The fundamental teaching of Bodhidharma is that to awaken, all we must do is see our own self-nature. We are Buddha, there is no separation, but saying these words, even understanding the logical ramifications of what they mean, isn’t awakening to our own self-nature. Like before, we can spend all our time turning those things over and over in our head, chew them up, spit them out, write nice little poems about how we’re all one big fat,happy Buddha. We can have all those nice little fuzzy feelings about it, and we’d still just be wasting our time chasing after satisfaction we’ll never have. Yes, we are already awakened, there is nothing to attain, but we still must attain it. There is still work to be done. We have to practice, we have to work with our teachers, we have to work with our Sangha.
“Life and death are a great puzzle,” Bodhidharma tells us. “Do not spend your life in vain.”
Our life can end in an instant. For most of us, even if we don’t have our entire life planned out until old age, we tend to pattern our thoughts as if we’re going to wake up tomorrow. We work from the assumption that we are going to go on living. But we may not! From a mundane bacterial infection to the mutual destruction of a nuclear war to the inevitable zombie armageddon, this moment may be our last. Bodhidharma urges us to spend those moments practicing.
In the Bloodstream Sermon, Bodhidharma cautions us not to deceive ourselves. We may think we have all the time in the world, but this moment is really all we have. This is the moment that Nirvana exists. This is the moment of our awakening. We can have all the things we’ve ever desired, but they’ll all be gone the instant we cease breathing. Those desires for satisfaction that we thought we were fulfilling? And what good will they do us then?
There’s another deception Bodhidharma warns us about; the idea that we can go it alone. It is absolutely true that we are already Buddha. It is simultaneously true that we have to practice. It’s so easy to slip into pride and delusion, attaching to our own preconceived notions of what awakening and self-nature are. Meanwhile, true awakening to self-nature slip right by us. Our teachers and our Sangha help point out when we’ve screwed up and strayed from the path. Our teachers aren’t there to do the work for us, but they are there to help point out the stumbling blocks we set up for ourselves, the things we hold so close that we are blind to them.
Tonight, on the anniversary of Sid’s passing, we reflect on the immediacy of our lives, and the immanent nature of our deaths. Beyond simple fatalism, we die in each moment that passes us by, and each time we inhale, we are born.
As the late Venerable Beopjeong said, “Do not spend this moment in vain. These moments pile up & become a lifetime!"
April Events
Gwanseum Dharma Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Gwanseum, or Avalokita, is known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion & Mercy. Represented by the figure of a beautiful woman, she is said to have a thousand hands with which to help all those who suffer. The metaphor means that each of us are two hands of compassion, working in this world.
During this evening practice session we will alternate periods of sitting meditation with chanting, two of the primary practice exercises at the Baltimore Zen Center. We will ponder teachings of selflessness & compassion as we chant the Heart Sutra and the Thousand Hand Sutra.
The evening will begin with the evening bell meditation liturgy, and will include a brief Dharma talk by JB MuSsang Jaeger.
Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Time: 11am - 3pm
The Sakura Matsuri is the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Street Bazaar. It is one of the largest displays of Japanese culture in the nation. It is a "friends and family" event full of things to do and see.
There are 5 stages with over 30 hours worth of performances and entertainment total, marketplaces selling traditional Japanese products, modern Japanese pop music and anime, four street markets full of Japanese food and drink, and a children's area full of traditional Japanese games and activities!
Come hang out with the sangha of the Baltimore Zen Center as we roam the Matsuri, viewing the cherry blossoms, watching martial arts exhibitions, listening to taiko drummers, and of course...eating way too much awesome Japanese food.
Don't stay too late though, because after the Matsuri, it's back to the Baltimore Zen Center for a talk with special guest, Brad "Hardcore Zen" Warner!
Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Brad Warner, Zen monk, Japanese monster movie film maker, punk rocker, and author of "Hardcore Zen", "Sit Down & Shut Up", & "Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate", will be stopping by the Baltimore Zen Center on his cross-country trek.
Brad is known for his bare-bones, no nonsense approach to Zen. A student of Gudo Nishijima-roshi, Brad spent many years living in Japan making monster movies...and studying Zen.
Come out to the Baltimore Zen Center for an evening of discussion and talk with Brad Warner and the rest of the BZC crew.
Donations will be accepted to help cover Brad's travel expenses.
Date: April 14th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Every month, traditional meetings are held at lay Buddhist temples on the nights of the New Moon and the Full Moon.
Join us in the Dharma Hall at the Baltimore Zen Center for our New Moon Dharma Meeting. The Meeting is composed of the traditional practices of Seon Buddhism. During Dharma practice, we pay homage to the awakening within us, practice sitting meditation, listen to readings from the Sutras, chant, and practice bowing meditation.
If you've never experienced Zen Buddhism, Lunar Dharma meetings are a great way to experience the depth of practice. For those continuing in their practice, gathering with us twice a month is a great way to keeping moving forward with your practice as a lay Buddhist.
Date: Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Every month, traditional meetings are held at lay Buddhist temples on the nights of the New Moon and the Full Moon.
Join us in the Dharma Hall at the Baltimore Zen Center for our Full Moon Dharma Meeting. The Meeting is composed of the traditional practices of Seon Buddhism. During Dharma practice, we pay homage to the awakening within us, practice sitting meditation, listen to readings from the Sutras, chant, and practice bowing meditation.
If you've never experienced Zen Buddhism, Lunar Dharma meetings are a great way to experience the depth of practice. For those continuing in their practice, gathering with us twice a month is a great way to keeping moving forward with your practice as a lay Buddhist.
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