Many people are probably aware of John's testimony of Christ, that he was the Word in the flesh, but have you considered what a living word is?
Many people talk of ideologies and morals, talk wisely and promote kindness and compassion, but it is necessary to practice what one preaches. It is by doing what we say that people see our actions. It does not always have to be grand gestures, but small things.
Regardless of creed, colour or race, we can all make a difference. By assisting people, our actions speak a common language, that of kindness and compassion. This universal language breaks down barriers. By doing rather than preaching, we set an example.
So we too can be living words.
"And the Word became flesh."
Thursday, 18 June 2015
About enlightenment
The old Zen proverb says, 'Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.'
And Basho was right. Just because you may have experienced bodhi, kensho or satori, does not mean everything changes, life changes or otherwise. All that changes is you, or your perception of things (according to what you define as enlightenment) and what you do as a result of this.
So what's the point of it then? Arguably, there is no point. If you think have gained it, then you haven't. If you think it's yours, it isn't; and this is why one does not attain it, but merely experiences it. The enlightenment experience will be unique to each of you.
Famously, Siddhartha Gautama became Buddha after his awakening, his enlightenment. People are reported to have noticed his awakening. But was it a visual difference or something about his 'aura'? Whatever it was, people noticed it then and now due to his teachings.
There has been a long debate over whether enlightenment is a gradual or sudden process. In particular, the Zen/Chan schools debated this for years. Ma-Tsu is ostensibly the originator of the 'sudden' school of enlightenment and by use of non sequitur questioning, shouts of "Ho!" & hitting people, tried to jolt students in to enlightenment. Ma-Tsu is one of my favourite Zen patriarchs, although rather slapstick. However, his techniques do what is required to gain awakening, just as the koans do. Many people don't understand koans, especially those who have little understanding of Zen Buddhism, but they are meant to trigger a response which is inline with our original nature, or Buddha nature. However, unless you know what you are looking for, you won't find the answer, hence the general public's perception of koans. Bearing these things in mind, our original nature is said to know all things, yet not know them, which is Buddha nature. To briefly explain, we learn from a young age how to do many things which become instinctive. We are not consciously learning these things, but are aware that we know them. So enlightenment is like this; we are already enlightened yet not consciously aware that we are. So whether we become enlightened gradually or suddenly is a huge debate.
People of any persuasion can become enlightened; it's not just for Buddhists. Zoroaster had an experience of it, so did Patanjali, Sai Baba, Osho, Adyashanti, David Hoffmeister, Nirmala, amongst many others. In fact, there are many enlightened minds in the world who are not famous and live with us in our everyday lives.
Enlightenment itself is an awakening, realisation of things, understanding interconnectedness of things which cannot be translated or conferred upon someone. It is something that happens to you. Each experience is unique but they do have common traits. Amongst the metaphors to describe enlightenment, are the following:
Peace, tranquillity, insight, understanding, connection, transcendental, at-one-ness, overwhelming love.
For some people, enlightenment will be a gradual process leading to that moment of clarity, whereas others will experience it suddenly, whether it be within meditation or contemplation, or whilst involved in an activity.
It is common to think and ask, "So, what happens next?" after that experience, hence the opening quote from Basho, 'Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.' What you do as a result of that revelation is an example of how it has impacted on you. The one thing I would stress is the importance of keeping a 'beginner's mind.' Shunruyi Suzuki deals with this idea very well and I encourage you to read his work. In short, never think you know it all. If you become big headed and a show off, people won't think you're enlightened, but an idiot, because you will have increased your ego and not diminished it. By having a 'beginner's mind,' you will continue to ask questions and learn, be inquisitive, be open minded and not of fixed opinion.
If you do experience enlightenment, try to recall what was happening before that moment. Also, after the experience, you may find you have a burst of creativity.
So is enlightenment for you? It's for anyone. As a Buddhist may say, "We all have Buddha nature." As the psalmist and St Paul said, "Awake, o' sleeper..."
A Zen proverb says, "Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening," & Dogen said, "There is no beginning to practice nor end to enlightenment; There is no beginning to enlightenment nor end to practice."
If I can help, please feel free to contact me at Sougen.roshi@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------
A bit about my enlightenment.
From my experiences, I realised that what I initially considered my enlightenment, was in fact kensho, a small insight. For myself, this involved understanding the interconnectedness of things. It occurred when I was 39 years old. Three years later, at 42, I experienced satori, a deeper, more profound understanding, which was as enlightenment. It was a sudden realisation, after a series of contemplations where I asked certain questions. What was curious regarding my experiences, is that I am a Christian and I'd never heard of Christians experiencing enlightenment. So I talked to people and did research. I also asked, "So, what happens next?" and found that it took a while to find the path I should follow. For myself it related to bringing my spiritual life in to the secular environment. How I react and perform within society is a reflection of what I have learnt. It is a bit like being a doctor to humankind. Lessons from the Bible, the life of Christ, the teachings & life of Buddha, Sikh philosophy, Taoism and practicing Zen all can be translated into everyday actions. These things impacted on me and in any given situation, spiritual lessons are there to be put into practice, and this is what I do. You may think this is an obvious thing to do, but how many of the teachings you've received have you put into action? It's what I class as being a 'living word.' As a Christian may understand that Yeshua/Jesus was the, "word made flesh," so also are we called to be 'living words;' the action of compassion, love, a helping hand, benevolence, in a world where so many people hear pretty speeches but do not see them being put into action.
One of the other facets of enlightenment for myself was about accepting things as they are, not judging them. The only way I can try and explain my beliefs is relating to the term 'Zen-Christian,' although I am probably not seen as a typical Christian. I have practiced zazen for many years and see the common ground between Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Sikhism and Islam. I don't pigeon hole my beliefs in any denomination and do not preach radical ideas of say that you have to be x,y or z. What I believe is what I believe. So this is the tip of the iceberg regarding my own experience regarding enlightenment. I hope that maybe by reading this, about my own experiences, you will understand a little better.
And Basho was right. Just because you may have experienced bodhi, kensho or satori, does not mean everything changes, life changes or otherwise. All that changes is you, or your perception of things (according to what you define as enlightenment) and what you do as a result of this.
So what's the point of it then? Arguably, there is no point. If you think have gained it, then you haven't. If you think it's yours, it isn't; and this is why one does not attain it, but merely experiences it. The enlightenment experience will be unique to each of you.
Famously, Siddhartha Gautama became Buddha after his awakening, his enlightenment. People are reported to have noticed his awakening. But was it a visual difference or something about his 'aura'? Whatever it was, people noticed it then and now due to his teachings.
There has been a long debate over whether enlightenment is a gradual or sudden process. In particular, the Zen/Chan schools debated this for years. Ma-Tsu is ostensibly the originator of the 'sudden' school of enlightenment and by use of non sequitur questioning, shouts of "Ho!" & hitting people, tried to jolt students in to enlightenment. Ma-Tsu is one of my favourite Zen patriarchs, although rather slapstick. However, his techniques do what is required to gain awakening, just as the koans do. Many people don't understand koans, especially those who have little understanding of Zen Buddhism, but they are meant to trigger a response which is inline with our original nature, or Buddha nature. However, unless you know what you are looking for, you won't find the answer, hence the general public's perception of koans. Bearing these things in mind, our original nature is said to know all things, yet not know them, which is Buddha nature. To briefly explain, we learn from a young age how to do many things which become instinctive. We are not consciously learning these things, but are aware that we know them. So enlightenment is like this; we are already enlightened yet not consciously aware that we are. So whether we become enlightened gradually or suddenly is a huge debate.
People of any persuasion can become enlightened; it's not just for Buddhists. Zoroaster had an experience of it, so did Patanjali, Sai Baba, Osho, Adyashanti, David Hoffmeister, Nirmala, amongst many others. In fact, there are many enlightened minds in the world who are not famous and live with us in our everyday lives.
Enlightenment itself is an awakening, realisation of things, understanding interconnectedness of things which cannot be translated or conferred upon someone. It is something that happens to you. Each experience is unique but they do have common traits. Amongst the metaphors to describe enlightenment, are the following:
Peace, tranquillity, insight, understanding, connection, transcendental, at-one-ness, overwhelming love.
For some people, enlightenment will be a gradual process leading to that moment of clarity, whereas others will experience it suddenly, whether it be within meditation or contemplation, or whilst involved in an activity.
It is common to think and ask, "So, what happens next?" after that experience, hence the opening quote from Basho, 'Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.' What you do as a result of that revelation is an example of how it has impacted on you. The one thing I would stress is the importance of keeping a 'beginner's mind.' Shunruyi Suzuki deals with this idea very well and I encourage you to read his work. In short, never think you know it all. If you become big headed and a show off, people won't think you're enlightened, but an idiot, because you will have increased your ego and not diminished it. By having a 'beginner's mind,' you will continue to ask questions and learn, be inquisitive, be open minded and not of fixed opinion.
If you do experience enlightenment, try to recall what was happening before that moment. Also, after the experience, you may find you have a burst of creativity.
So is enlightenment for you? It's for anyone. As a Buddhist may say, "We all have Buddha nature." As the psalmist and St Paul said, "Awake, o' sleeper..."
A Zen proverb says, "Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening," & Dogen said, "There is no beginning to practice nor end to enlightenment; There is no beginning to enlightenment nor end to practice."
If I can help, please feel free to contact me at Sougen.roshi@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------
A bit about my enlightenment.
From my experiences, I realised that what I initially considered my enlightenment, was in fact kensho, a small insight. For myself, this involved understanding the interconnectedness of things. It occurred when I was 39 years old. Three years later, at 42, I experienced satori, a deeper, more profound understanding, which was as enlightenment. It was a sudden realisation, after a series of contemplations where I asked certain questions. What was curious regarding my experiences, is that I am a Christian and I'd never heard of Christians experiencing enlightenment. So I talked to people and did research. I also asked, "So, what happens next?" and found that it took a while to find the path I should follow. For myself it related to bringing my spiritual life in to the secular environment. How I react and perform within society is a reflection of what I have learnt. It is a bit like being a doctor to humankind. Lessons from the Bible, the life of Christ, the teachings & life of Buddha, Sikh philosophy, Taoism and practicing Zen all can be translated into everyday actions. These things impacted on me and in any given situation, spiritual lessons are there to be put into practice, and this is what I do. You may think this is an obvious thing to do, but how many of the teachings you've received have you put into action? It's what I class as being a 'living word.' As a Christian may understand that Yeshua/Jesus was the, "word made flesh," so also are we called to be 'living words;' the action of compassion, love, a helping hand, benevolence, in a world where so many people hear pretty speeches but do not see them being put into action.
One of the other facets of enlightenment for myself was about accepting things as they are, not judging them. The only way I can try and explain my beliefs is relating to the term 'Zen-Christian,' although I am probably not seen as a typical Christian. I have practiced zazen for many years and see the common ground between Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Sikhism and Islam. I don't pigeon hole my beliefs in any denomination and do not preach radical ideas of say that you have to be x,y or z. What I believe is what I believe. So this is the tip of the iceberg regarding my own experience regarding enlightenment. I hope that maybe by reading this, about my own experiences, you will understand a little better.
Monday, 8 June 2015
The diamond self
Each of us are multiple people. We are a son/daughter, a brother/sister, a father/mother, grandfather/grandmother. In any given situation, we react in one of these roles. All roles are connected. The people we grow up around influence our behaviours and we learn to be that role by observing them in that role.
A mother is also a daughter, a father is also a son. A grandmother is also a daughter and mother. A grandfather is also a son and father. Our responses are how we identify ourselves in each situation. Realising this, we can increase our empathy and identify with each role.
Next time you are in a family situation, be conscious of your responses and who you are being at that point.
A mother and daughter argue. The daughter sees only her perspective, but the mother unconsciously knows the daughter's perspective and mother's. If the mom was aware of the roles she is playing, empathy would arise and the mother would see things from a daughter's point of view, for the mother has been a daughter. Being able to recognise the point of view would decrease tension. The argument would still occur but the impact less severe, due to the mother realising she is both mother, daughter and grandmother.
We are all connected. Go in peace
A mother is also a daughter, a father is also a son. A grandmother is also a daughter and mother. A grandfather is also a son and father. Our responses are how we identify ourselves in each situation. Realising this, we can increase our empathy and identify with each role.
Next time you are in a family situation, be conscious of your responses and who you are being at that point.
A mother and daughter argue. The daughter sees only her perspective, but the mother unconsciously knows the daughter's perspective and mother's. If the mom was aware of the roles she is playing, empathy would arise and the mother would see things from a daughter's point of view, for the mother has been a daughter. Being able to recognise the point of view would decrease tension. The argument would still occur but the impact less severe, due to the mother realising she is both mother, daughter and grandmother.
We are all connected. Go in peace
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
What is God?
What is God? It's a curious question. Many people have many ideas, and each faith has it's own understanding of God, and God's nature.
I suggest reading about it and related
subjects like Transcendental Idealism, Teleology, & God in relation to different religions. It may seem heavy at times, but there are plenty of books and websites that are easy to read. (I'd be careful when reading on Wikipedia though, but they often mention if articles need work.)
The origin of the word God, is unknown. Some people allude to an ancient Sanskrit word, 'hu,' meaning to invoke or call upon. Others think it is of Germanic origin, but this does not define God as in the type of being, God's nature and form.
Philosophy has many ideas about God, just as belief systems do also. There are pluralistic ideas, such as the ancient Greek and Roman pantheon, animistic ideas that god/gods are nature, animals, etc; dualistic ideas of God, monotheistic theologies, and the belief that we are gods or each individual is an expression of God. Some, like the Hindu, Christian& Jew, believe God is a being/deity and spirit. Is God a person? Many beliefs have the notion that God can take any form, or be part of a trinity, that is with equal merit on all 3 parts. Debaters such as Origen would suggest, along with other Arian thinkers, that there is a hierarchy. In Hinduism, there are trinities, such as the Shiva trimurthis. Many beliefs also consider God to be part of our realm, whereas others attribute him to be external. So, as you can see, there are many competing ideas and beliefs.
I often wonder if God is the universe, or creation itself. Is God inspiration, the creative thought? Does God have a form or shape? How does God communicate? How does God do things and go about God's work?
I am not answering the question but stimulating your thoughts. In my own opinion, God is. In a Zen-like way, God is what God is. As Moses intimated in the Bible/Tanakh, God says, 'I am what I am,' which, to my mind, sums up the deity neatly. I do believe in God. I also believe in God's Spirit, and God as Man. I believe the trinity helps us understand God's nature; God as God in personality, God's Spirit as the mind & God as Man, being able to interface with us at our level of understanding. I also think we do not have the facility to grasp what God is within our human minds, hence God's ability to be human.
I am not imposing my understanding upon you, but offering an opinion and different perspectives.
Peace
I suggest reading about it and related
subjects like Transcendental Idealism, Teleology, & God in relation to different religions. It may seem heavy at times, but there are plenty of books and websites that are easy to read. (I'd be careful when reading on Wikipedia though, but they often mention if articles need work.)
The origin of the word God, is unknown. Some people allude to an ancient Sanskrit word, 'hu,' meaning to invoke or call upon. Others think it is of Germanic origin, but this does not define God as in the type of being, God's nature and form.
Philosophy has many ideas about God, just as belief systems do also. There are pluralistic ideas, such as the ancient Greek and Roman pantheon, animistic ideas that god/gods are nature, animals, etc; dualistic ideas of God, monotheistic theologies, and the belief that we are gods or each individual is an expression of God. Some, like the Hindu, Christian& Jew, believe God is a being/deity and spirit. Is God a person? Many beliefs have the notion that God can take any form, or be part of a trinity, that is with equal merit on all 3 parts. Debaters such as Origen would suggest, along with other Arian thinkers, that there is a hierarchy. In Hinduism, there are trinities, such as the Shiva trimurthis. Many beliefs also consider God to be part of our realm, whereas others attribute him to be external. So, as you can see, there are many competing ideas and beliefs.
I often wonder if God is the universe, or creation itself. Is God inspiration, the creative thought? Does God have a form or shape? How does God communicate? How does God do things and go about God's work?
I am not answering the question but stimulating your thoughts. In my own opinion, God is. In a Zen-like way, God is what God is. As Moses intimated in the Bible/Tanakh, God says, 'I am what I am,' which, to my mind, sums up the deity neatly. I do believe in God. I also believe in God's Spirit, and God as Man. I believe the trinity helps us understand God's nature; God as God in personality, God's Spirit as the mind & God as Man, being able to interface with us at our level of understanding. I also think we do not have the facility to grasp what God is within our human minds, hence God's ability to be human.
I am not imposing my understanding upon you, but offering an opinion and different perspectives.
Peace
Monday, 1 June 2015
The Quantum Self
You are in the universe and the universe is in you. By watching the universe, you're explaining where you come from. When the universe watches you, it sees what you can be.
The further inward you look, the larger the universe gets. The larger the outward universe seems, the smaller it becomes.
By not observing the universe it shows you everything. By observing the universe it tells you nothing.
I am who I am, it is what it is. I am everywhere and nowhere. How can I be in two places at once?
I am as a wave, yet also a particle. I am both. They are not different. They are me. I am in everyone, and everyone is in me.
Where there are gaps, spaces and time, these shrink the more I choose not to look. When I stare in wonder at those spaces, they increase, pushing things farther apart.
And by not looking, I'm at the start and see my future, my many guises and forms. Here all paths converge.
And what is my soul? The traveller in my skin; the memory filling the spaces in. You cannot see my soul, it seems to have no mass and like a shadow, it's almost dark. And this dark energy is pulling us apart. Yet my soul binds together all things that would be torn apart. It pushes and pulls, flexing its strings.
As for showing you more, I will, at the right time, when you understand you are, who I am.
The further inward you look, the larger the universe gets. The larger the outward universe seems, the smaller it becomes.
By not observing the universe it shows you everything. By observing the universe it tells you nothing.
I am who I am, it is what it is. I am everywhere and nowhere. How can I be in two places at once?
I am as a wave, yet also a particle. I am both. They are not different. They are me. I am in everyone, and everyone is in me.
Where there are gaps, spaces and time, these shrink the more I choose not to look. When I stare in wonder at those spaces, they increase, pushing things farther apart.
And by not looking, I'm at the start and see my future, my many guises and forms. Here all paths converge.
And what is my soul? The traveller in my skin; the memory filling the spaces in. You cannot see my soul, it seems to have no mass and like a shadow, it's almost dark. And this dark energy is pulling us apart. Yet my soul binds together all things that would be torn apart. It pushes and pulls, flexing its strings.
As for showing you more, I will, at the right time, when you understand you are, who I am.
Expressions of existence
All things are representative of other things. An atom Is a representation of the universe. A particle has many different forms, just as there is differentiation in people. A particle is also a wave, just as a wave on the sea is made up of different particles. All things have the same components its just they are placed in a different order. A fish has the same constituents as a plant, just as a human has the same constituents as a mouse. The diversity of things is an elegant display of how the building blocks of life can be seen.
You have a universe inside every cell of your being. These are interrelated to express your form. All things are interconnected. We are connected to all things. We are all expressions of existence.
My eyes are the sea, my skin the land. My blood the magma, my bones tectonic plates. My hairs are trees, my palms are deserts. My lungs are the air, my mouth sends out the wind. My mind is a galaxy of thought, in a universe of souls. My soul is in this expression of life. My life is one of many expressions of existence. My existence is one expression of the universe. My universe is an expression of an atom. My atoms are expressions of form. And they are the same as the earth I walk on and the water I bathe in; the food I eat and the air I breathe.
All things are one and the same. It is the hand that forms all things likes a wonderful array. A display of majesty of which the universe is a cabinet in which to place them on display. So who is looking at this?
You have a universe inside every cell of your being. These are interrelated to express your form. All things are interconnected. We are connected to all things. We are all expressions of existence.
My eyes are the sea, my skin the land. My blood the magma, my bones tectonic plates. My hairs are trees, my palms are deserts. My lungs are the air, my mouth sends out the wind. My mind is a galaxy of thought, in a universe of souls. My soul is in this expression of life. My life is one of many expressions of existence. My existence is one expression of the universe. My universe is an expression of an atom. My atoms are expressions of form. And they are the same as the earth I walk on and the water I bathe in; the food I eat and the air I breathe.
All things are one and the same. It is the hand that forms all things likes a wonderful array. A display of majesty of which the universe is a cabinet in which to place them on display. So who is looking at this?
The Quantum Mind
Our perception of time is relative, suggests Einstein. There is only ever one moment, the now, devoid of past and future. There is only the present. Quantum theory and String theory suggest many dimensions and a multiverse. So we can exist in many dimensions and parallel universes simultaneously.
Our brains are constructed of cells just as all of our bodies are. The mind is different to the brain. Our consciousness is not contained necessarily to our cells as we cannot pin point where it is located in the body or mind. Therefore, can we say that our consciousness is located purely here in this world, this time, this universe, this dimension?
If consciousness is devoid of mass and time, potentially our consciousness can be in all dimensions and universes. When we stop and observe only the now, the present, we can choose where to focus our mind, our consciousness. We can choose where our consciousness is. In some dimensions time may not exist, as we perceive it in this realm. Other realities will have existence but not as we perceive it.
If we do not have mass at the level of consciousness, then travel to other dimensions and universes will be possible. To reiterate, by focusing on the pure now, and opening our perception to be devoid of stereotypes, we can look into the other parallel universes and dimensions, as our consciousness is not associated to us at a cellular level. So open your mind, drop all preconceptions of existence and type, and explore.
Our brains are constructed of cells just as all of our bodies are. The mind is different to the brain. Our consciousness is not contained necessarily to our cells as we cannot pin point where it is located in the body or mind. Therefore, can we say that our consciousness is located purely here in this world, this time, this universe, this dimension?
If consciousness is devoid of mass and time, potentially our consciousness can be in all dimensions and universes. When we stop and observe only the now, the present, we can choose where to focus our mind, our consciousness. We can choose where our consciousness is. In some dimensions time may not exist, as we perceive it in this realm. Other realities will have existence but not as we perceive it.
If we do not have mass at the level of consciousness, then travel to other dimensions and universes will be possible. To reiterate, by focusing on the pure now, and opening our perception to be devoid of stereotypes, we can look into the other parallel universes and dimensions, as our consciousness is not associated to us at a cellular level. So open your mind, drop all preconceptions of existence and type, and explore.
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