arises when my foundations of truth and understanding are at risk. I can imagine what it is like to be sure of what is moral and see the world around me begin to change in ways that make me uncomfortable. I can imagine the gnawing in my stomach at the thought of what other people are doing. I can imagine what it is like to be overwhelmed by the diversity of humanity and find comfort in applying the simpler one-size-fits-all approach.

I can also imagine what it is like to be blamed by another for the discomfort they feel. I can imagine what it feels like to be treated without the dignity and acceptance that all human beings hope for. I can imagine what it would be like to love someone, be attracted to someone, and not have the blessing and respect of society.

I am a Dharma Teacher at Dharma Field, a religious community in Minneapolis. I have, until now, resisted any public comment on the proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman. By posting this, I violate what I consider to be the logical separation of church and state. This agreed upon separation is what allows religious organizations to claim tax-exempt status. It is also what keeps our government from being controlled by religion. It is what keeps our government from becoming a theocracy. If one religion, or category of religions, is successful at controlling government, religion becomes government. I suspect that if we look into our hearts, we can see that this is not really what we want. We can imagine a religious organization that is different from our own gaining control of our lives. No one would consider it “freedom of religion,” if their own religion has been limited by the powerful influences of another’s religion on government. I don’t have to imagine it.

I find that I must speak out because there are religious organizations spending large sums of money and organizing voting campaigns to push this amendment through, and no one seems to be crying foul. I maintain that the freedom of any and all religions to express their teachings is at risk if this trend continues. If this amendment passes, my ability to carry out the teachings of my religion through the expression of ceremony and sanctity will be permanently limited.

The religion that my community practices, invites us to see the equality of all human beings. We are accustomed the inverse golden rule: Do not do unto others, as you would not have them do unto you. This inverse version is extremely valuable and equitable, for it doesn’t force anyone to act upon another. It asks us to be considerate of others. For instance, if I would not like government to dictate to whom I can or cannot be married, I would not enact laws that would make that the situation for others. What we do unto others is what we do to ourselves, and to society.

Our sexual drives are very strong. I think we can all imagine what it would be like to be told to stop being attracted to the gender we yearn to be with. Some of us don’t need to imagine this.

Having been ordained in my tradition, I am able to legally perform marriage ceremonies. I would be honored to conduct a marriage ceremony for any two people who are associated with our religious institution. Minnesota law prevents this, but I can hope that continued conversations can bring all of us to appreciate the societal benefits of including same-gender loving couples, and families with two moms or two dads. I can hope that clergy of other religions would see this way too, but it would be inappropriate to force my view and practices upon another institution. If the law were respectful to all religions, we could again be a society that appreciates “freedom of religion.”

We are all responsible for our actions. As humans we have been given the ability to think, and respond to the cries of the world. Everyone cries at some point. We all hope to be heard when we do.

On Tuesday, I will be voting “no” on the amendment. I value highly, the dignity of a committed, loving relationship that has developed within and amongst two people no matter their gender. Let’s let the conversation run its course naturally, rather than shut it down with an amendment to the constitution. Mutual respect is our best hope for humanity.

Mudra: The Authentic Seal of Awareness

Today’s entry is my contribution to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands.

This posterized photo is the hand gesture of the Buddhist practice of awareness. Shunryu Suzuki Roshi called it the cosmic mudra.

I have always understood the definition of gesture to be a motion of the hand or hands. I have resisted using the term when I demonstrate and describe the mudra during meditation instruction, because there is no movement expected once the hands are placed. Instead, I describe the mudra as a hand position.

Looking up the word gesture, I see now that its archaic definition refers to carriage corresponding to the state of mind. This discovery brings a smile, though awareness is not a state of mind. Awareness is openness; life not crimped by held assumptions.

Awareness is first, original; the base and whole of experience. Assumptions are interpretations of this direct experience.

An obsolete definition of gesture refers to the position or attitude [of the hands] especially in prayer, a tip-off to the word’s religious roots. Is Buddhism a religion? That’s a topic for a future post. Meditation is far from the popular understanding of prayer (to ask, entreat, or implore). If prayer is to live as open response (“how can I help?” rather than “please, may I have?”) then this obsolete definition brings a smile, as well. Mudra; the expression of open response.

The cosmic mudra hand gesture is stationary, but expresses the life of wholeness, openness, spontaneity, fluidity. To fill this hand gesture with awareness is authentic practice. Our peonies burst into full bloom today. To flower, to open, to respond to sunlight, is the mudra of peony. A flower does not put partial effort into its aliveness. To fulfill the life of the zazen posture—including the cosmic mudra—is the authentic seal of awareness.

© Bev Forsman and Letters from Emptiness, 2010–2012. If you share this material, please include direction to the original content. Thank you.

What is a Zen Center?

What is a Zen center? A community that invites and encourages inquiry. As practitioners of Zen, we are invited to look at our assumptions, see that we believe them to be absolutely true, see that they do not correspond to life unfolding, and find liberation in realizing assumptions are empty.

How does this invitation manifest?

Our teachers guide us as they live their lives as expressions of knowing, and they remind us to keep our practice pure.

Our practice guides us as we breathe life into the effort that is awareness.

Our community guides us as we navigate the formalities of meditation hall etiquette while discovering the spontaneity of response that is exactly compassion.

Our conditioned lives guide us as we realize the manifestation of the unconditioned.

Our teachers, our practice, our community, our lives, are not really ours; but are expressions of wholeness. A Zen center is an expression of wholeness that supports the practice of awareness.

© Bev Forsman and Letters from Emptiness, 2010–2012. If you share this material, please include direction to the original content. Thank you.

Time Ripening

To count the breath in zazen with wholeheartedness is to let time ripen.
—Dainin Katagiri roshi

Typically we understand zazen as an activity (or non-activity) that we engage in at a certain time and place. Yes, we learn that it’s important to keep a regular, scheduled sitting practice, otherwise the ordinary life of preference overtakes the effort and aspiration. But awareness meditation, or zen, or to realize and live time ripening, is not limited to a certain time, place, or posture. Time ripening is available constantly in the very activities of everydayness. In fact, this unwavering availability is possible because time ripening’s expression is the relative world of this and that.

With open curiosity, we can discover that the structure of an independent me that is separate from a world out there is an elaborate fabrication. Seeing the insubstantial nature of this constructed view is, at once, liberation. Indeed, it can be known directly that we appear thoroughly dependent upon everything that we are not. Totality or wholeness illuminates as this experience of what seems like me separate from you.

It’s difficult to find this knowing, however, because the fabricated structure is our truth and includes a storyline that, through its mesmerizing affect, holds us hostage. Seemingly. We live as if inside a span of time that is based on self-drama. From this profoundly mistaken point of view, the true revealing of this here/now life is overlooked. We don’t see the fabrication. We miss the total flow and undulation of wholeness which is fabrication’s essence.

I have enjoyed the free fall ride of Valleyfair’s Power Tower countless times. On one occasion it was pouring rain. I rode down with the rain!

The ride gently sends us enthusiasts 275 feet straight up. Strapped safely into our chairs, we sit suspended for a few seconds at the top, until the magnets holding us in position are suddenly deactivated. We are thrust downward faster than free-fall, racing past raindrops. Though they are falling, they look as though shooting upward. Our seats are sent up high again, but this next journey down only gravity is in charge. Free-fall. Raindrops float, illuminated, before us. The life of falling rain is revealed. The raindrops are experienced as they are. That we are neither ahead of nor behind them, is truly breathtaking and is a beautiful analogy of time ripening.

Wholeheartedly following the breath in zazen, time ripening can be known. Wholeheartedly maintaining upright posture, time ripening can be known. Without the labels of me and my breathing, life is illumined. Everything experienced is realized totality. Forgotten is the attachment to the drama ahead, the drama of past, or the drama of what’s-in-it-for-me-now. And away from the cushion, time ripening is simply wholehearted everyday activity.

Life is revealing, manifesting naturally, constantly, regardless of the thoughts, beliefs, or formulas that would hijack its vibrancy. True life, the life that is time ripening, is never somewhere else, even while in the cloak of drama. Are we open enough, within this drama, to take a look?

© Bev Forsman and Letters from Emptiness, 2010–2012. If you share this material, please include direction to the original content. Thank you.

Unlocatable Self

The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Distorted, was the inspiration for this post.

Any frozen or fixed view of Reality is distortion.

Awakening is realizing this.

In our ignorance, we live life based on “snapshots” which become formulas to live (or die) by. Ignorance is suffering.

© Bev Forsman and Letters from Emptiness, 2010–2012. If you share this material, please include direction to the original content. Thank you.

Not to Attach is the Way of Peace

The Buddha realized directly that a discrete, independent, persisting self cannot be found. Delusion is simply not having realized what The Buddha realized. Delusion is living the unrecognized assumption that life revolves around a discrete, independent, persisting self.

Simply to believe and attach to the idea of a persistent self is to live life filled with craving and dissatisfaction. Unwittingly holding this fundamental belief, our actions perpetuate and radiate turmoil, as we try to bring our individual ideas of right and wrong to the world of many ideas.

We typically assume we can bring peace by lobbying for changes that match our beliefs, explanations, or philosophies about life. We have taken our formulas about life as absolute truth, and we attempt to make the world bend to those held formulas. This is already to stray from peace.

Each of us has the capacity to realize exactly what The Buddha realized. To thoroughly recognize our identification with this fabricated self, is to be released from the turmoil of craving and dissatisfaction. We can, just like The Buddha, realize directly the fluidity of reality from which the illusion of separateness arises. From this knowing of wholeness and non-separation, activity is manifested as a life of open response (rather than personal-agenda-response). With this knowing, activity attends to the life of All-Beings, which is none other than this life, here/now.

Not to attach to a self is exactly not to stray from peace.

© Bev Forsman and Letters from Emptiness, 2010–2012. If you share this material, please include direction to the original content. Thank you.