The purpose of going to abandoned grassy places
and doing zazen is to search for our self-nature.
Now, at such a moment, where is your self-nature?
This is the outdoor dojo.
| Unlike the indoor dojo: | NO BELLS NO STRICT TIMING |
| we rise and settle like geese – each alert to the others | |
| NO LOOKING INWARD | |
INSTEAD, we walk in continuous attention to the moving intersection of time and space:
where PAST meets FUTURE
INSIDE meets OUTSIDE
. . . at the constantly moving intersection of NOWHERE (now-here)
Staying with clear heart and open mind in the openness of this intersection, we practice wildness, we practice being intrinsic to the whole.
Seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting, we walk in attentive contact with grasses, hills, boulders, and pebbles; walking, crawling, burrowing, flying things; trees, ponds, and bushes.
Notice that “thinking” is not listed here.
We participate – with each new encounter we are changed along the way. Abandoning ourselves we respond, adapt.
THERE IS NO TIME TO BE LAX OR DREAMY
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE CAUGHT UP IN THOUGHT . . . WHY?
THERE MAY BE BEARS!!
The path itself changes the pace; the weight and scent of air will say “go” or “stay.”
We rise and settle like geese – each alert to the others.
Lee and I are the formal leaders, attending as you are with what is all around us.
Our signals may not be obvious.
In wonder, enjoy!
Exhaust your words, empty your thoughts: Look! Listen!
What you are looking for is already here.