A frequent visitor to our Sangha gifted us with a lovely post ... on Zazen and choices ... on "sitting with" questions ...

Zazen is compass-ionate

Yes, folks, indeed it is.

Take what is tumultuous, sit it down in zazen
Like a true compass, zazen points
And in that pointing, all directions thereby are known

Take what is submerged, sit it down in zazen
Like a bubble of air, tugging toward ‘up’
No amount of being rolled around by life’s undertow
Can mask the fact
‘Up’ is ‘up’

zazen, if not now, in this lifetime, then when?
I do not feel that Zazen will always allow us to know the "one correct choice" to make at a life crossroads, the "one right answer" to every life problem. But it sure will point us in the right direction of good answers and choices ... toward more helpful, healthful, more peaceful, wise and compassionate choices free of anger, greed, selfishness. The silence and open space of Zazen allows our heart a moment of calm in which to settle on a course, free of self destructive impulses and biases.

As well, whatever choice we make ... no matter whether it later turns out to have been the "right choice" or a "wrong choice" ... this Practice let's us experience that that is just where we are then, where we stand. That is just our life, the place is just what is, and we simply keep moving on from there.

(sorry about the sound ... but it is raining cats and dogs outside)

Today’s Sit-A-Long video follows at this link. Remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gL3H9jwVLQ[/video]]