Jan 26 – Feb 1

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change
 
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Practice Meetings

Thursday Jan 30, 8:30am

Friday Jan 31, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #86

Rinzai’s Enlightenment

Rinzai asked Ôbaku, “What is the great meaning of the Buddha-Dharma?”

Ôbaku hit him. This happened three times.

Rinzai then took his leave and went to see Daigu. Daigu asked,

“Where have you come from?” Rinzai said, “From Ôbaku.”

Daigu said, “What did Ôbaku have to say?” Rinzai said, “I asked him three times, ‘What is the great meaning of the
Buddha-Dharma?’ and I got his stick three times. I don’t know if I was in error or not.”

Daigu said, “Ôbaku was overly gentle like an old grandmother; he completely exhausted himself for your sake. Yet you come here and ask if you were in error or not!”

With these words, Rinzai came to great enlightenment.

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