s t o p -- (a way to go)

seeing

this,

our

practice

appreciatory, a heart condition

It is the orientation of heart that entices the mechanism of mind to rationalize justification for action. It is not conditioning of mind that influences heart.

We often see this wrong. We want to train the mind, thinking heart will follow.

Perhaps "right heart" will become the 9th addition to the eightfold path.

Stoney heart creates hard thinking action. Open hear creates complementary thoughtful action.

Have a heart -- let it be clear and flowing with appreciatory love!

Ora et labora

Loon cry across silence where dawn opens eye and birds shower song into stillness.

Wu Wei -- effortless awakening.

Father Benedict, founder (they say) of monasticism, find here a suitable community of fellow creatures praying reality into god, god into reality, heart/mind into integrity of place!

Pane, not pain

A saint, the book said, is someone who, like a window, let's light show through.

Holiness allows translucence. It need not be its cause. It allows.

Here's to windows, light, and effect.

Madre Mia

Night grows quiet.

Only one thing 

made him happy 

and now that 

it was gone 

everything 

made him happy. 

(--Leonard Cohen, "Leonard Koan")

Room is quiet.

A yawn.

Blessings of birth anniversary to you!

Kinhin

Walking meditation at corner of Tire Warehouse parking lot right angle of shade from two trees in Bangor for thirty minutes.

No waiting. Rather, walking.

Nothing to wait for. Only, this step, this step, pivot, turn, this step, this step.

As the title of the book says: Practicing Mortality

It is courageous to spend time consciously with someone dying.

It might be with someone other than yourself.

It might be with yourself.

It is time well spent.

Entering

Present

Feeling

Aware

Truly,

Alive.

acquainted with night

Something odd has taken center stage. Personal interest in any professional sport, any personal news about any celebrity, or direct or oblique reference to body size, body part, or who’s doing what with whom -- is not the least bit interesting.

Center stage is empty.

Emptiness.

Bodhidharma, the reading tonight said, didn’t go to China to bring zen or the Buddha. He went to find one person not deluded by people.

Since 6th century C.E. looking around for the non-deluded!

Good luck!