The Known and the Unkowable

The known feels comfortable because it is past and predictable. The unknowable is what is to come - what is here and now is always what is to come because it is timeless. It is pure Zen to be here now constantly connecting with truth that can liberate with bliss, or paralyze with fear. Both bliss and fear are in the relative domain of the dualistic mind. True Mind transcends the relative.

Purely Nothing

Let go and relax into nothing-ness.

I need to drop knowledge of who I am, what my name is, what my position is.

These are things that have been imposed on each one of us by society. Meant to be for convenience, my individual identity has taken on far too much importance. I need to recognize that I am empty, without meaning. Purely nothing.

Now Zen

Now! Now! Now.... Right now! This is all there is. This is the beginning of the rest of life. Right now.

Discomfort and Challenge

In Zen, when we sit in zazen, we sometimes feel challenged and uncomfortable, dealing with issues that we prefer not to deal with. It is getting outside the comfort zone and into the realm of each moment of truth that provides the impetus for our growth and development. Such experiences do not come to hurt us for the sake of hurting us, but to keep us focused and aware, so that zazen can function in each living moment as we go about our business.

When I am happy and comfortable, how much focus do I utilize in day-to-day living? When I am uncomfortable it is a different matter.

The Alchemy of Zen

There is a vast reservoir of creative energy available if I am centred, grounded and focused in zazen.

It is about realizing that there is nothing other than the moment, and that there is nothing I can be doing other than what I am doing in the here and now.

And when there is nothing to be doing, just returning to the hara and breathing,  giving each moment my attention and focus and not getting entangled with the potential results. This is the alchemy of Zen.

Chaos

The unconscious is unseen, yet influences consciousness. I need to realize that not everything can be ordered and make way for a bit of chaos. Zen tends to create such dilemmas. This is OK. How else could awareness develop?

Now is a New Moment

Now is always a time of completion. Each moment is a moment of completion. There are no answers in Zen, only questions that act as indicators for me to witness and observe. Take this into zazen and extend the mindfulness is produces it into daily activity

Now is a new moment… Now is a new moment.

There is no real need to do anything. Just trust. Just be.