Greetings Friends,
I am just getting back from our Interdependence Sesshin— five-days of residential silent retreat practice in the hills of West Virginia with the Mud Lotus Sangha. It was moving for me to practice sesshin in a new environment with many people who it was their first longer retreat.
Sesshin is healing, no matter what the theme, it transforms us to sit and live in silence together, to practice opening the senses and seeing into our nature. It’s a non-linear practice that awakens faith, vow, deep love and interconnection. As well as a confidence in the imperturbability of Mind itself.
Returning from sesshin is its own practice. One that I am getting more familiar with outside of the monastery walls. Our lives are interdependent, so naturally sesshin flows into the structures and routines of our living. The heart-mind awake in the play of work, relationship, driving, eating—as the many hands and eyes of compassion express and manifest so seamlessly.
What is this wonder? Alertly seeing through confusion is the way of silent illumination and the way of subtle radiance. —Hongzhi
On Monday nights I lead an online drop-in meditation group through ZCO. We are currently doing a summer read of the Hidden Lamp: 25 Centuries of Awakened Women. You are welcome to join, click the link for the schedule below.
This past Monday we read Case 6: Bhadda Kundalakesa Cannot Answer.
Here is a short version of the story.
Bhadda is a wandering Jain ascetic very skilled in debate. Wherever she goes she throws down a rose apple branch signifying that she is challenging any who dare engage with her to debate.
When she is seventy years old, Shariputra (the Buddha’s disciple) challenges Bhadda. Bhadda asks him several philosophical questions and he answers them all. Finally he says to her. I have one question for you. And proceeds to ask:
“ One—what is that?”
Bhadda can not answer.
Shariputra then begins to teach her the dharma. Bhadda asks to take refuge and meets the Buddha who says to her.
“One phrase that brings peace is better than a thousand words that have no use.”
At these words Bhadda awakens.
This koan feels particularly relevant in the charged political climate we find ourselves in. The nature of debate so often is a practice of proving ourselves, trying to convince the other how our perspective is the right one. We can feel self-righteous in our views, or morally superior or better then.
When you debate or argue with someone, are you actually open to hearing what they have to say? How do we stay curious in the face of differences? What is it like to stay connected to your heart’s aspiration when engaging in speech?
In the story, Shariputra asks a mind-stopping question to Bhadda.
One—what is that?
The question itself doesn’t really even make sense. As I repeat the phrase my mind has no where to go with it. It stops, opens, all that is left is space—quiet, wakefulness.
I imagine this is what happened for Bhadda.
Has anyone ever asked you a question that you could not answer? What did you do?
This moment of not being able to answer left Bhadda open to the dharma—to the truth before words.
Our words, our thoughts, our fears are often the source of division. We get so caught up in them, in being right or needing to defend ourselves or prove our position—that we forget that we are all made of the same stuff. That we all share the same nature, that quite literally and experientially our lives contain each other.
If interdependence is our nature. How do we realize it?
What is this One?
This is the theme we explore in this dharma talk, feel free to listen and leave a comment. I’d love to hear your reflections on this koan as well.
Who are you when you aren’t identified with your thoughts? When your mind is silent, open, awake?
Have you ever had the experience of not being able to answer? What happened next?
What is your experience of the Buddha’s teaching to Bhadda—one phrase that brings peace is better than a thousand words that have no use?
Next week we will continue the theme of oneness and interconnection through the practice of listening. To follow along and join the conversation read Case 10: Asan’s Rooster in the Hidden Lamp.
I’m Amy Kisei. I am a Zen Buddhist Teacher, Spiritual Counselor, Astrologer and Artist. I offer 1:1 Spiritual Counseling sessions using IFS and somatic mindfulness. I also offer astrology readings. Check out my website to learn more. I currently live in Columbus, OH and am a supporting teacher for the Mud Lotus Sangha.
Weekly Online Meditation Event
Monday Night Dharma — 6P PT / 9P ET Join weekly for drop-in meditation and dharma talk. This is where the Summer Read is happening if you want to join the discussion and practice live. Schedule here.
Feel free to join anytime. Event lasts about 1.5 hours. ZOOM LINK
Zen Practice opportunities through ZCO
Grasses, Trees and the Great Earth Sesshin—August 11 - 17, in-person at Great Vow Zen Monastery (this retreat is held outdoors, camping is encouraged but indoor dorm spaces are available)
In-Person in Columbus, Ohio through Mud Lotus Sangha
Weekly Meditations on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Retreats, Meditation instruction and other events can be found on our website.
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