Free To Be – Daibo Zen

July 8, 2020

Free to Be – What’s Your Name?

If someone asked you What’s Your Name, how would you respond? In Zen Practice we often talk about Letting-Go and Taking-In.

Letting-Go: Refers to expressing the Relative / Phenomenal / Discriminatory World

Taking-In: Refers to expressing the Absolute / Essential / Unified World

Free to Be is a philosophy wherein we can freely move between expressing the two. Expressing both and either when necessary. Let me give you an example:

“Before attaining Enlightenment, mountains are mountains,

rivers are rivers.”

“At the moment of Enlightenment, mountains are no longer mountains,

rivers are no longer rivers.”

“But after accomplishing Enlightenment, mountains are mountains,

rivers are rivers.”

This expression deals with three stages of practice. It is vital that we understand that the “mountains are mountains, rivers are rivers” experience after enlightenment is not at all the same as before such a realization. We cannot dispense with the ” mountains are no longer mountains, rivers are no longer rivers” aspect, which requires that we clearly realize our own true nature.

This is where I would like to give some explanation. If we are in the mountains and we say this is a mountain, we immediately begin to process the concept of mountain in our minds and enter into the store house of concepts and thoughts that we have catalogued as mountain. This fixed approach to perception keeps us from Paying Attention. When we are not paying attention to what is right in-front of us, we live in our world of conceptual illusion and are inhibited from experiencing mountains directly, new, and original, for the first time ever, every time.

Although we know that all animate and inanimate beings are intrinsically buddhas, mere knowing is not enough. Dogen Zenji says, “This dharma, (enlightened life) is abundantly inherent in each individual; nevertheless, without practice it will not be revealed, and without enlightenment it will not be realized.”

How can we expect to engage with the world appropriately and authentically if we hang on to fixed ideas about what we think things are? Would not there be great inherent freedom of existence if we were able to take our perception of people, places, and things out of the realm of conceptual thinking and into the realm of direct experience through paying attention?

So, if someone were to come up to you today and asked, “What’s Your Name?”, how would you respond? Why?

May 2, 2020

How to Practice Effectively

What is Mastery? Mastery comes with deliberete practice. This type of practice is geared towards repitition with an eye on increasing proficiency, confidence and competence. Typically specific tasks are practice and then combined with other tasks to exhibit more complex skills.

It is not the quantity of practice that is important but rather the quality. Now don’t get me wrong, you have to put in the required time and the right effort to master anything complex. But, short focused practice is the way to achieve mastery over time. Please watch the youtube video above for a description of what I mean.

March 23, 2020

Appreciate Your Life

Here are 4 simple mediditations you can use as part of you daily practice of appreciation and acceptance:

Stay Enthuastic – Remember your WHY today. We don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it. Focus on your purpose and stay flexible and creative.

Be Thankful – When you are grateful for the things in your life, big and small, you always seem to find more things to be grateful about.

Replace “Have to” with “Get To” – Live life as a gift, not an obligation. We GET TO, we don’t HAVE TO. This simple shift can have a dramatic impact.

Be a Blessing to Others – We are blessed to be a blessing. This doesn’t have anything to do with material things (although it can). It’s about loving, serving and caring. It’s about choosing to make a difference in the lives of others each and every day.

I know this is easier said than done during these difficult times, but with the proper training and focus, we can learn to appreciate our lives in all circumstances.

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020

The Nature of Reality

The correct position…is not to take hold of any opinions or views, but to try to see things objectively as they are without any mental projections, to see that what we call “I” or “BEING”, is only a combination of physical and mental aggregates, which are working together independently in a flux of momentary change within the law of cause and effect, and that there is nothing permanent, everlasting, unchanging and eternal in the whole of existence.

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

Energy Mastery – Embodiment – Part 6

As we previously discussed in Parts 1 – 5 of The Free to Be Blog (energy series), we explored various ways to align our Body, Mind, Spirit & Passion Energy with our lives. We primarily centered our practice around meditation and visualization. In Parts 6 – 10 of The Free to Be Blog (energy series), we will begin to explore integrating these different types of energy into each other and ultimately together into a whole, harmonized energy pattern.

Embodiment is the first dimension of Energy Mastery. The concept of Embodiment refers to the unification of Body and Mind Energy. Typical embodiment practices center around movement disciplines such as Tae Kwon Do, Yoga, Qi Gong and Tai Chi. These disciplines help us achieve a state of Flow with the physical movements and create synaptic pathways that connect these physical movements to the corresponding cognitive processes required for movement. In other words, these movement disciplines, over time and with practice, form new neural pathways that negate the necessity for technical thinking. Only the movement and the breath exist. The mind is fully absorbed in the action of movement.

Embodiment is the gateway to mindfulness, the physical expression of who and what we are right here, right now. When we are mindful, we are focused on the reality that arises before us. Using the simple example of walking. In embodied walking, we strive to dwell in each very step for the duration that it exists, then we move on to the next step. Dwelling only in the present step, not in the previous step, not the next step. Dwelling everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. Not thinking, only doing.

These “walking” neural pathways were established when we were very young so now we no longer think about walking, we just walk. The movement disciplines I referenced above help us to train our Body and Mind Energy to flow with each other into a mindful now. I believe we can bring embodiment to every aspect of our lives by practicing a few simple activities:

Embodiment: Movement Disciplines – These practice disciplines include various Martial Arts such as Tae Kwon Do and Aikido, Yoga Flow Practice, Qi Gong Practice and Tai Chi Practice. Engaging in personal movement practice will begin to help us train our minds to flow with our bodily movements.

Embodiment: Mundane Life Activities – Think of any mundane, repetitive physical activity you engage in during the week. Examples include washing dishes, raking leaves, shoveling snow, vacuuming the carpet, walking to work…Next time you engage in one of these activities, do not let your mind wander and focus on the task and only the task. What happens? Did you lose yourself in the activity? Did you feel your Body and Mind connecting?

Practicing embodied activities will incrementally begin to free us from distracted living. If we take the time to slow down and authentically flow in the activities of our lives, we can begin the process of unifying our Body and Mind Energy and begin to integrate and unify all the energies we experience into a whole, happy, healthy and successful life.

Thoughts? Comments?

Please visit my Blog at Daibozen.com for more information.

February 20, 2020

Emotion (water) Energy – Part 5

As we previously discussed in Part 1 – “Where do you put your Energy?” of The Free to Be Blog (energy series), our existence is potentially made up of energy constituting four distinct and inseparable aspects of our lives: Body, Mind, Spirit, Passion and posited how do we know where to put our attention and focus to fully manifest buddha nature as it arises? In Part 5 – Emotion (water) Energy, we will discuss this most vexing manifestation of energy in our lives. As we previously discussed,

The Water element represents Emotional (Passion) energy – exhibits fluidity. The sentimental, romantic, social and sacred. Emotional (Passion) energy symbolizes all the mysteries of the Genesis, life, death and resurrection. It represents the universal matrix containing the essence of all life, the source of abundance and plenitude. It has the unique ability to lead all the other energies in our lives for good or ill.

Being that Emotion is the gateway to acceptance and appreciation, the energy associated with our emotional lives has a profound impact on our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. That being the case, I believe we can train our emotional energy to flow freely with the lives we are experiencing by engaging in two simple activities:

Emotional Following Visualization – As an adjunct to the Meditation exercise in Part 3 – Mental (mind) Energy, visualize a situation in your life where your emotional response to an event manifested viscerally and you took action that was not optimal. Take 5 minutes to reflect on the situation from the perspective of following your Emotional Energy. Did you assess the situation based on fear or desire? What was driving your emotional response and how was your Body, Mind and Spirit Energy affected. How did you feel physically, mentally and spiritually after the event? How would you have changed your actions based on reflection?

Emotional Leading Visualization – As an adjunct to the Meditation exercise in Part 3 – Mental (mind) Energy, visualize the same situation in the previous example. Take 5 minutes to reflect on the situation from the perspective of Emotional Energy. How does the situation make your Body Feel, felt sense? How are you thinking about the situation? Do you see the situation as a fixed entity in your mind or as a fluid, changing matrix of relationships? What are those relationships? Now, calm your passions, clear your mind and focus on your breath. Select an emotional state that would have best fit the situation based on reflection. When you contemplate the emotion, where does it come from? Search your body and mind. How does this new emotional perspective change your understanding of the situation? Do you feel more balanced and less defensive? If so, why? If not so, why not?

These questions will lead to many others and potentially begin to free us from habitual ways of thinking about things and our automatic responses to situations. If we take the time to slow down and authentically reflect on the different aspects of our Emotional Energy, we can begin the process of balancing this energy in relation to our physical, mental and emotional well-being as well as beginning to integrate and unify all the energies of our lives.

Thoughts? Comments?

Please visit my Blog at Daibozen.com for more information.

February 18, 2020

Spirit (fire) Energy – Part 4

As we previously discussed in Part 1 – “Where do you put your Energy?” of The Free to Be Blog (energy series), our existence is potentially made up of energy constituting four distinct and inseparable aspects of our lives: Body, Mind, Spirit, Passion and posited how do we know where to put our attention and focus to fully manifest buddha nature as it arises? In Part 4 – Spirit (fire) Energy, we will discuss this most active manifestation of energy in our lives. As we previously discussed,

The Fire element represent Spiritual (Spirit) energy – exhibits kindling. The desire, passion, outgoing and energetic creative principle of action. Spiritual (Spirit) energy symbolizes the original impulse, the authority, the power allowing the constructive development in any endeavor. The spirit mirrors consciousness and provides insight into the core of who and what is – both internal and external.

Being that the Spirit is the gateway to creativity and action, the energy associated with our spiritual lives has a profound impact on our ability to act appropriately and authentically within our daily experiences. That being the case, I believe we can train our spirit energy to align more accurately with the lives we are experiencing by engaging in two simple activities:

Authentic and Appropriate Action Visualization (past) – As an adjunct to the Meditation exercise in Part 3 – Mental (mind) Energy, visualize a situation in your life where you have taken action and the outcome of that action was not aligned with your intention. Take 5 minutes to reflect on the situation from the perspective of Body, Mind and Spirit Energy. Did you assess the situation as it presented itself, or did you assess the situation through the lens of a pre-conceived idea of the situation? How would you have changed your actions based on reflection?

Authentic and Appropriate Action Visualization (future) – As an adjunct to the Meditation exercise in Part 3 – Mental (mind) Energy, visualize a situation in your life where you are going to take action. Take 5 minutes to reflect on the situation from the perspective of Body, Mind and Spirit Energy. How does the situation make your Body Feel, felt sense? How are you thinking about the situation? Do you see the situation as a fixed entity in your mind or as a fluid, changing matrix of relationships? What are those relationships? When you contemplate action, does that action come from your head or your heart? Are you creatively trying to find the right action based on balancing Body, Mind and Spirit Energy? How can balancing these energies influence your action to be authentic and appropriate?

These questions will lead to many others and potentially begin to free us from habitual ways of thinking about things and our automatic responses to situations. If we take the time to slow down and authentically reflect on the different aspects of our Spirit Energy, we can begin the process of balancing this energy in relation to creative action as well as beginning to integrate and unify all the energies of our lives.

Thoughts? Comments?

Please visit my Blog at Daibozen.com for more information.

February 7, 2020

Felt Sense

When we begin to be mindful of the state of our lives through meditation, we may become aware of a “feeling” that manifests itself within our bodies. This “feeling” is an expression of the energies that influence us within our lives. Philosopher Eugene Gendlin called this “feeling” The Felt Sense. The Felt Sense functions as a connection between our Body, Mind, Spirit and Passion Energies reflected as an inward attention to what is at first sensed un-clearly. Zen Roshi Paul Genki Khan describes the Felt Sense as our whole sense of something – a person, relationship, situation, or feeling that may include thoughts, but is primarily sensory and unknown. It is an un-thought known, in that we can feel it, but it is not yet accessible to cognitive definition. It is unformulated experience, something we have been through or are in, but have not yet grasped.

People experiencing a felt sense feel more in tune with their body and bodily processes, and often even feel as if they can feel themselves within their stomach or chest. While a felt sense is partially emotional, Gendlin characterized the concept as a combination of emotion, awareness, intuitiveness, and embodiment. The felt sense is often unclear; people cannot specifically verbalize what they are feeling, but often describe it as a vague awareness of things ranging from old psychological traumas to burgeoning ideas.

For a more detailed discussion of our Body, Mind, Spirit and Passion Energies, see the Daibo Zen – Free To Be Blog – Energy Series at Daibozen.com.

February 7, 2020February 8, 2020

Mind (air) Energy – Part 3

As we previously discussed in Part 1 – “Where do you put your Energy?” of The Free to Be Blog (energy series), our existence is potentially made up of energy constituting four distinct and inseparable aspects of our lives: Body, Mind, Spirit, Passion and posited how do we know where to put our attention and focus to fully manifest Buddha nature as it arises? In Part 3 – Mind (air) Energy, we will discuss this most complex manifestation of energy in our lives. As we previously discussed,

The Air element represents Mental (Mind) energy – exhibits mobility. The intellectual, rational and verbal communication, decisive and aggressive. Mental (Mind) energy symbolizes the lightning action of communication and the righteousness of the spirit. It gives evidence and asserts authority sets the laws and defines the rules. It cuts through, in a decisive way, to open and clarify action.

Being that the Mind is the gateway to communication and understanding, the energy associated with our mental lives has a profound impact on our ability to reason and express the reality we perceive. That being the case, I believe we can train our thought to align more accurately with the lives we are experiencing by engaging in two simple mental activities:

Poetic Visualization – Select an object, preferably in nature such as a tree, rock or stream. Any object will do. Spend 5 minutes intently studying the objects in all its facets. How does the object make you feel, in your body? This is called The Felt Sense (more on this later). Does the object spur any thoughts (do not let your mind wander, come back to the object)? This is called conceptual blending (more on this later). Does the object prompt any actions on your part? How does the object make you feel emotionally? Once you have completed the 5-minute exercise, write a poem expressing your experience. Preferably a Haiku (easy poem of three lines, 5 – 7 – 5 syllables per line). As the great Haiku master Basho was once quoted,

“The Master said, ‘Learn about a pine tree from a pine tree. Learn about a bamboo stalk from a bamboo stalk. What he meant was that the poet should detach his mind from self and enter into the object, sharing its delicate life and feelings. Whereupon a poem forms itself.”

“Description of the object is not enough: unless the poem contains feelings, which have come from the object, the object and the poet’s self will be separate things”. – Bashō, On Love and Barley

Meditation – Find a quiet place to sit in any sitting posture which is comfortable. Spend 5 minutes focusing on your breath. Start with the concentration of your mind focused on your breathing. Count both inhalations and exhalations. When you inhale count in your mind “one” and when you exhale count in your mind “two” until you reach “ten”. If random thoughts come into your mind, go back to “one” again. Once you have completed your 5-minute meditation, journal your experiences. How did the meditation make you feel, in your body? Were you able to control random thoughts or did your mind wander? Did the meditation prompt you to revisit any pre-conceived patterns in your life? How did the meditation make you feel emotionally?

These questions will lead to many others and potentially begin to free us from habitual ways of thinking about things and our automatic responses to situations. If we take the time to slow down and authentically reflect on the different aspects of our Mind Energy, we can begin the process of balancing this energy as well as beginning to integrate and unify all the energies of our lives.

Thoughts? Comments?

Please visit my Blog at Daibozen.com for more information.

February 5, 2020February 6, 2020

Body (earth) Energy – Part 2

As we previously discussed in Part 1 – “Where do you put your Energy?” of The Free to Be Blog (energy series), our existence is potentially made up of energy constituting four distinct and inseparable aspects of our lives: Body, Mind, Spirit, Passion and posited how do we know where to put our attention and focus to fully manifest Buddha nature as it arises? In Part 2 – Body (earth) Energy, we will discuss this most practical and urgent manifestation of energy in our lives. As we previously discussed,

The Earth element represents Physical (Body) Energy – exhibits solidity. The material, practical and conservative. Physical (Body) energy symbolizes the plan of objective, quantifiable reality. It symbolizes any organized system that can be discerned in the physical plane. It is the passive receiver of the formative spirit symbolized by the Fire (Spirit) and Air (Mind). As the material manifestation of order, it establishes the support of any realization. The Body is a mirror for what appears in the physical world.

Being as the Body is the mirror for what appears in the physical world, the energy associated with our physical lives has a profound impact on our Mind, Spirit and Passion Energy (which will be discussed in subsequent parts). That being the case, I believe we can gain critical insight into our Body Energy by reflecting on three components of our physical lives:

Career – Meditate briefly on your work life. How does it make you physically feel, in your body? What do you think about your relationship with your work life based on where you are and where you would like to be? How are you creatively designing your work life and what steps do you need to take to manifest your aspirations? And finally, are you passionate about your work life?

Movement – Meditate briefly on the state of your physical body. How does your body physically feel and are you able to do all the things you would like to do? What do you think about yourself in relation to the state of your body? Are you actively caring for your body and embracing what you would consider a balanced lifestyle? And finally, do you appreciative your body?

Health and Well-being – Meditate briefly on the state of your health and well-being. Are you taking the steps necessary to maintain your body with a healthy diet and exercise? Are you managing the stresses of life to achieve harmony? Are you embodying your daily activities in a state of mindfulness? And finally, do you have gratitude for the state of your health and well-being?

These questions will lead to many others and potentially begin to open any obstructions and identify opportunities for change. If we take the time to slow down and authentically reflect on the different aspects of our Body Energy, we can begin the process of balancing this energy as well as beginning to integrate and unify all the energies of our lives (body, mind, spirit & passion energy).

Thoughts? Comments?

Please visit my Blog at Daibozen.com for more information.