"Simple Living" - Chapters 51 and 52
Just jump in if joining, no "catch up" ... just today is today ...
I will include chapter headings, as we discovered some differences between the US and UK editions regarding chapter order.
Chapter 51 - Think With Your Own Head - If having a hard choice to make this week, gather information and data on "pros" and "cons," weigh them intellectually for a time, then put all the thoughts and measures down, sit Zazen for a time, get up and choose. Leap into the choice. Live the choice. Hopefully, it will be the direction that receives a "green light" from both the intellect and from inner wisdom, maybe not (even Zen Masters of old were generally practical folks who knew to look before one lept off the 100 foot pool, and that too much head or too much heart alone can be a bad thing).
And if, nonetheless, if it turns out to have been a "wrong," choice with unforeseen consequences :eek: ... well, you can just reassess and fix the resulting mess from there, but at least you made a choice!
Chapter 52 - Believe in Yourself - In implementing the above choice, cast doubts aside and leap in ... toss all into the Light or Emptiness, "nothing to lose!" See what it feels like to drop doubts and just trust that things will turn out as they turn out.
And if it turns out otherwise ... well, that's just how things turn out sometimes. Dust off, start again. **
** Do me a personal favor, and try the above with a few smaller choices this week please (like maybe asking someone on a date or where to take a trip)! I would prefer not to be blamed for someone's sudden divorce, unemployment or sex change operation! [scared] Do me a favor, and start with some smaller choices and maybe work up to those big ones much much later. [gassholook]
Gassho, J
STLah
