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Mindfull-ness Training with Max


Tired of the stresses of life? Lost inspiration? Can't find your keys? Looker for deeper meaning?


This 5 hour course will take place over the span of two days in a park. The course will consist of two two-and-a-half hour sessions, on a weekend. You will be taught basic mindfull-ness techniques including but not limited to body-environment perception, step-by-step awakening, and deep-breath realization. Walk away from this limited time course with a calmer mind and the simple tricks to help engage each moment actively.

Fees
30$: Includes necessary materials for course.

50$: Includes necessary materials for course, as well as a booklet of Mindfull-ness tips and tricks.

Please wear comfortable, non constricting clothing, and sunscreen if you have sensitive skin. Complimentary tea and a snacks will be provided at the end of each session.

Difficulties of new.

It is very difficult to maintain a morning routine while moving.

Especially when there are loud old clocks around.

There are many ways to do a single thing.

Koan o' the day

Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku.


Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no relaization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received."


Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry.


"If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger come from?"

chirp

A monk asked Fuketsu: `Without speaking, without silence, how can you express the truth?'

Fuketsu observed: `I always remember spring-time in southern China. The birds sing among innumerable kinds of fragrant flowers.'

I will sit.

Yes, I sometimes think about sitting.

And yes, I sometimes sit.

These days, for brief moments.

AHAHA

Do not worry. None of this is real!

10/10

Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki
by David Chadwick


This has to be one of the most entertaining and interesting books I've read. The approach is simple, how zen, and retains the complicated nature of Japanese culture and Zen culture. Though it may just be resonating with my interests in these two things, I appreciate the outside point of view of Suzuki-Sensei. Rather than bogging the reader down with too many Koans, or too much high-Zen theory, we can see the Zen of Chadwick's travels and learning of the way. I find that these types of discussions are far more resonating to the western audience, who are exposed to this type of narrative at an early age. The western P.O.V. is also more available than the Japanese, perhaps. Overall, the narrative, the goal of the book, and the subject matter are all things I love. Thus a 10/10 for this not so little book.

Is that so?

The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbours as one living a pure life.
A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without any warning, her parents discovered she was with child.

This made her parents angry. She would not confess who the man was, but after much harassment at last named Hakuin.

In great anger the parent went to the master. "Is that so?" was all he would say.

After the child was born it was brought to Hakuin. By this time he had lost his reputation, which did not trouble him, but he took very good care of the child. He obtained milk from his neighbours and everything else he needed.

A year later the girl-mother could stand it no longer. She told her parents the truth - the real father of the child was a young man who worked in the fishmarket.

The mother and father of the girl at once went to Hakuin to ask forgiveness, to apologize at length, and to get the child back.

Hakuin was willing. In yielding the child, all he said was: "Is that so?"

- Muju

Catching worms

I've never known one could be so productive in the morning. It is actually quite amazing. I think I will continue doing it.

Also, I've been reading this post over at Zen Habits, and I must declare it is absolutely wonderful. The simplicity of it adheres to a principle I have been losing lately, which is to not over think things. So strange are mondern day mantras.

My favorite: "Sometimes, inaction is better."

I lose myself inaction, but that's my problem. Inaction is not really what I've been losing myself, but more an ignoring of the word action, or the idea the word implies. I haven't been active, nor have I been inactive. "Activity Lost" would be a good book title. Maybe I'll write a book.