Dharma talk preparation

I talked to Wxxxx about the dharma talk. He gets inspiration from something that he likes investigate city signs that a big hole opens up into it she can go. Sometimes theres no hole he hits a wall.

Then he chooses a new topic. He might explore where it goes with this with other authors and other poets.

Sitting down to lunch after talking to Wxxxx today, I noticed that I can identify two reasons why I am pursuing this torture. Is it torture? Well its one way to look at it.

The two things I have identified are one I can use the construction of the Dharma talk as a gate into the Dharma itself, the 10000 gates. Another benefit, another reason is essentially to avoid the isolation that I would otherwise retreat to.-. Retreating to isolation, retreating to avoidance because of discomfort, is so standard operating procedure. No pain no gain. No mud no lotus.

Thousands of words, myriad interpretations

from A Dharma talk given by Greg Fain on Wednesday July 11 2012, at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center .... after describing the wonderful library of books at Tassajara on Buddhism and on Zen practice in particular, he says however that

"...compared to your own practice, [books] are nothing more than traces [on the path].  They can help but they can't practice for you."
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from a 'Reader on Shikantaza' by Joan Halifax

Zazen means awakening from distraction and confusion and from dullness and fatigue, awakening to zazen billions of times. The zazen of living out this fresh and raw life means awakening the mind, certifying through practice billions of times. This is shikantaza. 

Dharma Talks

W. told me that when composing a 'talk', the only necessary fundamental is to construct it 'from the heart'.  A fine way to encourage, isn't it?

Oxherding

http://www.sanbo-zen.org/cow_e.html

Another sweet meditation on the oxherding images and symbolism