Sokukoji Buddhist Temple Monastery

When observing that which seems to be wrong or off kilter, you may say, “This shouldn’t be happening,” or, “Why this is happening?” These comments actually cover up your reception; cover up your awareness of what is occurring in any given situation. As you’re watching your mind stream, I encourage you to observe the imbalance. The basic ignorance is that of ignoring the open dimension in which this is occurring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG_CgsK64UQ

The 90/10 rule is to listen 90% of the time and talk 10%. Something you can do right away is to receive any spontaneously produced reaction you have to anything or anybody that shows up in your mind stream. Instead of constantly producing something about everything, just receive it "as it is." You’ll know you’re receiving it "as it is," if you don’t have any idea exactly what you’re receiving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vw_n3N3cIc&t=1s

The conventional way we are living is very linear. We buy into anything that’s arising, coming and going, moving this way and that. The very simple and radical form of meditation practice called shikantaza can help us to see our attachment to this very subtle area. First, look at the upsizing quality and observe the way we add on to everything that happens. By doing this, eventually it will run out of steam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD_5ey9et4k

Ego gets its identity from different sources that tend to propel us along. Anytime you assert anything, look at the connection between that and that which is feeding off it. This is the self-centeredness, where ego gets its payoff. When it comes in the form of strong beliefs, opinions and concepts, just watch. This is the sitting practice of meditation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkB6CiWRDuo

First, it is your civic duty to vote to participate in your community and culture, even though you may feel unsupported by its form, structure and shortcomings. You are not on a mountaintop in ancient China. You are here right now. Participate! Second, it is your civic duty to protect the health of your sangha, your family and community which includes the entire humanity of the world. Third, it is your civic duty to put the welfare of others at least equal with your own and perhaps even before your own. Fourth, it is your civic duty to train your mind so the lack of training or confusion in your mind, your hidden bias and prejudice, are exposed. That way, any fear-based convictions, ideas, opinions and false understandings are not spread out into the world as facts thereby adding to the rampant confusion that shows up everywhere in this material realm we call samsara. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig5skjqNshA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Mgtoi4OkE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOQTUQ-5mwU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCEa0dAUxrk&t=2s

What is the deep activity of consciousness that looks for support from leaders or groups that strengthen our positionality? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1trx05Z-lg&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H85650lU-M

Sokuzan talks about how he related to his teachers, the dharma and the sangha in the decades of his practice and how he encourages students to relate with the Three Jewels now in the SokukoJi community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6NobqMGG0E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOES8s3L9I&t=1s

Let’s start on the inside. Start with yourself. Is there any abusing going on? Any lying going on? Is there? Find out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FheeUYM39Jk&t=247s

“Samadhi” is pointing to the condition when he, she or they are not separate from anything. This will not necessarily register in one’s relative consciousness as, “Oh, I finally made it into samadhi!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS5BwRlNFP8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn4oZOILtII

There are very small layers and aspects that make up the apparent “me." ”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkDecf6UN2Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQB_8KTzhU

Anytime you come to any conclusion, whether it’s just causes and conditions that arise and you suddenly see something a certain way, or you see something and you cover it up with a conclusion, it takes a lot if awareness training to see the difference between those. This is the beginning of discriminating awareness wisdom. It’s not about picking and choosing. It’s about seeing the fundamental difference between the clarity of the mind and the continuous pile of rubble that is created by the self-centered grasping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIm08-eduvk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNKkCR3tJWU

Something arises and we abandon that. We abstract ourselves away into what it is about and what it means. We tend to analyze our life and our state of mind based on conceptualizing. It may have relative accuracy, but when it starts to take priority, it reinforces the attachment we have to who we think we are. Sokuzan refers to Dogen Zenji's teaching ”Drop off body and mind” to explore the area that is not deceptive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzca1L79TCQ