“Become the person of no rank. Become the noble soul, and live in this awakened way, not imitating anyone. Whatever the circumstances your life asks of you, respond to them in your own individual Zen-spirited way. Don’t waste any time trying to be someone else…We are not here to have someone else’s experience. We are here to have our own vivid experience. So please don’t cling to yesterday, to what happened, to what didn’t happen. And do not judge today by yesterday. Let us just live today to the fullest! Moment after moment, each sitting is the only sitting.”
-Maurine Stuart
Practice Meetings
Friday May 1, 7:00pm
This Week’s Koan
Book of Serenity #14
“Attendant Kaku Serves Tea”
Attendant Kaku asked Tokusan, “Where have all the past saints gone?”
Tokusan said, “What? What?”
Kaku said, ” I gave the command for an excellent horse like a flying dragon to spring forth, but there came out only a lame tortoise.”
Tokusan was silent.
The next day, when Tokusan came out of the bath, Kaku served him tea.
Tokusan passed his hand gently over Kaku’s back. Kaku said, “This old fellow has gotten a glimpse for the first time.”
Again, Tokusan was silent.