Sunday, 15 October 2017
Nine Dragons
It was amazing, when we burnt incense at the temple where the nine dragons converge, this dragon appeared, descending down into the smoke.
Thursday, 4 May 2017
Waste of time....
"When you walk the Way,
it is not near, it is not far.
If you are deluded, you are mountains and rivers away from it.
I respectfully say to those who seek enlightenment:
do not waste your time."
Shih-T'ou (700-790)
Also known as
Sekito Kisen, (Japanese)
Student of Hui-Neng 6th Patriach
Ts'ao-Hsi Mountain Temple in China.
Shih-T'ou's body was mummified in black lacquer and due to a fire during the Chinese revolution in 1911, was brought to Japan.
It can be viewed today at the Soto Zen Temple in Yokohama....
...........................
So....
A potential student went to see a Master and asked;
"If I work really hard, how long will it take me to become enlightened?"
"Ten years" the Master replied.
"No, I mean really work at it."
the student said.
The Master replied,
" I am sorry I misunderstood you, it will take you twenty years."
The student then said,
" I am serious, I am willing to do anything to gain enlightenment."
"Oh that's different,"
said the Master,
"it will take you thirty years."
......................
So.....
What say you?
Do we seek, or not, is it a total waste of time, sitting, trying so hard to find something we already possess?
Why not take Shih-T'ou's advise;
Be simple,
walk the Way....
Nathan
Friday, 20 January 2017
Infinite
The infinity of things....
"There will always be an infinity of things to do. We can never get our life or business or our kitchen running exactly the way we want it to run. No matter how we envision it, it can't be that way.
Life is not predetermined to the point that we can get to some stage and then see how it all works. What happens is that we have a better and better understanding of things, we have more and more clarity and ability to deal with things as they arise. But they keep arising, endlessly.
The empty sky is always creating new clouds.
The pot is always boiling..."
Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. (1911-1998)
Soto Priest, Zen Master,
Teacher and Author.
Sadly missed......
Saturday, 31 December 2016
Our wish for you
Dear Friends
We wish you all a most wonderful wish fulfilled New Year...
" A new day is here.
Yesterday is a memory.
Tomorrow is unknown.
Now is the knowing."
Ajahn Sumedro
Without passion,
without dedication,
without striving for a result...
Just Sit.....
Breathe.....
Be.....
Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
With love
Friday, 16 December 2016
Do we need to be enlightened?
"When you walk the Way, it is not near, it is not far. If you are deluded, you are mountains and rivers away from it.
I respectfully say to those who seek enlightenment:
do not waste your time."
Shih-T'ou (700-790)
Also known as
Sekito Kisen, (Japanese)
Student of Hui-Neng 6th Patriach
Ts'ao-Hsi Mountain Temple in China.
Shih-T'ou's body was mummified in black lacquer and due to a fire during the Chinese revolution in 1911, was brought to Japan.
It can be viewed today at the Soto Zen Temple in Yokohama....
...........................
So....
A potential student went to see a Master and asked;
"If I work really hard, how long will it take me to become enlightened?"
"Ten years" the Master replied.
"No, I mean really work at it."
the student said.
The Master replied,
" I am sorry I misunderstood you, it will take you twenty years."
The student then said,
" I am serious, I am willing to do anything to gain enlightenment."
"Oh that's different,"
said the Master,
"it will take you thirty years."
......................
So.....
What say you?
Do we seek, or not, is it a total waste of time, sitting, trying so hard to find something we already possess?
Why not take Shih-T'ou's advise;
Be simple,
walk the Way....
Nathan
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Harold....
The importance of having an occupation after retirement.
As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world.
It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many of us wither.
Harold Schlumberg is such a person:
THIS IS QUOTED FROM HAROLD:
"I've often been asked, 'What do you do now that you're retired?'
Well, ...I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine and spirits into urine.
It's rewarding, uplifting, satisfying and fulfilling. I do it every day and I really enjoy it."
Harold should be an inspiration to us all.
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Today's wisdom...
From Osho 1988...
"From where have you come?"
asked Matzu,
"From the Great Cloud Monastery at Yuehchou," answered Hyakujo.
"What do you hope to gain by coming here?" asked Matzu,
Hyakujo replied,
"I have come seeking the BuddhaDharma."
Matzu then said,
"Instead of looking for the Treasure House, which is your very own, you have left your home and gone wandering so far, what for, I have nothing for you here."
Hyakujo then asked,
"Please tell me what is the Treasure House of your very own?"
Matzu replied,
"Your Treasure House contains absolutely everything you need and you lack nothing at all.
It is there for you to use freely,
so why this vain search for something outside yourself?"
.....................
Once we realise all we need is within ourselves, then we have the necessary equipment to let go of anger, remorse, judgement, in fact all forms of suffering.
The desire to search, is in itself,
a form of suffering.
To be at peace, in the skin we are in, is mastery of the self, and true enlightenment.
Nathan.
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