Salvation

Earlier today I shared a link on FB on an Eastern perspective on Christian salvation. This got me thinking more about this. In Christianity we're taught our dilemma begins with “original sin”, because of this condition we find ourselves separate from God. Of course (or at least as I see it) this condition isn't even possible unless God made his creation as already separate. In Buddhism we're taught (and by taught I mean to look deeply at our reality and experience it's truth) that our separation is an illusion (delusion). In Zen there's a koan, “What is your original face before you mother and father were born?”. There is no separation to fix. Not body and mind, not cat and mouse, not Buddha and ordinary being, not self and other, not subject and object, and not God and man. The problem isn't separation, it's the illusion of separation.

Wikileaks and Barryleaks

My ex teacher "Dogo" Barry Graham who's always maintained that "It's not about me" has given his voice to the wikileaks cause. You would think that he doesn't like the idea of the painful truth being covered up. Yet while it's not about him, instead of taking positive steps to really fix his reputation he's allowed his reputation fixing lawyer friend to attack the host of the grahamscam website through his place of employment in an attempt to bring down the painful truth. I'm afraid it's to late, Barry's karma ain't just going away.

The continuing Frog saga

My friend Shindo posted some news on the continuing Barry Graham saga. I hope this person will find their way back to a real Zen practice. You can read my comments there.

My sesshin at Tahoma One Drop

I had a great retreat last week that was led by Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery. I found a true Zen Master in Harada Roshi and he's surrounded by a great group of dedicated and hard working students. The schedule (4:30 am to 9:00pm) included about 9 hours of zazen, sanzen, teisho, an exercise period, and of course the infamous formal Zen meals, At Haradas' retreats the only utensil you to eat with is chop sticks, great for oatmeal and soup!
One thing that was really cool was each day Roshi brought a group students to his home for tea. During the tea he gave each student a beautiful hand bound book from a series of talks he gave at a previous sesshin on the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. He hand painted an Enso on each cover and also put your name on the first page. In Japan He's famous for his calligraphy. I've been reading it and I have to say that he's incredibly clear.
The monastery grounds are beautiful and there was no more than an hour of sunshine and at least a little rain everyday.
Please forgive my lack of writing skills and if you have any questions feel to email me, you can find my contact info on this page.

Concerning my status as a Zen priest

A couple years ago I received what I, in good faith, took to be ordination as a Zen priest from Barry Graham of the Sitting Frog Zen Sangha. A few months after my “ordination” I became concerned about how Barry was conducting himself (as were others) so decided to sever my ties with him. In this same time frame because of this conduct his ordination was called into question and he repeatedly refused to provide incontrovertible proof of his status by showing his ordination credentials.

Since then I have continued to wear my robes (though no longer) and if people asked if I was ordained I would reply “Yes”, but always with a disclaimer revolving around the circumstances. However, now, I can no longer in good conscience claim to be ordained since Barry has failed consistently to provide proof that he is legitimately ordained himself. I am a layman.

This has placed me in an untenable situation, but it changes little what you can expect from me unless you want me to perform your wedding, this I cannot do. I still take refuge in the Three Treasures, I haven't renounced the Ten Precepts, I won't be cutting down on my cushion time and I'll still be doing retreats as often as I can. Oh yea, you can still come and sit with the Zen group I host on Tuesday evenings, we'd love to have you!

David Loy -- good stuff

A little while back NellaLou posted a blog with links to lots of good stuff by David Loy. He does a great job explaining the unexplainable. Just don't forget PRACTICE after reading.

Have you been born again?

In the Book of Romans Paul says “ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”. When I first strayed from the Christian path it wasn't because I no longer believed in the bible but because I was sick of feeling guilty. It wasn't because I lacked an intellectual understanding of this verse but because I lacked an intimate experience of forgiveness. At some point I realized that the happiest Christians weren't those that Jesus forgave but those who found forgiveness in themselves.
At some point along the way I found myself as a student of Zen Buddhism. It just somehow made sense to me. People ask why I became a Buddhist and I might have said I don't know but really it just makes sense to me. Sometime people ask “ Does it help” and I would just say “no”, but this isn't the compassionate answer. The truth is I don't know. I didn't come to Buddhism for help, by that point I'd already forgiven myself, I came because it just made sense. I've heard it said that Christianity is better because you can be born again. Buddhism also teaches rebirth, the Buddha said that each instant we experience completely, birth life and death. We are always only co arising each instant together with the entire cosmos. I suppose in Buddhism it would be a greater miracle NOT to be reborn! Because of this there is always only a fresh slate. Below is a chant thats heard in many Zen centers.

All evil karma ever committed by me since of old,
Because of my beginning less greed, anger, and ignorance,
Born of my body, mouth, and thought,
Now I atone for it all.

May all beings intimately experience forgiveness