Tag Archives: koan

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right effort

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Jaye Seiho Morris DigitalZENDO posted a talk by Sogyal Rinpoche which not only comforted me but also reminded me gently that right effort is also strong effort.   “Happiness is up to you.”  When the waves are high and I feel swamped, it’s not easy to remember I am water.  Regardless, it is up to me.

Then on Wild Fox Zen‘s Genjokoan webinar, I read

Mayu was fanning himself. A monk approached and said, “Master, the nature of wind is all-pervasive and there is no place it does not reach. Why then do you fan yourself?”

“Although you understand that the nature of the wind is all-pervasive,” Mayu replied,” you do not understand the meaning of its reaching everywhere.”

“What is the meaning of its reaching everywhere?” asked the monk again.

Mayu just kept fanning himself. The monk bowed deeply.

Ah, this wonderful mind!  What a wonderful way to meet a new beginning at the horizon of dawn.

Thank you for practicing,

Genju

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enso & who’s in charge here?

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How is that enso drawing practice coming along?

Do you start from the left and trace upwards to the right?  Do you start from the right and trace up to the left?  Are you making it more complicated than just starting where you are?

Is it beginning to feel coordinated and in control?

What is it?

Try this body koan (if you’re left handed, use your left hand):

Trace repeatedly a clockwise circle with your right hand and a clockwise circle with your right foot.

Now trace repeatedly a counter clockwise circle with your right hand and a clockwise circle with your right foot.

(If you’re my dear Beloved, go back to work because we’ve established your wiring is weird.)

Let me know what happened.

From Enso: Zen Circles of Enlightenment No.21 Barriers by Daikyu Ebo

If you penetrate one barrier
there is another

Thank you for practising,

Genju