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Sesshin Lecture
AI Suggested Keywords:
This talk examines the transformative process of Zen practice, focusing on the concept of "sesshin" as a means of radically shifting one's relationship to causes and conditions. It delves into historical inspirations from figures like Shakyamuni and Dogen and introduces the idea of gathering the mind as a form of yogic practice supportive of realization. Emphasis is placed on the value of stillness and silence in understanding the self, drawing on poetic insights to illustrate this point.
Referenced Works and Figures:
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Shakyamuni Buddha: The talk references the Buddha's departure from the palace as a symbolic proposition for shifting relationships to worldly causes and teachings.
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Dogen Zenji: His journey to China is highlighted as part of the quest for deeper understanding, representing the ongoing search for realization in Zen practice.
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Suzuki Roshi: Mentioned as an inspiration, bringing the essence of Zen practice to new environments and fostering collective transformation.
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Pablo Neruda: Cited for illustrating the power of silence in interrupting the continuity of self-imposed narratives, fostering self-understanding through stillness.
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Sappho: Offers a perspective that the entire world is a manifestation of the self, prompting the practice of recognizing subjective truths and tendencies.
These references underscore the session's focus on the integration of historical, poetic, and philosophical insights in understanding the dynamics of Zen practice.
AI Suggested Title: Sesshin: Transforming Through Stillness
Speaker: Ryushin Paul Haller
Possible Title: Sesshin Talk #1
Additional text: Poor sound quality
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Good morning. I couldn't help but notice as I walked from the avid cabin to the window how completely still the air was, how clear the sky was. All we were in the midst of was the conviction of certain colleges that gave me the right to a lot of experience. It was tough to think that the whole valley would enter into a chute. My mind was driven that the day would be quieter than it needed. It would be quiet, it would be. I'm taking more of Plankton than Wilson. Always were in the midst of coastal conditions.
[01:08]
Years ago, they were confirming and campaigning kindly for an edge. The world according to me is being reinforced and affirmed and elaborated, and that chapter to be written often leaves a lot like the last chapter. And practice is asking us to relate to those very same causes and conditions in a radically different way. And yet this has been the proposition that caused Shakyamuni to leave the palace. It was the proposition that sent Dogen to China.
[02:12]
The proposition that inspires Suzuki Roshi to come right here. So how do we do it? How does each one of us do it? How do we collectively do it? That's signed okay? That too low now? Too low or okay? Okay? This inquiry is the activity of sashi. Is that okay? Yeah. Yeah. In many ways, Hashin is a yogic endeavor.
[03:22]
You know, this transformation, this radical shift, this is a yogic process, yogic to join with, to discover how to skillfully work with. And of course it goes beyond a yogic process. As Shakyamuni discovered, even after his great yogic accomplishments, still something in the process of realization was not there. But still this yogic process is extraordinarily helpful. And that's part of what I'd like to talk about. So stilling, quieting, cessation.
[04:29]
Allowing something to come into contact with here and now. Pablo Neruda puts it. If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt the sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death. So as we enter into sashi, as we immerse ourselves in this karmic flow of causes and conditions, maybe one of the first challenges for us is to bring all of ourselves here.
[05:42]
Sometimes sashi is called gathering the mind. So Sappho offered an intriguing and I find very useful instruction. It's that the whole world is self. And what this means is that whatever story comes up, oh, this is the arising of self. Whatever story is put on someone or something else, Or some play film. Biagawa. That we take ownership of. Just another attribute of self.
[06:46]
It's like we cast a white net. gathering into the realm of subjective truth. The whole world itself, present, past, future, here, there, And of course as we start to do this, and I hope this makes sense to you, because it can be a very helpful thing. to start to see the kind of tendencies of mine starting to see others, create others, have stories about others.
[07:54]
That's life with me.
[08:00]
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