Water over stones

  

 
 

Neither/nor stuff is all over Buddhism, and of course it's all true, but only in the cumbersome sense of talking in the realm of talking. 😊 Dharma is in a place where what is not said takes up the whole universe, so we're probably best off, at least in the first moment of full awareness, just standing there stunned by the riffle of a bit of water over stones. 

-- shonin

Now, in the unhindered and unobstructed dharma-opening of the dharma-realm there is no dharma, and yet no non-dharma; no opening, and yet no non-opening. Thus it is neither large nor small, neither in a hurry nor taking its time; neither moving nor still, neither one nor many. Since it is not large, it can become an atom, leaving nothing behind. Since it is not small, it can contain all of space with room left over. Unhurried, it can include all the kalpas in the three time periods; not taking its time, it can enter fully into an instant. Since it is neither moving nor still, samsāra is nirvāna and nirvāna is samsāra. Being neither one nor many, one dharma is all dharmas and all dharmas are one dharma.

-- Wonhyo, tr. Muller   

Image: Dongshan Liangjie attains insight while crossing a stream.

Tonglen 8/7/26

🔔
[Officiant  makes offering]
[Roll down] 🔔 ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●  (dim.)

🔔 🔔 🔔 

clonk 👏 

The five remembrances:

I am subject to aging. There is no way to avoid aging.

I am subject to ill health. There is no way to avoid illness.

I am going to die. There is no way to avoid death.

Everyone and everything that I love will change, and I will be separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

clonk 👏 

 We have made offerings and this recitation to all who 
 have died in natural and human-made disasters, including 
 war, disease, poverty, climate change, and acts of terror, 
 violence and persecution. Recognizing buddha nature manifested 
 in their precious lives, we pray that the benefits of their positive 
 actions of body, speech and mind may continue and that all harm 
 may be swiftly brought to peace; 

 and for the well-being of those 
 suffering as a result of natural and human-made disasters, 
 including war, disease, poverty, climate change, and acts of 
 terror, violence and persecution. May they find wisdom and 
 serenity in the midst of their difficulties and be free from 
 hindrance. May all beings realize the Awakened Way. 

[Officiant  makes offering]

🔔 All Buddhas throughout space and time,
🔔 all honored ones, Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas,
🔔 wisdom beyond wisdom, Maha prajna paramiiita.
 

 [Roll down] 🔔 ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●  (dim.)
 
 🔔  🔔  🔔  

 "Zazen" 

[sit zazen 10 minutes]

[end of zazen] 🔔🔔  
 

Officiant makes offering 

Tonglen  [five minutes for each visualization] 

🔔 
Visualize a person in need, in this instance yourself.
Imagine their pain as a dark, heavy cloud surrounding them.
As you inhale, visualize taking in their pain.
Allow yourself to feel it, understanding their experience.
As you exhale, visualize sending them relief, love, and healing energy.
Imagine their suffering dissolving as they receive your compassion. 

🔔   
Visualize a loved one.
Imagine their pain as a dark, heavy cloud surrounding them.
As you inhale, visualize taking in their pain.
Allow yourself to feel it, understanding their experience.
As you exhale, visualize sending them relief, love, and healing energy.
Imagine their suffering dissolving as they receive your compassion.

🔔  
Visualize a friend.
Imagine their pain as a dark, heavy cloud surrounding them.
As you inhale, visualize taking in their pain.
Allow yourself to feel it, understanding their experience.
As you exhale, visualize sending them relief, love, and healing energy.
Imagine their suffering dissolving as they receive your compassion.
 
🔔   
Visualize a stranger
Imagine their pain as a dark, heavy cloud surrounding them.
As you inhale, visualize taking in their pain.
Allow yourself to feel it, understanding their experience.
As you exhale, visualize sending them relief, love, and healing energy.
Imagine their suffering dissolving as they receive your compassion.
 
🔔  
Visualize a difficult person.
Imagine their pain as a dark, heavy cloud surrounding them.
As you inhale, visualize taking in their pain.
Allow yourself to feel it, understanding their experience.
As you exhale, visualize sending them relief, love, and healing energy.
Imagine their suffering dissolving as they receive your compassion.

🔔   
Visualize all beings
Imagine their pain as a dark, heavy cloud surrounding them.
As you inhale, visualize taking in their pain.
Allow yourself to feel it, understanding their experience.
As you exhale, visualize sending them relief, love, and healing energy.
Imagine their suffering dissolving as they receive your compassion.     
 
clonk 👏 

All my ancient tangled karma
From beginningless greed, ill will, and ignorance
Born of body, speech, and mind
I now fully avow.     

🔔 🙏 
 
clonk 👏  

 I vow to save all sentient beings, though beings are numberless
 I vow to transform all delusions, though delusions are inexhaustible
 I vow to perceive reality, though reality is boundless
 I vow to attain the enlightened way, a way that is non-attainable
 
🔔 🙇  

🔔 🙇