Ensō

The Ensō.

A symbol of completeness: of coming home in a full circle to where we are, looking at the world through the lens of one. The understanding is complete, that there has never been any separation at all in the first place; the perceived persona but a mirage of the conscious mind, as sensations come and go the feelings that one is in existence. Yet in the full circle, it doesn't matter, for there is no circle to begin with but a curious mental game that is played on its own.

So Live on, while the mind chatters, and the beauty fades. The circle goes on. And there is Freedom.



A poem found on Youtube

A poem inspired by the zen calligraphy ichi en so by shingai tanaka.

Where does the circle begin?
Is it a line you guess with your pen?
Is the passage of time
just a spin of a dime
along crooked line
to a finishing sign?
If you go on and on
feeling lost, feeling numb,
will you find what you want
in this meaningless hunt?

Where does the circle begin?
Is it the distance you run from your sin?
Is your knowledge of past
what sustains you to last,
what you've seen,
what you've done,
under moon
under sun?
If you keep looking back
on your life in the black
will you see what you want
in this meaningless hunt?

Where does the circle begin?
Is it the distance you mark from a pin?
If you run round the edge
on the cusp of the ledge
searching bush, searching hedge
in the seas that you dredge
if you look for the one
under heaven and sun
will you find what you want
in this meaningless hunt?

Where does the circle begin?
Can you trace another thats been?
If you copy your father,
your mother,
your brother
will you find your true self
or will you still suffer?
Is there a template for you
to know what is true?
Can you find what you want
in this meaningless hunt?

Where does the circle begin?
I'll tell you, I've seen it, I've been!
It is born in the sound of the voice of the ground
and the moon and the stars
and the sky that is ours
and the compulsion to ask!

And though I stand on the sand
With my heart in my hand
I can hear there's a sound
In the darkness I found

For there is infinite possibility
In the depths of my limits, see
From a seed grows a tall tree
And the knowledge we're born free!

And in the sound that I found
In the voice of the ground.
And the resonant art
Of my hand and my heart

Where does the circle begin?
Its easy, its drawn from within!

by Dan Osborne

Hooked

Interesting to note a single thought of attraction recurring over and over again these few days. Yet the knowledge that this thought is recurring immediately releases it's energy. 

And so it continues to swing to and fro, until it runs through its full course. Till then.

Mindfulness is Wisdom

Mindfulness is, at the same time, wisdom. By wisdom we do not mean some particular faculty or philosophy. It is the readiness of the mind that is wisdom. So wisdom could be various philosophies and teachings, and various kinds of research and studies. But we should not become attached to some particular wisdom, such as that which was taught by Buddha. Wisdom is not something to learn. Wisdom is something which will come out of your mindfulness. So the point is to be ready for observing things, and to be ready for thinking. This is called emptiness of your mind. Emptiness is nothing but the practice of zazen.  - Shunryu Suzuki "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"

Transcendental Experiences

http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2007/07/bernadette-roberts-interview.html

Here is an interview with a modern Christian contemplative who shares with us her experience.

Transcendental experiences happens to practitioners of all faith, be it Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and so on. It is important to query the experience and realize that however blissful or exceptional the experience is, they are still conditional upon our senses.

In short, any transcendental experience is a human experience, and will eventually fall away. When this happens, notice the tendency of the mind to cling, to want the experience back. Once we see through the nature of these experiences, further insights may arise and again we need to question.

I have not discussed about meditative experiences so far in this blog, and do not intend to do so yet as these discussions tend to have a misleading effect on other practitioners if right view is not established.

On a light note, was just watching this mtv so decided to add this in. Love this song :)

Heart Sutra （心经）

In mandarin though, will look for an english one soon :)

Tongue Tied

Typing, backspacing.

Fingers fixated, thoughts flying.

Nothing to express, but full in expression.

A blank sheet, speaks more than what's written.

What's there left to be said?

Words 

mean 

Nothing.

Smile at Fear

Change is Perfection

There is a natural tendency for us to want a happy occasion to last longer, and we usually like to take pictures during these occasions to relive the moment.

This tendency is here because subconsciously we know that we can't hold onto anything. We know that the memories will fade, that people will change, that the happiness is just a fleeting sensation. And this is what makes this life beautiful. Change is that which gives meaning to every moment of this life.

What we need to accept is change. Change is this life. Change is what creates this persona in this world. Without change this world will cease. Impermanence is the nature of this world, and it's what this life is about.

By seeing this, we know there is perfection in the imperfections.

Missing

What is this longing?

A sensation, persisting.

A memory, circling.

A tear, pain.

A smile, bliss.

Left wanting, as it fades

into thin air.

Running after a bubble.

Translation

世道平行益当利，权衡一切程可依


Follow the way of the world, let benevolence replace personal profits;
Balance in everything, and one can depend on the journey.

The Buddha

"The Buddha" English Subtitle from KMSPKSMEDIA on Vimeo.


5 pairs of free tickets to be given away at http://kmspks.org/news/free-tickets#wpcf7-f2-p1573-o1