“We are always at war with what is. We are creating suffering for others and in this way we are creating suffering for ourselves.” – Harada Roshi
We are constantly dividing the world, each other, and ourselves in half. We expend so much energy and effort picking sides and pointing fingers. “The beauty of zazen,” Koshin Sensei teaches, “is that we learn to sit, to set things down, and practice our vow of not splitting the world in two…for at least thirty minutes.”
In this recent dharma talk, Koshin reflects on a fundamental vow. “Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them.” The challenge and generosity of living by this vow is to consider who we exclude and who we bring in. Practicing this vow is all inclusive. Who do we leave out? In our strident rightness, who falls outside of the boundaries of our compassion and care? When we get caught up in our small perspectives and divisive judgements, Koshin, following the playful wisdom of Harada Roshi, invites us into outer space. “I wish everybody could have a chance to go into space and look back.” Looking at the earth from a distance, as the esteemed astronomer and planetary scientist, Carl Sagan showed us means seeing our pale blue dot as the only setting for all our joy and suffering. Koshin shares insights from Sagan’s book and encourages us to invite it all in. Everyone is included. Everyone is welcome. This dharma talk concludes, perfectly, with a poem by Marie Howe called “Singularity.”
“…only a tiny tiny dot brimming with
is is is is is
All everything home.”
ZENTALK NOTES
Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei is a Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, leader in contemplative care, and co-founder of an educational non-profit called the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. His books, grounded in Buddhist wisdom and practice, have gained national attention. Through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices, the New York Zen Center touches thousands of lives every year.
MUSIC
Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.
NYZC PUBLICATIONS
- Untangled here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book
- Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t
- Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL
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