Notes from March 29, 2010
Lost Coin- San Francisco

The U.S. has co-oped the term Zen.  It's not the same. In China, there was a national teacher, who coached the Emperor in two areas – the arts and war.  Back then, things got done by war.  Later it became enterprise.  This is really about excellence.  We push the edge of our life, we develop.  It doesn't matter what “it” is.  Lost Coin is also about excellence.

Enlightenment is that there's something behind thought.  But in modern zen, it's about being one with your life.

Daido Roshi talked about “managing the edge.”

What is the edge, for you?  What would get you excited about your life?

In our culture, talent is extremely overrated.  It's really all about effort (commitment – chi) that counts.  

Tibetan Realms:
Buddha Realm
Jealous Gods
Realms of the Gods
Human Realm
Realm of the Hungry Ghost (constant discontent)
Animal Realm (couch potato)
Hell Realm (anger, fear)

What if you didn't have fear??  Then, feel that.  Life would be a gas, it would be fun!

Most important – there's no right way for a human to be.  Whatever you want to be, do that.  It'll get you up in the morning.  Except if you're afraid.

Dave Daniels story:  Traveller going to Bagdad, the center of civilization.  She can't go across the desert, it's too cold.  Tradition is that a traveller can ask for shelter, so she stayed with someone who was about 10 miles outside of Bagdad.  She asked the family giving her shelter “Why haven't you been to Bagdad?”  They said that they didn't need to because they had such wonderful food and water right where they were, they had no need to go to Bagdad.  They then served the meal – which was a meal of rats, and the water was terrible and salty.  The lesson – Never be just 10 miles from Bagdad, and settle for rats and salty water.

Wanting more – is wanting not to be a afraid.
