Dogen

After reading all 5 of the reading selections (for bogs), the lectures, and Molloy its incredible how much of it I truely don't understand. But I have been thinking about it a lot this week.

I am currently celebrating the 10 days of Aih between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippor. Yom Kippor is a day of repentence and the days inbetween are days to examine yourself. Conincidentally this week we have been studying Buddhisim which has a huge emphasis on "the self."

During this time I have been thinking a lot about the idea of suffereing, and how we create it. According to Buddhists we have the choice of how to look at a situation. We frequently choose to look at it negatively and in return we suffer. For example, a women was put in prison in China and tortured and when she was released she thanked the men who held her in prison. She thanked them because she said they gave her an opertunity to practice compassion. I also think of Steven (Acts 7) who prays, "forgive them they know not what they do" in regards to the peole stoneing him. Or even Jason's example of standing in the grocery line and being pissed because its taking so long. We create our own suffering. I am guilty of this just like everyone else. I was thinking of my own parents and how they are such a good example for me on this subject. My parents are in jeopardy of loosing their dream house that they worked so hard for. As devistating as it is I was talking to my mom and she said, "we are so blessed, how many people get to live in their dream house for two years." I was shocked. I have decided this is something that I am going to strive for this year. (Yom Teruah is the new year for Jews)

Yom Teruah pictures the seven trupets blowing and Christs return bringing peace after the war. Therefore, I have also been thinking a lot about the idea of what most peole call "heaven." Most people think about this cloud covered place, or others view it as a compassionate perfect earth where socitey as a hole still exists but perfectly. The Buddhists view it as a state of mind, Nirvana. A perfect release or freedom from our limited mind and the suffering it creates. I tend to agree with the Buddhists on this one. I am a type A personality I am constantly worrying, creating my own suffering, and overthinking situations. Sometimes my inner dialogue becomes so loud its hard to have peace. But I get just a small glimpse of that peace when I practice yoga/meditation like it talks about in the Dogen. I look forward to the time when my mind will be completely released from its bondage and I can obtain that peace of mind effortlessly. That effortless state of mind is the "heaven" or "Nirvana" that I look forward to.