Be grateful for the way things are and be grateful for the way things are not.
It came to me during Friday morning meditation at the Zendog yesterday. Jan and I talked about it during dharma discussion. It is staying with me like a koan does I suppose. I'm not sure what it means or what it will result in but I've heard that's the way of a koan; not rational, breaking through the rational construct we create, opening to the way things are. Also, it's all about the present. All about the present. All about the present.
So, what can I say about this practice so far?
- I am grateful for the memory of my parents. Am I grateful that my parents are now dead? No. I will practice to be so.
- I am grateful that I do sitting meditation three or four times a week. I am grateful that I don't sit every day.
- I am grateful for my job. I am grateful that I don't look forward to going to work every morning.
- I am grateful for my overall health. I am grateful for my neuropathy.
All in the present? Smack no. I am grateful to accept and not judge things the way they are right now.
1 comment:
If it's true what the zen teachers say about koans eluding rational logic and therefore lead to higher awareness, this is definitely a quality koan.
One way to transition into it, perhaps (people don't use the word perhaps enough these days and instead resort to things like "smack no" : ) is to say that what we are grateful for the lessons of that which we don't have.
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