What is Dogen discussing here? ‘Not affirmed’? How does the speech of liberation sound? How does one access the states beyond Explaining and Seeing?

This Sutra is called Sansuigyo, which is our first hint. Sansuigyo means Nature. It means the natural world is the true Buddhist Sutras. Anything outside of ‘being’ is not yet Perfected Enlightenment. Using Nature as the store of Sutras says that by looking at and examining Nature, we look at Truth itself. Dogen points us to a world before thought, by pointing us towards Nature.

‘Not affirmed’ is interesting. It evokes images of philosophers and psychologists offering the Buddhist patriarchs complex theories. The patriarchs, however, they’re cool. They simply smile. They don’t deny the explanations, they don’t affirm. The key, however, is that they do answer the question. Their answer is timeless, with their very non-affimation pointing to reality itself.

When ‘staying’ in words and phrases, we are trapped. When we have fixed ideas and concepts, we stray from the real, and bounce around in man-made concepts. The Speech of Liberation, in this context, I feel isn’t so much our speech, but our listening. The Speech of Liberation is Nature’s voice. When we become wholly present, when our minds are settled, we are open to listen. When we are open and listening, we hear Nature is constantly singing her Speech of Liberation.

Nature exists in states beyond words and phrases. It’s before Ego. What Dogen is not saying, however, is that Nature is not without. This is the very first Zen Koan: does a Dog have Buddha Nature? Mu, or nothingness is the answer. Through meditation, we rest in the space that transcends all ideas and words. In this space we are no different to Nature, we are not just in Nature but are Nature.

By sitting and ‘not-doing’, we share the timeless smile of the Buddhist patriarchs. We realize our true nature, and go beyond words.

For more reading on this Sutra, there’s online commentary by the Book’s translator here. (I’m amzed and thankful that the translator is not both alive and blogging. We live in amazing times.)

Update:The Alan Watts Podcast has just started a series on The Wisdom of Mountains, which is what this post is about. Well timed.

The mantra of “Keep Sitting” has been ringing in my head for months. I started making short cuts and excuses. I observed myself making these short cuts and excuses. Now I’m re-learning a lot of lessons. It feels like beginner’s mind all over again. I’m re-finding the importance of a solid daily practice.

I thought that because I observed it all, it was fine. That it’s okay, I’m living the Dharma, more so than sitting it. The mind, however, is a bit like a leaky boat. If we don’t empty the water out, eventually it’ll sink.

Meditation is how we remove water from our boat. Part of living, is there is always going to be holes. What we can, and do with meditation is help ourselves. As we keep sitting water empties from boat, and as a result the boat, our mind, starts handles better. Less baggage means our boat is less effected by the waves. It sails more so than it sink. If we stop sitting, however, the water starts seeping in again, and the boat starts sinking again.

Through sitting, we engage and enhance life. Nothing is isolated in this world. Everything is related and connected. Our practice is constantly manifested in the world. How we act, how we react. We are our practice. Keep Sitting. I’m off to sit now.

At times, we all struggle with practice. In this world, nothing is permanent. Everything is constantly changing, including our ability to sit…Smile upon your imperfect nature.

Below is a great video from Suzuki Roshi, looking at interconnectedness. This relates to living our practice. Perhaps watch, then join me sitting.

(photo is of one my statues)

The Middle Way has been using the Enso as part of the rotating mast header for a while. The Enso runs deep through this site, and through me. I’ve been wanting to share this Enso with the world for a while, Now I can, with you.

I created a stencil based on a Enso seen on Alan Watt’s houseboat. You can see this Enso in a digital version of Alan’s work called Prickles and Goo. There’s a lot of history behind this Enso.

Now it’s your chance to get 1 of 20 limited edition, hand printed, signed Enso for your walls. 4 have already sold.

Each print is carefully looked over to ensure no defects are shipped out. They are made in a dust-free environment, after I’ve entered into a deep state of meditation. I have incense burning, far away from the print. No two prints are the same, they are all unique.

By Buying an Enso, not only do you get a fantastic print, but you are helping me cover costs of sending out free books throughout the world. You are also enabling me to spend more time focusing on The Middle Way, allowing more creations and writing. The Middle Way is still Not For Profit.

UPDATE 13/Oct: The draft canvas has gone, and I’ve also put better pictures up. I’ve drastically lowered the number of Enso I’m printing, now 20 in total, of which 4 have already sold. This is now seriously limited edition, and all profits still go to sending books back out.

I’ve got some more titles, as displayed above

There’s plenty of different titles at all levels. I’m reading through all of them, and have found them enjoyable and informative. They inspire practice, and contain lots of great information. If you’d like a book, please make a request from the titles below. I’ll try my best to get you out the right book, or will pick something similar.

The titles are:-
Liao~Fan’s Four Lessons—Changing One’s Destiny
The Awakening of Lovingkindness & A Path to True Happiness
The Sutra of Hui Neng—Sutra spoken by the 6th Patriarch on the high seat of “The Treasure Of The Law”
Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva
In One Lifetime: Pure Land Buddhism
Short Talks From Venerable Master Chin Kung
Awakening a Kind Heart
The Mind’s Journey to Ultimate Happiness
Buddhism as an Education & To Understand Buddhism

UPDATE 1/October/08 I now have more than 10 books. Thanks to another fantastic Buddhist Bookshop (link and details coming soon), I have an almost unlimited supply of book. I’ll be getting the new photos/titles up soon. At this point, I’d like keep it to 1 book per-person.

Please keep leaving me comments if you’d like a Free Buddhist Book, as I can send them to you. I’m going to start sending books out probably next week. I’m getting packaging on Friday.

UPDATE 10/October/08 The first batch of books went out a few days ago, and I’m hearing they are starting to arrive. I’ve sent out 8 packages so far, to Melbourne, America, and New Delhi. Feel free to leave a comment if you get a package from me. To those I’ve not sent out yet, I’m hoping to get another 8 or 10 packages out around the 19th. Thanks for your patience.

UPDATE 22/October/08 I’ve updated the titles, and have started collecting addresses for the second mailout.
My book supplier is Maha Bodhi Buddhist Centre, they are based in Surry Hills, Sydney.

UPDATE 3/November/08 Second Mailout’s taken place. I’ll be mailing you for your addresses for the third mailout soon. If you get a book, please leave a comment.

Managing to get a few days off, I went to a place where two mountains meet the sea. A very similar place as described a “powerful place” by Master Dogen in the Mountains and Rivers Sutra. I was reading small stones, whilst I was writing about Compassion and Kannon.

I went and sat by the water, and felt the sun dance at my feet, whilst the water danced with my ears. Sitting here, I begin reading, and immedietly find myself right into the heart of things. Nothing is left out from this very first stone. Opening with “The sun sag…scenting the water with citrus”, very pretty.

We are reminded to learn lessons from a young 11-month old saying “Look!”. She knows the way to reality that we loose from time to time. Each month of the year is a chapter, and each stone in a month has both an individual, but also linked feeling. Each stone feels like part of a whole, a garden of stones.

I drifted through the book over the next few hours, reflecting on each stone for at least a moment. I sat happily reading, whilst sipping tea and burning incense. All the while I had the Sun’s company and warmth, and I also enjoyed the water’s musical patterns.

Reaching near the end of December, it clicks on me that the books about to end, and that I’ll be done with the small stones. And all too soon, a “blackbird on bare branches, his beak a chip of flame”. comes on by, and takes the stone it’s written on.

Again, I thank Fiona for the copy of the book, and I hope you go check out her site for more info on the book.

—
Note, I do not intended in making The Middle Way a reviews only site, but I do support those in the community who have something they would like to share with the rest of the community. I generally donate whatever I get after I’m finished to charity, or it’s passed on to someone else. I have a post on Living the Precepts almost written up. It looks at living in the world, and living with the precepts. May all beings be happy. Gassho

Having been a long time fan of Michael’s existing podcasts, website, and his personal style of teaching, I was very happy to learn about Michael’s new site celebrating this new book, which I will be reviewing (Thanks Michael!).

Examining a recent post titled The Smile, Michael begins with a personal interaction with a student;-

If humor is totally absent from this practice, then what’s any of this worth?
—Question from a renegade Zen student
Okay… who took my robe?
—Question from the same Zen student some days later

Michael now establishes multiple stories, including his personal experiences, his teaching, and a teaching to a student of his. It’s all very well supported and constructed. A clear line of development and reasoning is shown. This keeps to the lucid teaching Michael is known for.

If humor is totally absent from this practice, then what’s any of it worth?” “Indeed,” he smiled. “What is this worth?” ... It was like I became blind to this teacher, blind to myself, blind to my thoughts, and blind to all I’d ever known to be true. In those moments, with those tears, ...all that was left was, a beautiful silence and a smile.

There’s plenty more in this post, which is just one of many that compliment the wonderful book that Michael is Launching. Go ahead, read some more.

I’m looking at getting a few more writes for the site, casual or regular, that share a similar influence. I’ve been talking to two friend, both who would offer different perspectives, but also both very qualified. One’s got a degree in psychology, the other is a life student, and sometimes formal Zen Student I’ve lived with. I’m also hoping to engage the services of a full time-writer/poet who is also a full time monastic. I’m also looking to you the reader, to turn writer. To engage further and speak your voice.

I’m looking at starting a print on demand magazine based on personal development and spirituality. This will become our feature blog-content, turned into a real world designed print magazine. A collection for all of us and our readers. A real tangible way of engaging with our huge community out there. And, we all gain an avenue of supporting ourselves through blogging and working together. There’s a few blogs expressing interest in collaborating. More interest may get things off the ground, or we might just run it from the blogs I’m talking to now.

I’m also looking at starting a print on demand t-shirt company, serving the Zen/Buddhist segment. Currently looking into names for the company, working on designs, and distribution models. This looks set to be a lot of fun.

There’s also been 1 or 2 people interested in advertising, but both pulled out. I’m really strict about advertising these days, I value you. This means nothing I don’t fully endorse won’t come up. Almost nothing fits this criteria. I can wait, I’ll continue to eat the costs

I’ve also been talking a lot with people engaged on the street whilst I’m a photographer. I’ve also just completed a book review for Fiona’s A Small Stone, which will be posted as part of her ‘blog tour’ on July 31. I’m happy to be part-taking in this event. An excellent book that I enjoyed reading on holidays immensely.

I’d been thinking I needed more focus on Compassion, I found it apt I picked Her up and not my Buddha. So after unpacking the vitals, and settling into Kiama, I decide to make my alter for Kannon. Looking around for an altar, my first thought being of using a table. Eventually I found the Plasma TV. Smiling, I knew I was going to place the Timeless, Open, Compassionate Loving of Kannon on top of what is considered the modern altar—TV.

Kannon sits beautifully on top, looking as graceful, peaceful, and compassionate as ever. The contrast in metals, the harsh steel and the soft copper tones. Such balance. Her water, her compassion ready to pour onto the world. Her hand, open and accepting. In meditation, on an open Lotus Petal. She is here and now.

Noticing this, I bow 3 times, full prostration. It hits me. On the way down, I become this compassion, my body growing heavier and heavier as I sink. As my head touches the ground, I’ve begun shaking. I raise my hands above my head, homage to the Buddha, and my hands get REAL heavy. There’s weight on them, like that of Sakyamuni Buddha standing on my feet.

My heart breaks.

I start crying and get up in reverence, and again, begin to cry some more. I look at Her in earnest, she smiles and accepts me.

I go down again, and again feel the world’s suffering. I struggle to get up. I breathe, shakily getting up, down and up again, still sobbing. Getting up again, I steady myself, bow away and bow to life.

(The photo at the top of this post, is a photo of the journal entry I wrote directly after this experience took place. Photo can be viewed in greater detail here.)

Furthermore, both groups agree that appearances are illusory. A great physicist extends this idea: “Modern science classifies the world…not into different groups of objects but into different groups of connections…The world thus appears to be a complicated tissue of events, in which connections of different kinds alternate or overlap or combine and thereby determine the texture of the whole”¹. All phenomena are processes, connections, all is in the flux, and at moments this flux is actually visible: one has only to open the mind in meditation or have the screens knocked away by dreams to see that there is no real edge to anything, that in the endless interpenetration of the universe, a molecular flow, a cosmic energy shimmers in all stone and steel as well as flesh.

The ancient intuition that all matter, all “reality”, is energy, that all phenomena, including time and space, are mere crystalizations of the mind, is an idea with which few physicists have quarrelled since the theory of relativity first called into question the separate identities of energy and matter. Today most scientists would agree with the ancient Hindus that nothing exists or is destroyed, things merely change shape or form, that matter is insubstantial in origin, a temporary aggregate of pervasive energy that animates the electron. And what is the infinitesimal non-thing—to a speck of dust what the dust speck is to the whole earth? “Do we really know what electricity is? By knowing the laws according to which it acts and by making use of them, we still do not know the origin or the real nature of this force, which ultimately may be the very source of life, and consciousness, the divine power and mover of all that exists”.²

The above is an excerpt from The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen. If you’ve enjoyed this excerpt, I suggest going ahead and purchasing this timeless classic(aff). I find it constantly taking my breath away with it’s beauty, and settling me with it’s Dharma.

(photo)

Wearing it everywhere I go has helped engage me in practice. If I’m in a line, or waiting for someone, or have free time out and about, I’ll often start using the Mala. I’ll even have a cheeky chant sitting waiting for my lunch.

When using a Mala I find myself very quickly entering into a space of total acceptance, with a fixed focus on the mantra at hand. When in busy spaces, and in between tasks, this checking in is really nourishing.

An unexpected upsides to using a Mala is a deepening relationship with Avalokite?vara(Om Mani Padme Hum), and The Heart Sutra(Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha). Alternating my chanting between these 2 mantras, I feel a a sense of compassion, space, and ease towards the world.

Wearing a Mala has also allowed me to engage with other Buddhists in my local community. Other practitioners keep popping up. People I have no idea about, but through recognising my Mala begin chatting to me. Wearing a Mala has also helped me engage with many people just curious about my practice, and a few have offered amazingly beautiful support offerings.

A Mala has helped increase my practice, continuing my investigations of compassion and wisdom, as well as enabled me to meet other Buddhists. I suggest you investigate a mala for your own practice. If you wear a mala, I’d love to hear your story.

(photo. Also, a personal sorry for the delay in getting this post out. I’ve been out of action and/or in hospital for the most part of the last week.)

UPDATE: Below’s a photo of my personal Mala, a friend of mine took a photo of it. Purchased from Zen Mountain Monastery Store. Click for larger version.