Spring Water

At that mountain resort in Tabanan Bali mentioned yesterday, we could drink the water from their spring out of the tap. Been a long time. After a two hour walk I went into the cold stream rushing over rocks. Wore a long sleeve shirt  in the morning and evening. Had almost forgotten what it was like.

Step

If you try to step on enlightenment, you cannot step on it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Can't Escape

We are completely, you know, caught by zazen [laughing]. Completely caught by it. You may think you can stop it one or two days or one year or two years. Or you may think, “I shall not practice zazen any more as long as I am alive.” But still you cannot get out of it. You are still in zazen. You cannot escape our zazen. You think you can, that's all. But actually you cannot. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Ridiculously Beautiful

At a BIWA (Bali International Women's Asso) luncheon, Katrinka won two nights at Bali Eco Spa in scenic Tabanan. We've been here a day so far. Unbelievable. We took the Green Walk this morning of about an hour through mountain jungle coconut, cacao, banana, and other trees. The sky was so clear last night - could see all four stars of the Southern Cross and the Milky Way. Only two hours from the busy city where we live. Must get out more. - dc

Article on a close bud

Danu’s Story - Kicking It in Bali by Ines Wynn in the Bali Advertiser

Danu was my best man at Katrinka's and my wedding. That's him in black on the right. Just click on it and you'll go to the original and can see it better. - dc

No Eyes

Now, maybe, you are pretty tired of sitting. You may be sleepy sometime, and you think there is no enlightenment in our practice. That is because you have no eyes to look upon yourself. But even though you cannot see it, there is enlightenment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

kecoa

That's cockroach in Indonesian. I catch one every few days and put it out. Get them with a plastic cup. They're so fast sometimes I smash down the plastic cup and only get one partially and am worried I hurt it. But when I lift the cup a bit they always scamper off full speed till I get them clean under it then slide a then movie DVD plastic envelope under the cup and carry them out. I call it my have-a-heart roach hotel.

Some Day

Even though [laughing] you do not think your practice is good, enlightenment is there. And some day, you will find out what you have been doing [laughter]. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Training = Practice

Training invites enlightenment. Your own treasure does not comes from the outside. Enlightenment comes into its own with training. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [" Formerly "training" was used in translations sometimes instead of "practice." -- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Saraswati

Saraswati today. Lots of great gamelan music from the school next door this morning. Katrinka will read to one year old Mary next door in honor of it. Mary's mother is Balinese and father Brit. Yesterday was Mary's Bali birthday (or something) which for some reason is almost a month after her what to me is actual birthday - May 1. We received a whole Bali cake for it - it's a modern tradition. We sliced out a few bites and gave to a room cleaner this morning. He was delighted. Will take home to family for their Saraswati celebration.

Sign seen

Antiques Made to Order - thanks Scott M.

Boat

If you practice it, Buddhism is there and enlightenment is there. So what was written in scriptures is like an old boat by which you came across. But people just believe in what was written in scripture and believe in the three periods of Buddhism and ignore the practice. And if you practice it and are expecting something after practice, then that practice is the daydream or old boat by which you came across. [Laughs.] You should forget all about the old boat. Old boat means sutras. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Eating Clay

At lunch with Depak and Hira of Satvika Bhoga (pure food) and Scott M, learned that not only poor Southerners in the US eat Clay. It fills the stomach and is habit forming. Depak said it's done in France for stomach problems. Scott said they sell Clay in the market here in Bali - for eating it's called Ampo here and is associated more with Java. See Wikipedia on Ampo.   

Dull

When you stop your mind [laughing], who is clever and who is dull? There is no difference. Because you remain in intellectual understanding, you think shallow -- sharp one will attain enlightenment faster [laughs]. For dull one it will take for a long time. But that is not true either.There are many, many famous Zen masters who was [laughing] very dull [laughter]. Even in Japan there are many -- many of them [laughter]. It is not matter of clever or dull. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Practice

People say, you know, “he has shallow understanding of Buddhism,” or “deep understanding of Buddhism.” But even though they have deep understanding of it, if they do not practice it, it means nothing.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

More on Rain

Twice yesterday experienced light rain which is unusual enough in the dry season but looking up there was blue sky, the clouds the rain came from far off. The second time was playing tennis and it went on for about fifteen minutes under clear sky. Don't remember anything quite like that. - dc

Is One

To attain enlightenment and to practice zazen and to hear instruction is one, and the three take place simultaneously. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Raining

It's been raining some in Bali recently in the middle of the dry season. Pretty hard the other day, a little lake to walk through to get back home. There's been serious flooding and death in Java. This will mean more mozzies as the Aussies call mosquitoes. Bumper year for dengue. 

Evanescence

When we feel the evanescence of life directly, we will not have any more ego-centered idea.and our practice will be quite pure and strong. And on each moment, we will do our best in our practice. That is the most important point in our way.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-17a speaking on Dogen's Gakudo-yojin-shu as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

If something can go wrong

Broken Arrows: Nuclear Weapons Accidents - one list

cuke page for Species Threat #1 - Nuclear War 

Always

So, if the time comes just to get up and to come here and sit and talk or listen and go home - all those procedures are our practice. If so you are always Buddha without any idea of attainment. This is true practice of zazen. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Accidents Happen including Nuclear

Union of Concerned Scientists - End Hair Trigger Alert

cuke page for Species Threat #1 - Nuclear War 

Thick Wall

To attain enlightenment is to be always Buddha. By repeating same thing over and over we will acquire this kind of understanding, but if you lose the point by practice you will build up some thick wall for yourself by yourself. We should not confine ourselves in the thick wall which is built by study or by practice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Good to know

Without trying to be Buddha you are Buddha. This is how we attain enlightenment. .----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

David Schneider explains

The background to Philip Whalen's Jizo poem from the SFZC blog - thanks Brit Pyland

got a warning that this image won't work for some so if there's a problem don't worry, just go to the link above and see it full size.

Continuing from Yesterday

If this point is lost we will lose the most important point of Buddhism. So wherever we go we should not lose this way of life. That is so-called to be Buddha, or to be boss. Where-ever you go we say you should be the master of the surroundings. It means you should not lose your way. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

communicate

We do not talk so much, but through our activity we communicate with each other -- intentionally or unintentionally and we should be always alert enough to communicate without words or with words.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Understand

So we say, although we have Buddha nature, if you do not practice it, in other words if you try to understand it some other way, you do not understand it but just when you practice it you will understand what is our way.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Nukes are the greatest danger to us all

from Politico - trump with nuclear codes - expert article showing to me how insane it it to have these weapons at all and especially on hair trigger alert as it is now. the people of the world must demand an end to this madness. - dc

cuke page for Species Threat #1 - Nuclear War 

Encourage

Usually, after zazen, I give a talk for you. Why you come here is not to just listen to my talk, but to practice zazen. This point should always be remembered by us. Why I talk in this way is to encourage to practice true zazen..--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Muslim wedding

Katrinka, our Russian friend Olga, and I went to a little Muslim office to be there with a few others when our friend Leia got married to a man from Java. It was all in - gosh I don't know - Arabic? They just followed what the presiding person read. At the end he told her to kiss her husband's hand. They signed papers. Photos with them and their three month old baby then with us. No music. No hokus pokus. Olga said she got married in Lebanon in '85 and it was exactly the same. Wish Katrinka had gotten a pic of a family that came taking off on their motor scooter - mom, dad, young boy and girl. The The bride, groom, and the three of us took Nyoman Dogen's bemo, like a VW bus with a side open. He'd brought us there. Then we went to a restaurant Leia suggested. Warung Teduh (Shady Restaurant). Good local eats. No one drank booze. Not a bule (white foreigner) place. Picked up the wedding feast tab for the six of us - about 19 bucks. 

Karma again

sabbe sattā kammassakā

All beings are owners of their karma.

Karma - Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Truth of Rebirth: And Why it Matters for Buddhist Practice - Thanissaro

Kamma: A Study Guide - Thanissaro

What Is Karma and How Does It Work? - Lion's Roar

sent by alert reader AM in response to 6-4 post on Suzuki's karma statements

Give Up

If you want to understand it you cannot understand it. When you give up trying to understand it, true understanding is always there.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Whatever

It may be said we have originally Buddha nature before we practice zazen, before we acknowledge it in terms of consciousness. So in this sense whatever we do, that is Buddha’s activity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

High Tides

in south Bali on Sunday morning the 5th - video on the Tolak Reklamasi site devoted to stopping the luxury hotelling of Benoa Bay and its precious mangroves. 

Just be here

The only way to obtain Buddha nature or understand Buddha nature is just to practice zazen or just to be here in this way. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Andrew Atkeison back in Japan

at Fukuoji where Mike Jamvold lived. Here's a page for Fukuoji on his Iron Fulte Song site.

NPR on Dogen

The Greatest Philosopher You've Never Heard Of - thanks Tony Patchell

Vanished

When we practice something, like we sit here, there is Buddha’s way or Buddha nature. So when we ask what is Buddha nature Buddha nature will be vanished, but when we just practice zazen like this we have full understanding of Buddha nature..--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.

Kitchen Fixins

Praising Katrinka's culinary skill again. There is great food all over here and some of it really cheap. A night or two a week we get wholesome organic dinners with whole grain red rice for example delivered for less than four bucks a meal. But the best is what she makes. Lots of veggies, brown-red rice mix or whole wheat noodles, stuff from around the world, and deftly added spices. Paneer today, tarragon tomorrow.

Muesli

Katrinka makes the best muesli. Pan roasted oats, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, raisins. I pour boiling water on it then add banana slices, almond milk, whole yogurt, maybe a little coconut syrup which is so like maple syrup. To me the biggest drawback of muesli is that the oats are often too uncooked. She just gave a jar of it to the Aussie neighbors here for a month.

Conscious Living TV presents

The Sound of Zen at Tassajara - thanks Alice Dill

Karma

When we read a Shunryu Suzuki statement, let us keep in mind his not-always-so approach. For instance, I recall he said once something like there really wasn't anything to believe in and then said, well there's karma, that's about as close as we can get to something that's true. Then at another time he said, "Strictly speaking, there's no such thing as karma." I see those two statements as compatible if we see the affirmative as the relative and the negative as the absolute. Form and emptiness. What say you? - dc

Pawai Budaya - Cultural Exhibition

There was an APEKSI event just around the corner down the street this week and on the last day in the afternoon there was a cultural exhibition in the form of a parade. Cities in Indonesia from various islands attended. There were groups walking and of dancers - Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Chinese Buddhist. So many beautiful costumes and intriguing music and rhythm. This photo is from a previous APEKSI meet. Maybe Katrinka will upload some of her shots on Facebook for us to see.

APEKSI, the Asosiasi Pemerintah Kota Seluruh Indonesia, is the Association of the Indonesia Municipalities. Established on 25 May 2000, its existence is based upon the Indonesian laws about political and administrative decentralization (Law 22/1999). - Wikipedia

Continuing from yesterday's excerpt

By practice Buddha did not mean just to sit under the Bodhi tree or to sit in cross-legged posture. Our cross-legged posture is the basic posture or original posture for us -- most fundamental way of being here. But what he meant actually was that mountain or trees or flowing water or flowers and plants and everything as they are is the way Buddha is. It means everything is taking Buddha’s activity in each position and in each way, but the way they are for themselves is not understood by themselves in realm of consciousness..--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture 66-12-08 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Shunryu Suzuki lecture excerpts on cuke.com - from there links to much more. - Go to cuke.com What's New [now at blogger] to see more daily posts.