"The Jewels" number 96 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.
In today's miniature, Robert Aitken refers to the jewels of practice. It is surprising where these jewels appear and when they do their appearance transforms the ordinary into the ordinary.
Sometimes the jewels take the form of liturgy, sometimes they'll manifest in teisho or in dokusan. Sometimes we see them, sometimes hear them, sometimes read them.
In the pre-dawn stillness, the neighborhood birds call one another. We sit together, our Samādhi mudrā holding the universe in our laps.
I am a wood worker. Turning wood is a skill I've developed and now apply in my practice. I continue to look for ways to integrate woodworking into my Zen practice in the same way pottery, archery, flower arranging, poetry or calligraphy is traditionally married to Zen. Here are the fruits of a small part of my practice with Zen and woodworking.
Here is a link to Gary Snyder reading a couple of poems. For Poet Gary Snyder, Every Day is Earth Day He reads an excerpt from Han-Shan's "Cold Mountain." and his poem "Off the Trail."
In today's miniature, Robert Aitken refers to the jewels of practice. It is surprising where these jewels appear and when they do their appearance transforms the ordinary into the ordinary.
Sometimes the jewels take the form of liturgy, sometimes they'll manifest in teisho or in dokusan. Sometimes we see them, sometimes hear them, sometimes read them.
In the pre-dawn stillness, the neighborhood birds call one another. We sit together, our Samādhi mudrā holding the universe in our laps.
I am a wood worker. Turning wood is a skill I've developed and now apply in my practice. I continue to look for ways to integrate woodworking into my Zen practice in the same way pottery, archery, flower arranging, poetry or calligraphy is traditionally married to Zen. Here are the fruits of a small part of my practice with Zen and woodworking.
Here is a link to Gary Snyder reading a couple of poems. For Poet Gary Snyder, Every Day is Earth Day He reads an excerpt from Han-Shan's "Cold Mountain." and his poem "Off the Trail."
Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.
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