I started Taichi last night. Karate was my first love and will always be,
but it has become too destructive for me over the years. However, I have been
fortunate not to have suffered the sort of horrid injuries that I have
witnessed from others over the years
Anyway, I went there. Despite the difference in martial style, my head was
pretty clear. I was tired but it was amazing that my head was well and clear
throughout the entire period. I saw everything, and I didn't miss a thing. What
has this to do with Zen? Well, it's all about the experience. As I said, tired
as I was after a day's work..well..my head was pretty clear. I constantly
repeated the same basic movements and listened to all the instructions.....
(especially with the so-called flow...as opposed to the hard and explosive
movements of the Shotokan school of Karate)
....and I was not bored at all
(Shunryu)Suzuki-sensei spoke of doing everything in such a manner of if burning
oneself to ashes. The mind-heart is concentrated for one purpose. There were no
other thoughts lingering about as if shadows. When there are such shadows, then
the mind-heart has lost its purity. At work and other places, they usually
refer to this rubbish as..well...multi-tasking..hmmmm....
Deshimaru-sensei had also mentioned something similar about doing things in
such a way as if your hair is on fire. No shadows...no lingering thoughts.
Purity in thought..this moment..and the next...and the next...and so on...
Ladies and gents, NO concepts here as you can see. It's all about experience of
daily life. No mention of....
- noble virtues(or something like that)
- the endless cycle of karma
- special Buddhist terms such as Vipassana, Theravada...and so on
...and so on. No mysteries, no secrets..and nothing overwhelming at all. In
fact, just daily life. Wasn't that exactly which interested the old fella back
then? I also yet have to find historical/archaelogical proof that he...
- wished for his words/teachings to be recorded by scribes in some special
temple/place of worship somewhere
- taught special rituals, or ceremonies that makes one officially a Buddhist
I bought a second-hand copy of a book calledTHE BUDDHA AND HIS TEACHINGS
earlier this evening. Judging from what I had seen of the work so far, it
seemed to be quite a huge body of knowledge to acquire. So, how do I handle
this? Simple...I just read the material. I'm not going to be tested on it by
some temple representative, or similar. I'll sink into my whole being what I
can, but the important thing is not scripture. Life's experiences. That's what
counts
Buddha be praised
Mel
