![]() Even if Parshva doesnt inspire you, look around. This monastery and all of its
resources for practice and study are available to you because of the continuous
practice and ceaseless efforts of the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors to turn the
Wheel of the Way. And not only them, but all of their students who called forth the
Teachings from them and then practised them. And not only them, but students all
around you and who have come before you who have made efforts to make the Way
available. Look at the way that the practice environment is kept and cared for, the
meals that are prepared, the covers for the tapes and compact discs of teisho that
you listen to, the incense that was set out and the candles that were prepared, the
floor that was cleaned, the zafu and zabuton that each person cares for at the end of
each round of zazen and that are regardless cleaned before every sitting. And look at
yourself, sitting here. Here you are, exerting the Way. Amazing. Be inspired by
yourself.
Or better yet, just throw away whether you feel inspired or not. And just sit.
Just stand. Just walk. Just lie down. Whatever feelings and thoughts rise and fall,
whether of hope or fear, of inspiration or disappointment, of depression or inflation,
let them rise and fall without avoiding or following them. Just continuously practice
upholding the activity of the Buddhas by waking up to this moment right now.
This body and mind will be dust. Well, first it will stink and then rot and
become kind of gooey. But then it will become dust. Please dont waste its life or else
it had might as well be a skeleton, abandoned and eyeless, shuffling aimlessly
through the wild fields. Even if you have always lived aimlessly by living aimed only
by passion, aggression, and ignorance at fleeting shadows of hope and fear, right
now you can open your eyes and open to your life as it is.
So please, this evening, enjoy yourselves.
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