Autumn Notes

Fall has arrived, the leaves are turning, and the air again has a crisp chill. Meanwhile, the economy struggles and Americans must decide who will lead them during the next four years. What better time to sit? At the Zen Center we will be celebrating the Fall as we always do, with several sesshins and zazenkai, Jukai and New Year's ceremonies.

Upaya in the Marketplace

A gentle reminder that the last day to register to vote in the upcoming presidential election is October 7th. If you have moved since the last election, will turn 18 on or before November 4th, have changed your name, or have never registered to vote before, now is the time to act. If you need more information on eligibility or voting in general, please see this document, published by the state Board of Elections.

Sit well,
J&J

Gratitude

When you give an anonymous gift, you remove the self from the gift. Sure, it makes you feel good to give. But your thoughts can turn to others by way of imagination. You are now free to think more about the recipient and what s/he might be thinking. The recipient may try, at first, to figure out who it was that gave them the gift. But that is just a fantastical past-time, even if the recipient is ‘sure’ that s/he knows who it was. Really, in the end, can one really know? It may be narrowed down, possibly. But what happens when a person is given something anonymously? S/he is forced to think about the altruism of all the possible candidates. What a way to spend an afternoon thinking about friends, acquaintances, and loved ones!

-Mike McKane

Sesshin Instructions

The dream we sleep in
is slated for demolition.
Sound travels slowly in this old house.
Feet travel faster. Hurry, hurry.
We must sound the alarm.
We must save the flashlights, the fire extinguishers,
the wax apple off the altar with a bite taken out.
We must save everything.
It will take just a minute,
one minute after another.
After innumerable eons,
I will meet you on the back deck.
We will count each others' heads.
When that day comes,
may we have no more than one each.

-Hugh Thomas

Sabbasava Sutta, Illustrated

In September the Center had its first discussion group session on a selection of Pali suttas. The Sabbasava Sutta begins:

The Blessed One said, "Monks, the ending of the fermentations is for one who knows & sees, I tell you, not for one who does not know & does not see. For one who knows what & sees what? Appropriate attention & inappropriate attention. When a monk attends inappropriately, unarisen fermentations arise, and arisen fermentations increase. When a monk attends appropriately, unarisen fermentations do not arise, and arisen fermentations are abandoned...
-Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, available here

This inspired the following comment, which in turn inspired a cartoon:

"[Inappropriate attention] is like trying to get milk from a cow by pulling on its horns."



Copyright 2008 Franklin Habit
the-pantopticon.blogspot.com

Visit from Sujatha Bhikkhu

In September the Sangha had an opportunity for a bit of Dharma exchange with the Venerable Bhante Sujatha Thera. On Thursday September 11, Sujatha Bhikkhu visited the Zen Center for an evening of instruction on loving-kindness (metta) and wisdom meditation.

Born in Sri Lanka and a Buddhist monk since the age of 11, Sujatha currently serves as abbot of Blue Lotus Temple in Woodstock, IL and leads sitting groups throughout the United States. While respecting the Theravada tradition, he seeks to make the Dharma accessible and relevant in the fast-paced culture we live in.

On September 13 Sevan Sensei paid a visit in kind to Sujatha's Sangha in Woodstock. A deep bow to all who took part in this exchange!