Roshi Hogan is on retreat in North Carolina and will be posting once again soon.
When a door closes, a window often opens. The water is not blocked by the stone. It merely finds another way around the obstacle. So often we focus on the obstacle and do not look at the big picture and see the alternatives. Life is about adjustments. It is about changes, adversities. It is how we see and overcome these adversities that can set us apart. When it is time for winter, it gets cooler. When it it time for summer, it warms up. Change and flow.
We cannot conquer evil in the world anymore than we can have the ability to drink all the water in the world’s oceans. However, we can learn to defeat evil within our own self. By heeding the teachings of the Tao, we can see that evil is met by evil just as the face is reflected in the mirror. The only way to root out evil within us is by cultivating the good. To be surrounded by all the salt water in the world is useless if we are thirsty. We must cleanse and purify the mind of evil by running all thoughts and actions through the filter of the Tao.
Do not overemphasize intellect. Intellectuals can never relax because of their insatiable curiosity. The sage walks through the field, enjoying each step. The intellectual analyzes the soil of the field. Seek to balance the yin and yang in mind, body, and spirit. Do things that make it easier to be in oneness. Relax, simplify, let things go. Develop your entire being. Do not ignore the subtle. Do not confuse busyness with productiveness. The best way to be productive and get things done is often to do nothing.
The best teacher points the way. There can be no precise instructions. A sign by the road tells you what direction to go in, however you yourself must find the destination. In spiritual matters, you must too find your own way. Following someone else step for step does not lead to any self realization; merely an exercise in apeing someone else. Relationships with gurus often lead to disappointment. The person is not who or what we thought they were. Maybe we find them after a time to be not so enlightened, or not so honest, or something else. People who have this kind of experience often run to the next guru they can find and latch on again, in the hope that this guru can bring them peace and wisdom. Devoting yourself to a guru does not bring self-realization, but just a false sense of one’s self. It is not anymore true than the puppy on the leash who thinks he is doing the leading around. The wise teacher does not want your devotion, he or she wishes to point you over in the direction of peace and wisdom. Ultimately you must pick them up and make them your own. The teachings of the Tao leads us to certain conclusions but until we hold them true in our heart, they merely point the way.
See the way of the Tao as a stream. One who floats with the current finds that his way is easy. One who fights the current and tries to go upstream exhausts himself. Do not quarrel with the natural way of things. Things are what they are. You will never know all the answers, but at least you can know the questions. Turn over all things to the Tao and your path shall be one of serenity. All the petty disputes, needless drama; in one hundred years, will it matter? Look at the big picture, without forgetting to be mindful of the small ones that make our time here precious; hearing and/or seeing the joy of a child, time spent with loved ones, meditating and hearing the raindrops on the roof. Let the stream do the work. Relax and enjoy the ride.
Make an effort to avoid becoming attached to your visions and thoughts.. As soon as you are attached, you are no longer free to see clearly. Give up the false thinking that somehow you are separate from the universe. Break through illusions, preconceptions. Maintain a beginner’s mind. Discard all the knowledge you have and store up on wisdom. Knowledge is a sack full of bricks, wisdom is a pocket full of feathers. Remember that there is no need to go anywhere. Everything you need, you already have. Save time, money, and frustration from chasing after peace. The greatest teachers are around you everywhere you go. You must only learn to look for them and heed what they are teaching you.
Forty years ago, the first man walked on the moon. For the scientists, astronauts and the U.S. government, this was quite a glory. A chance to unfurl the patriotic flags, let the ego swell, and the boasting begin. Yet, has there really been any effect to the common man? We are told we should be proud as humans, as Americans, but what good has it done the general public? Billions of dollars that could have went towards education and other human services programs have been spent on a space program that has yielded few returns to society. It has been an expensive playground for the space program and the government. A chance for them to quite expensively demonstrate their brilliance at something that really is not that important. The Tao teaches us that the tallest tree, the largest tree, the one that stands out, is the one that is more likely to be hit by lightning. It is better to remain humble and to avoid being the target of a direct hit. The Tao also teaches us to give away what we do not need and to try to help whenever possible. Would it not have been better to spend the time and money on helping people right here on our own planet?
In a vase, it is the emptiness within that makes it useful. For all the distractions, noise, and cacophony that permeates our lives, it is the gentle silence that one should desire to hear the most. Just as the wise sage learns to read between the lines to understand the true meaning of something, the wise one will also learn from the great silences. When dealing with people, remember that often what is not said is of greater importance than what is said. In everyday life, try to avoid the pointless din. Get away from the mind numbing racket of the radio or television. Bask in the tranquility of peace. When we have the great silence, we can hear so much more; our own heartbeats, thoughts. The great silence can be found in nature. Let nature provide the soundtrack whenever possible. When you come home, just sit down and listen. What do you hear? The sound of the leaves dancing in the wind, the gentle tapping of the rain on the window, the bird in the tree outside your window? How do they make you feel? Relaxed, at peace, and with a feeling of oneness?
To get your mind right, depend on wu-wei. Stop thinking so much and being a magnet to complications. Keep your mind detached from the din. Keep your mind clear and refreshed. Do not let mental muddiness build up. Keep your mind crystal clear and pure. Observe your emotions and let them fall away so that you may dwell in serenity. Do not become addicted to crisis, strife, and complications. We often find this the case without our even being aware of it. Remain mindful at all times and keep above the fray.
