Actualizing one out of two-

A life time of work,

For me and you.

But when two become one,

Nirvana, Sunyata!

We’ve only just begun!

Don’t you just love new beginnings?

It’s “just this” anyway.

Happy Valentine Day

Love you Babe!

Being Real

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

~ T. S. Eliot        

Every now and then I feel the need to put some kind of qualifier on this blog about my practice and what it is I write here. It's my way of keeping it real, not wanting to appear more than just what I am, this ordinary guy looking for the ordinary mind.

It's about being authentic.

So here I am (the one in the red), ordained in the United Methodist church, actualizing that ordination as a oncology chaplain.

A very lay zen practitioner. I don't even have a group I can practice with but I think I have talked about that on this blog before. I have never sat sesshin but if I live long enough I will.

I continue to do most of this practice in my head with great detriment. But I continue to sit with great faith and great doubt.

My writing on this blog is a huge part of my practice for me. It helps me clarify my life experiences and I think in some way continues to birth me into the authentic person I want to be.

So here I am. Just this. Just me. Just living and letting go, living and letting go, living and letting go.

So there.

Now I feel better.

Bows,

Alan

A Koan For Life

I'm reading ZEN QUESTIONS. I came across a quote by Dogen, translated by Gary Snyder from the Mountains and Water Sutra.

When I read this quote it just kind of stopped me in my tracks.

I felt like I had found my life's koan.

Now I will have to chew on this awhile as see if it actually becomes part of my body and mind.

THE PATH OF WATER IS NOT NOTICED BY WATER BUT IS REALIZED BY WATER  - DOGEN

May his day go well!

Bows to our shadow side!

Alan

Worthy Of A Post Here

He has a new album coming out January 31.

"Old Ideas"

Showing Up

I spent eight hours yesterday sitting on a board certification committee for the Association of Professional Chaplains. We interviewed four candidates for certification.

This is exhausting work for the committee as well as the candidates.

Listening to someones story, listening to someones journey, really listening requires deep attention and a lot of patience, waiting for the real person to show up.

When they finally do show up, you realize that there are not two but one. You realize they are you and you are them.

Maybe it's a moment of actualizing the fundamental point.

And so it is with zazen. 

It is a lot of waiting, observing, listening...

Waiting for the real person to show up!

Or is it waiting for reality to show up?

I don't know. I just keep sitting!

Showing up!

Bows,

Alan

~~Thanks~~