Just back from leading a meditation retreat on a neighbouring island; such an honour to accompany others on their spiritual path. Half-way through the day we listened to a recorded dharma talk* by my teacher Chozen Bays Roshi. She mentioned Buddha Nature, that innate essence of our being which is pure and fully awake, which becomes obstructed by the conditioning of our life experiences, yet resides in us all the time: now, at birth, before our mothers were born, always.
Our intention in meditation, as I understand it, is to sit with such obstructing thoughts, feelings and sensations and to welcome whatever arises, whether we like it or not. Without trying or forcing, we thus learn to accept ourselves as we are—not as we wish we were or think others expect us to be.
In describing a meditation practice, teachers sometimes use the image of peeling away layers of an onion. With each revealing and each accepting of what is there, we approach our truth, our True Being. I once asked another Zen teacher what might be found should anyone ever peel away all the layers. That’s were Buddha Nature resides, he told me, where there’s nothing, yet everything. He also cautioned against getting preoccupied with any “end” or “outcome,” but to keep the focus on whatever arises.
There are a few lines in the Tao Te Ching, the ancient book of Chinese wisdom written circa 500 BCE, which speak of this layered onion as Tao: as the way or path of our lives.
The Way is like a well:
used but never used up.
It is like the eternal void:
filled with infinite possibilities.
It is hidden but always present.
I don’t know who gave birth to it.
It is older than God.
source: Mitchell, S. (1988). (trans). Tao te Ching. HarperPerennial, no. 4. *dharma talk refers to a Zen teacher’s public explanation of a point of Buddhist literature or practice. Kindly visit the monastery archive where you can listen to and download many such talks by Chozen and Hogen.
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We are very blessed to have these retreats — we’ve been sharing some of our experiences coming out of that day. I can’t express how wonderful it is for us. I’ve been observing the ‘opposites’ around me and in me – and learning to be kind to myself. thank you~~d/e
Thank you for coming to sit and share with us here on Mayne…. it seems each retreat is getting more fluid, and yet deliberately chosen to be here. Your insights and living wisdom seem richer with each visit. Im sure that working with souls that are passing on, has a way of making you appreciate life more fully. I especially liked the walking meditation, out doors, in such a natural setting … so easy to see the perfection of beauty in everything. Namaste.