April 2022
Dear Friends,
We practice the fine art of stillness. But are we attuned to when that practice of stillness becomes stagnant and dull? In a strange way, stillness can shift, sometimes without quite realizing what’s happening, into absence rather than presence. What to do? Answer the wake-up call.
Remember when our elementary school teachers would call out our names for attendance and we would answer with a word (either yes, or present, or here)? Anita? Yes! Sandy? Yes! Shlomo? Yes!
As exemplified in the following kong-an, it’s up to us to be both teacher and student, calling this precious moment to our attention.
Master Jui-yen used to call to himself every day, “Master!” and would answer, “Yes?”
“You must keep clear!”
“Yes!”
“Never be deceived by others, any day, any time!”
“Yes! Yes!”
In other words, shine a light on it, with neon-bright inquiry facing in all directions. Never deceive yourself. Call out for your own vibrant presence of mind. And answer with a resounding, unequivocal, “YES”.
Yours, in Dharma class with you,
Jeong Ji
