Well it was a very interesting weekend at the Monastery.
This was the first weekend for our many new summer residents. We have a group of 15 or so new people who will be living with us for the next month. It's great to have to influx of new energy and it's fascinating to watch people adjusting to this different way of life. You tend to forget how living this way can be so challenging. They are all very eager but you can see the first week of early waking and long sitting effecting them. A couple of quotes that made me realize how much of a alien planet a zen monastery can be.
1. I just want to thank you guys for being normal (This was said to me and to another resident. No one has ever thanked me or her for being normal.)
2. We get to sleep in til 6:50 tomorrow and no Zazen * WOW! Really! That's Awesome!
*Zazen is seated meditation practice (The fact that 6:50 is an amazingly late time to sleep in speaks for itself)
We were also involved in a 4th of July Extravaganza. Many of us participated in different floats. I participated in the Quincy Crash Band. A jam band made up of monastery residents covered in glitter and followed by residents dressed as fairies, a couple who were on skates. It was indeed quite the spectacle and I will try to get pictures. We did jams around the themes of funk, rock, ska, and reggae. I played guitar on the funk and rock parts and did poi on the others. It was a ton of fun and its very different then they way folks from the monastery interact with the local populace.
The whole time spent in Clatskanie was very interesting. It was really cool to see such small town America out to celebrate the Fourth of July. They had a fair with a lumberjack competition, bingo, funnel cake, and carnival rides. I spent most of the time playing bingo, watching the dunking booth and talking to my folks. I wanted to get a funnel cake, but the line was 40 mins long and that seemed like too much effort just to eat something that I shouldn't.
Later we grilled at the Monastery veggie dogs brats and burgers and loads of potato salad. Then we played ultimate frisbee and some wizard. We ended off the whole thing by driving back into town to watch the fireworks. All in all it was really fun day for all involved.
But of course the Dharma is always speaking so here's what I took away from it.
First my favorite quotes of the day.
1. Hogen (One of the Zen Teachers at Great Vow):
"Sam sit down play some Bingo for the Kiwannis Club"
Chozen (The other Zen Teacher at Great Vow (After I had gotten my bingo cards)):
"You know the Buddha Forbids gambling"
2. Chozen: There are two things you should never run out of. Blankets and fireworks.
3. (As we are setting up some fireworks to shoot off)
Sam: "I remember safety first."
Chozen: "No. . . fireworks first."
Next what the Dharma taught me.
1.People are trying to end there suffering in anything they can do including causing others to suffer. I observed this at the dunking booth. And don't get me wrong I love a dunking booth but the premise under it is interesting. Have fun by causing someone else to suffer in cold water. Though no one really is getting hurt the idea behind this is the basis for the continuation of suffering in our world. It really shows me that people endeavor to end there suffering and that a common unskillful way to do that is by hurting others. There is a biological reason for this and it does satisfy that craving, but I really wonder why we are set up like that.
2. Children do most things wholeheartedly. I watched these kids competing in the lumberjack competition. They were just going full out. If there's one thing I wish I could relearn or not have forgotten its how to be that wholehearted. I think it's because we realize how much it hurts to fail when we really try so we stop trying so hard. The thing is that hurts even more. There is a beauty and a cleansing that can happen with wholehearted effort.
3. We spent some time with some sangha members dog who is dying. She can't really move and has to be carried around. She was a sweet dog and it was beautiful to have so many people around her sending her loving kindness. But the look in her eyes made me realize the universality of dying and that bitter sweetness that comes with it. We will all have to face that great mystery at some point. But so will every other living thing that we know of. The look in her eyes reminded me of how in death we participate in this great transition with all things. In some ways its the ultimate expression of our very nature of impermanence. And reflects so much about life itself in it's sublime sadness.
Well thats all for now. I hope everyone had a good Fourth and Keep your eyes peeled for some good pics coming later.
As always Gassho and Namaste!
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