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Sunday, December 12, 1999

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_________________________________________________ ON THE MENU

ORYOKI
* Prickly Pear Meal

CoCKTaiLs
* the hazy moon -Keizan Zenji
* Case Seven Miscellaneous Koans
* "Ripple" - Robert Hunter

MAIN COURSE
* Chao-chou using the twenty-four hours - Aitken Roshi.

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL
* Tokusan Holds His Bundle (sound bite from Aitken Roshi)

DESSERT
* Woody Allen's character in "Hannah and Her Sisters"

HEARD AT TABLE
* email

___________________________________________________ ORIYOKI

Prickly Pear Meal
(om makura sai swaha)

Javelitos! Buddhitos!
Little javelinas run
kitchen to sacred space;
Peekin Buddhas on a run.

Falling in love
when you shouldn't.
Smoking out back.
One drink too many.
Buddhitos laid back.

Little Buddhas on a run.
Rampaging 'til kraft werk is done.


-SB doggerel, tongue firmly in cheek

Thanksgiving '99
Picture Rocks Retreat Cortaro AZ

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om makura sai swaha - Mantra follows Oryoki food offering to demons and spirits.

Desert Cautions: Javelinas are the size of a large pig, similar in shape, but unrelated. They tend to travel in family groups of 3 or more, and forage on prickly pear cactus. They have poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell. Like most wild creatures, they are naturally shy, and will attempt to bolt when they sense a human being. However, like all wild creatures, if they feel threatened, they will charge, especially if they sense their young are in harm's way. Should you come across javelina, please stay put until all of them have run off. They are frequent night-time visitors all around the retreat center.

Peekin - West Africa Sierra Leone patois for small, as in: "Dat naw peekin monkey, dat big beef!"

kraft werk (German) power plant

___________________________________________________ CoCKTaiLs

the hazy moon

Though clear waters range to the vast blue autumn sky,
How can they compare with the hazy moon on a spring night!
Most people want to have pure clarity,
But sweep as you will, you cannot empty the mind.
-Keizan Zenji



Case Seven

In a well that has not been dug
Water from a spring that does not flow is rippling.
Someone with no shadow or form
Is drawing the water.
-from the collection of Miscellaneous Koans

"Ripple"
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men

There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home

- Robert Hunter

_________________________________________________ MAIN COURSE

A monk asked Chao-chou, "How should I use the twenty-four hours?"
Chao-chou said, "You are used by the twenty-four hours. I use the twenty-four hours."

You are used by the twenty-four hours because you are used by your thoughts. A train of thought passes through your head twenty-four hours a day, manipulating, you. Turn this condition around and cultivate a quiet mind that may evoke thoughts appropriate to circumstances.

A longtime Zen friend wrote me of her experience of cutting off the mind road:

All I have to do any time is to shut off the internal dialogue and the voices don't exist any more. Suddenly all the situations I never thought I could handle are not even Situations any more, in that heavy sense, though actually nothing has changed.

My friend learned to use the twenty-four hours.

Robert Aitken Roshi Taking the Path of Zen pg. 100


_______________________________________ BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

The Blue Cliff Record Case 4 Tokusan Holds His Bundle

Tokusan came to Isan's monastery. Holding his pilgrim's bundle, he entered the Dharma Hall. He walked from East to West, and from West to East. Looking around, he said, "Nothing, nothing," and he went out.

Setcho said, "The critical examination is finished."

Tokusan reached the gate of the monastery and said, "There is no use in being so hurried." Assuming a dignified manner, he entered again and looked about. This time, Isan was in his seat.

Tokusan spread his meditation mat and said, "Your Reverence."

Isan reached for his hossu. Tokusan gave a "Katsu," flourished his sleeve and went out.

Setcho said, "The critical examination is finished."

Tokusan turned his back to the Dharma Hall, put on his foot-gear and departed.

That evening, Isan called the head monk and asked, "Where is that recent arrival?"

The head monk said, "At that time, he turned his back to the Dharma Hall, put on his foot-gear and departed."

Isan said, 'That young fellow will someday ascend to a lonely peak and establish a hermitage that. He will laugh at the Buddha and abuse the Patriarchs."

Setcho said. "Adding frost onto snow."


Excerpt from Robert Aitken Roshi's comments on the case from Letter From Kaimu:

The lessons for daily life in all this do not lie in acknowledging one's psychological faults and hang-ups, but rather in accepting oneself and allowing formal teachings and circumstances to encourage one's own growth.

_____________________________________________________ DESSERT

"Nietzsche says that we will live the same life, over and over again. God -- I'll have to sit through the Ice Capades again." Woody Allen's character in "Hannah and Her Sisters"


______________________________________________ HEARD AT TABLE

Checked out the Zen site (hwy50zen.com) and browsed a little. Zen Karmics for prisoners was especially interesting................ Seriously, I think I might purchase a book on this subject as I know absolutely nothing about this subject and I don't like not knowing stuff............I at least now know where Dharma of "Dharma and Greg" got her name!


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