Lost Coin SLC Notes 5/24/11

Everyone is different yet we are all the same. All things are created by our karma. 

We are taught lies that ruin our lives:

1. It is not our greed, anger, ignorance, it's every other person's. 

This manifests itself in blame as we think that it's happening to us--somebody/something else is doing this to us. 
This is the antithesis of what our practice is. We don't ever look at really completely that: it's all us. When you say, "It's me," that 's where your practice starts. 

It also begins with Zazen. Instead of being in a state of no-mind, we fill our heads with nonsense. If we look at what goes on in our minds, it's no wonder we're not happy. 

Take responsibility.

2. Second Lie: Happiness is achieved after a certain event ( i.e. when you get married, etc) then things will be great.

There is no evidence to support this. This theory is not true. Happiness occurs when your mind gets happy. Zazen helps us with us.

Only thing that we will regret is time not spent practicing.


Our group task was to sit for 15 minutes then to look at 2 illusions: think of an event from the past where we caused something and we blamed others, and then discuss what is the great event that we are suddenly waiting for.