It is wonderful to find the sort of encouragement one needs to deepen a practice in so slim a volume. The simplicity and clarity of Suzuki really brighten these short winter days. How perfect it is to find some of his commentary on Buddha nature at a time when our sangha is studying this topic. Some excerpts:

"Why should we practice when we already have Buddha nature? We think that Buddha nature will only appear after we practice and eliminate selfish desires. This is unclear observation. Only when something appears is its Buddha nature there. ... So, each moment, just concentrate and be yourself. At this moment, where is Buddha nature? It is when you say YES. That yes is Buddha nature itself. The Buddha nature which you think you already have within yourself is not Buddha nature. When you become you yourself, or when you forget all about yourself and say YES -- that is Buddha nature."

"We do not practice zazen to obtain enlightenment, but rather to express our true nature. Even your thinking is an expression of your true nature when you are practicing zazen. Your thinking is like someone talking in the backyard or across the street. You may wonder what they are talking about but that someone is not a particular person. That someone is our true nature."

"There is no cessation in practice, because it is Buddha's practice, which has no beginning and no end. Then who is practicing that kind of practice? When we practice zazen, we are practicing with all the ancestors. You cannot waste your time even though your zazen is not so good. Good or bad doesn't matter. If you sit with this understanding, having conviction in your Buddha nature, then sooner or later you'll find yourself in the midst of great Zen masters."

In closing, how comforting it is for us all to sit alone and with each other, knowing full well that we are joining all the masters in our imperfect little sitting, awaiting the spring.

In February: Buddhist Teachings with Jhampa Shaneman

Jhampa Shaneman has studied with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness's senior tutor Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Ven. Geshe Rabten, Geshe Dhargaye and other high teachers of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition in Dharmsala, India from 1971 to 1984. He has accomplished the traditional Great Retreat of three years in solitary meditation in the mountains above Dharmasala. He is now a married Buddhist practitioner living on Vancouver Island and is one of the first western practitioners to be given permission by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to teach all levels of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Having been born and raised in the West gives Jhampa unique insight and understanding into how Buddhist thought and practice can be most beneficial to the western mind.

February 7 Death and Dying, Copper Mountain Books in Nelson, at 7 p.m. $7 at the door.
Discover the death process as described in Tibetan Buddhist texts. Prepare yourself, drawing on the wisdom of a millennium old tradition. The talk will include a suggested reading list, commentary on the process of death and some practical exercises.

February 8-14 Manjusri Retreat, $450 or $75/day (meals included)

February 8 Manjusri Initiation (Taken separately from retreat: $10)
Manjusri, Buddha of Wisdom lies within. The retreat helps us clarify our Buddha Nature and develop inner wisdom to understand ourselves. Manjusri, the gold Buddha with the sword of wisdom, cuts through our closed mindedness and opens us to a new wise attitude based on love and compassion. The retreat will focus on visualizations, mantra recitation and an breath awareness meditation. These techniques are drawn on a lineage of teachings that spans thousands of years. These meditations are time tested and proven true.
To attend the retreat and/or the initiation, please contact Nancy Harris.

 

 

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