Good afternoon Sangha (and friends),
Forgive my absentness from writing. This weekend was spent getting my much needed rest. I also moved back in a house with my brothers. Family is nice to have around.
I spent the weekend thinking of what kind of group I want mine to be. Will I chant? Will I use bells, bowls, Buddhas, or insense? Most likely. Will I be a buddha? Yes. Will I be Buddhist? Who knows. “Buddhism” will depend on the crowd I draw. Perhaps they will be coming for meditation because it is freeing. Maybe they will come because they seek something. Who knows.
I was thinking about including the Three Refuges:
I take refuge in the Buddha together with all Beings
Before I could finish, I began thinking of the Four Great Vows, but again, only one of them:
However inexhaustible my delusions are,
I vow to extinguish them all.
People really respond to both of these lines. I take refuge in the Buddha together with all beings – I take refuge. We want refuge and the Three refuges are what we take refuge in and it makes us feel safe. However inexhaustible my delusions are, I vow to extinguish them all. That’s why a lot of us sit, right? (Well, not the sole reason, but a big reason.)
I think these two will definitely be included. What sutras do you study and why? Which do you think will be beneficial for a freestyle zenster group?
Gassho,
Rev. Kajo
