We are here to abet creation and to witness it, to notice each thing so each thing gets noticed. Together we notice not only each mountain shadow and each stone on the beach but we notice each other’s beautiful face and complex nature so that creation need not play to an empty house
Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence.
When the mind has settled, we are
established in our essential nature, which
is unbounded consciousness.
Our essential nature is usually overshadowed
by the activity of the mind.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, c.400 AD.
Body and mind are one.
Thus, if you straighten your body, your mind is straight.
Miyazaki Zenji, 1901 – 2008, Zen abbot of Eiheiji Monastery
Life is not accomplishing some special work
but attaining to a degree of consciousness and inner freedom which is beyond all works and attainments.
That is my real goal.
It implies “becoming unknown and as nothing”.
Thomas Merton
When things no longer have the ability to offend you,
they cease to exist in the old way.
Jianzhi Sengcan, died 606, the Third Zen Patriarch
This sublime poem by Ryōkan, written toward the end of his life, sees all of life in the falling maple leaf. Just like the leaf shows both front and back, life is filled with good times and challenging times, moments of happiness and unhappiness, ups and downs. We can learn from Ryōkan who simply observes the naturalness of what’s happening, without adding “it’s sad the leaf is dying. It’s sad it is falling down.” The existence of the leaf is a series of transformations and it will turn into soil, to support new life.
Showing its front
Showing its back
The maple leaf falls
Ryōkan, 1758 – 1831, Buddhist monk and hermit
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