Dinosaur Mountain

"Dinosaur Mountain", number 136 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

From WoodenZen


This miniature is ends with "It is my first thrill of the day." What is your 'first thrill of the day'?

I got an email from someone I haven't been in contact with for 30 years! A thrill indeed.



Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.

"Moose, Indian"

"Moose, Indian", number 135 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.


Henry David Thoreau's last words were "Moose, Indian". There has been a lot said about this. Roshi puts forth that maybe we should "let the poor guy die in peace."

Death Poetry is a style of poetry written during the once-in-a-lifetime event of personal death.

Some samples of Zen Death Poems.

Sixty-six times have these eyes beheld the
   changing scene of autumn.
I have said enough about moonlight,
Ask no more.
Only listen to the voice of pines and cedars
   when no wind stirs.
Ryonen 

Look straight ahead. What's there?
If you see it as it is
You will not err.
Bassui Tokusho

For over sixty years
I often cried Katsu! to no avail.
And now, while dying,
Once more to cry Katsu!
Won't change a thing.
Koken Sochin

Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot I leave it.
My coming, my going -
Two simple happenings
That got entangled.
Kozan Ichikyo





These poems come from a collection of Japanese death poems called oddly enough, Japanese Death Poems.





Watched a very interesting discussion between Dr. Robert Thurman, Karen Armstrong, and Phil Cousineau.



"The Spiritual Quest is often understood as a desire to reach God, or to attain spiritual enlightenment.  It is a search that is often challenging, full of questions and uncertainties.  In this episode of Global Spirit, writer and lecturer  hosts comparative religion scholar Karen Armstrong and Professor of Buddhist studies Dr. Robert Thurman for a discussion of The Spiritual Quest as both a personal and religious phenomenon."







Saw the movie "Why Has Bodhi Dharma Left for the East" last night with my Zen peeps. I have to saw it was not to my tastes. It was long, boring and confusing. we were saved the ending my Matt's DVD player dying after 2.5 hours of augh! Dream scenes and what might have been flashbacks were randomly interspersed and the dialog, what little there was, was over the top Zen crap. The NY Times review painted a different picture. Guess, just not my speed. Your mileage may vary.








Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.



























      
    


    

    


  




  


    

    

      

        
          Bon Dancing
        
      

      

        
        
      

    


    

    

    

    
      




  
"Bon Dancing", number 134 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.



"... the "Appalachia effect" - folk culture that has died out at home flourishes in the diaspora."


Yes, how interesting. As someone who is a convert to Zen, my enthusiasm for practice flourishes. Not sure that wold be the case if I grew up in the Orient.

Moods and energy go up and down. This is a sign that life is alive. Why does this sadden me when my energy is down?

I may write the book "Miniatures of a Zen Klutz" but then again I may take the infinity wise advice and "DON'T BOTHER".







Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.



























      
    


    

    


  




  


    

    

      

        
          FDR
        
      

      

        
        
      

    


    

    

    

    
      




  
"FDR", number 133 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

We have entered the last section of the book . So far this section seems to be more ordinary and this miniature seems autobiographical and a bit odd.

FDR was a president that lead the US out of the depression of the early 1930's. Aitken has fond memories of FDR. I wonder what this has to do with "Miniatures of a Zen Master"?

The ordinariness of life is Zen. Feed the dog, go to work and smile. This is Zen. Not everything can be like Health Care Reform (HCR). Big, important and contentious. Yet even the challenges of HCR are made up of 'feeding the dog, going to work and smiling'.

For some reason I sense that in FDR's time there was a lot more unity in the country. Maybe this is just nature human mind, wishing things were different, recasting the past in a positive light. I feel torn apart by all the greed, fear, anger surrounding HCR.

Will a leader emerge to unite the country before implosion? 









Optimum Hole Sizes (Inches) for Common Birdhouse Nesting Species






American Kestrel
3




Ash-Throated Flycatcher
1 1/2




Barn Owl
6




Black-Capped Chickadee
1 1/8




Carolina Wren
1 1/2




Downy Woodpecker
1 1/4




Eastern Bluebird
1 1/2




House Finch
2




House Wren
1 1/4




Northern Flicker
2 1/2




Prothonotary Warbler
1 1/8




Purple Martin
2 1/2




Tufted Titmouse
1 1/4




Violet-Green Swallow
1 1/2




White-Breasted Nuthatch
1 1/4














Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.



























      
    


    

    


  




  


    

    

      

        
          Saint Andrew
        
      

      

        
        
      

    


    

    

    

    
      




  
"Saint Andrew", number 132 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Completely amazing the world we live in. Robert Aitken, who lives in Hawaii, talks about a statue of St. Andrew that he enjoys and 5 minutes on the internets and I have a picture, a very detailed description a map on how to get there and even a clear aerial photograph. (No google maps street view yet.)

What an amazing world!

St. Andrew being preached to by the fish!










The sculpture was donated by Robbins Battell, Mary Morris Anderson and their children. Carlton Winslow, architect of the Cathedral, designed the fountain, constructed by Mario Valdastri and Son. Ivan Mestrovic designed the statue of St. Andrew the Apostle; Robert Laurent sculpted the fish.








 


That is the statue in the lower part of the image.


 











Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.





























      
    


    

    


  




  


    

    

      

        
          The Empty Space
        
      

      

        
        
      

    


    

    

    

    
      




  
"The Empty Space", number 131 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.











Rufus Hummingbird
From WoodenZen







Today seems like a good day for some reflection on this book and my treatment of it.

Like these miniatures, my treatment has been up and down. The quality of my attention to the topics is uneven. "The Empty Space" is about how by creating an empty space of no expectations, we create an unencumbered life. Or "The Empty Space" is about how we can not hide our true nature from the the universe.

Either way, I would have said it differently. And that is the point isn't it. This is Robert Aitken's book not mine. I am so happy to have found Robert even though I've never met him. I've only known him through is writing. That is enough.

This miniature turns out to have a happy ending. But that is not the point. Life ends how it ends. Happy or not is not the point. In the end what matters is moment to moment presence.

Here are some questions I'll ask myself at the end.


    

  1. Am I awake?
    2. 

  2. Did I love?
    3. 

  3. Who is it that is ending?
    4. 

  4. Was I kind?
    5. 



Here we go! Why wait! Question everything, especially your preparation for the end.

Go create 'the empty space' life lives in!







Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.


  



























      
    


    

    


  




  


    

    

      

        
          The Eight Fold Path
        
      

      

        
        
      

    


    

    

    

    
      




  
"The Eight Fold Path", number 130 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.








The fundamentals.









Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.