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The Activity of Sesshin
AI Suggested Keywords:
The talk discusses the transformative process of sesshin as a form of deep meditative practice, emphasizing the integration of self and the world by acknowledging and skillfully working with the karmic flow of causes and conditions. This endeavor is described as both yogic and transcending yogic practice, requiring practitioners to engage fully with the present moment, as evidenced by historical examples such as Shakyamuni, Dogen, and Suzuki Roshi. The talk also references the poetic insight of Pablo Neruda and the instruction of Sappho to illustrate the necessity of stillness and self-awareness in achieving understanding.
Referenced Works:
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The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha: Discusses Shakyamuni's journey from leaving the palace to achieving enlightenment, which is a foundational narrative that inspires the practice of sesshin.
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The Teachings of Dogen: Explores Dogen's travel to China and the subsequent influence on his teachings, emphasizing the importance of engaging with conditions in a new way.
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"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Suzuki Roshi: Highlights Suzuki Roshi's role in bringing Zen practice to the West and emphasizing the beginner's mind, relating to the transformative nature of sesshin.
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Poems by Pablo Neruda: Offers poetic perspectives on stillness and understanding the self, underscoring the silence needed to challenge perpetual busyness and existential threats.
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Poems by Sappho: Provides philosophical insights into the nature of self and existence, illustrating the practice of viewing the world and arising stories as facets of the self.
These works collectively contribute to understanding the purpose and methodology of sesshin, as outlined in the discussion.
AI Suggested Title: Embracing Stillness, Transforming Self
Speaker: Ryushin Paul Haller
Possible Title: Sesshin Talk #1
Additional text: Poor sound quality
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Good morning. I couldn't help but notice as I walked from the avid cabin to the window how completely still the air was, how clear the sky was. All we were in the midst of was the conviction of certain colleges that gave me the right to a lot of experience. It was tough to think that the whole valley would enter into a chute. My mind was driven that the day would be quieter than it needed. It would be quiet, it would be. I'm taking more of Plankton than Wilson. Always were in the midst of coastal conditions.
[01:08]
Years ago, they were confirming and campaigning kindly for an edge. The world according to me is being reinforced and affirmed and elaborated, and that chapter to be written often leaves a lot like the last chapter. And practice is asking us to relate to those very same causes and conditions in a radically different way. And yet this has been the proposition that caused Shakyamuni to leave the palace. It was the proposition that sent Dogen to China.
[02:12]
The proposition that inspires Suzuki Roshi to come right here. So how do we do it? How does each one of us do it? How do we collectively do it? That's signed okay? That too low now? Too low or okay? Okay? This inquiry is the activity of sashi. Is that okay? Yeah. Yeah. In many ways, Hashin is a yogic endeavor.
[03:22]
You know, this transformation, this radical shift, this is a yogic process, yogic to join with, to discover how to skillfully work with. And of course it goes beyond a yogic process. As Shakyamuni discovered, even after his great yogic accomplishments, still something in the process of realization was not there. But still this yogic process is extraordinarily helpful. And that's part of what I'd like to talk about. So stilling, quieting, cessation.
[04:29]
Allowing something to come into contact with here and now. Pablo Neruda puts it. If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt the sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death. So as we enter into sashi, as we immerse ourselves in this karmic flow of causes and conditions, maybe one of the first challenges for us is to bring all of ourselves here.
[05:42]
Sometimes sashi is called gathering the mind. So Sappho offered an intriguing and I find very useful instruction. It's that the whole world is self. And what this means is that whatever story comes up, oh, this is the arising of self. Whatever story is put on someone or something else, Or some play film. Biagawa. That we take ownership of. Just another attribute of self.
[06:46]
It's like we cast a white net. gathering into the realm of subjective truth. The whole world itself, present, past, future, here, there, And of course as we start to do this, and I hope this makes sense to you, because it can be a very helpful thing. to start to see the kind of tendencies of mine starting to see others, create others, have stories about others.
[07:54]
That's life with me.
[08:00]
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