I gave this short encouragement talk on April 27, 2024, deep into our recent sesshin. For context, see Wu-men’s comment and verse on Case 2 in The Gateless Gate in my prior post.

A young monk approaches a teacher with a question.  That teacher, now an old man, approaches a teacher with the same question.  The first teacher gets it wrong.  The second teacher gets it right.

How can we know who and what to trust?  On which teacher and teachings can we rely?

It may seem one error, one misstep, one misguided response, will deny us what we’re seeking.  The life for which we’re longing.  One misstep and we’ll forever remain hostage in the lesser life we know we’re living.

This very life is our teacher.  Its teaching?  No lesser or higher life.  One Life.  Just this life.

You may think you’re not worthy of this life, or perhaps that your life lacks worth.  

You are worthy, and this life, your life, has worth.  

You can’t be banished from the universe in any event.

Yes, our thoughts, words, and conduct have consequences.  Yes, we should intend and do our best. We should aspire to grow in wisdom and compassion.

But the universe embraces us even when our thoughts, words, and conduct fall short of our aspirations.  And even when we learn, sometimes the hard way, that what we were aspiring for ultimately isn’t the best thing we could aspire for.  The universe embraces us even as our thoughts, words, and conduct produce undesirable consequences.  

Life is offering its teaching to us everywhere and always.  Life is the teacher and the teaching we’re seeking.  

Sesshin is an opportunity for each of us to be taught by life.  To pay particularly close attention to life’s teaching.

Life’s teaching often presents itself in small packages.  An opportunity to practice our forms with a present heart-mind; with loving care.  To extend a small courtesy.  To notice the morning light dancing on the floor.  To notice the light warming the floor warming our feet.  To notice that kinhin and washing the dishes are meditation practice.  To notice the riotous calls of the geese bidding us good morning and good night.

I hope our shared life together on this sesshin has been and will continue to be a great teacher for each of us.