them neighbors here in Rieul. Bunan has been leading the zen sessions
that are held here every evening at 6 pm SLT, now that Dakini is off
on vacation for a week or so. So our discussion led to group practice.
Bunan Bosatsu: I enjoy how the mix of the crowd/group that sits flows and ebbs and changes from day to day…..
Bunan Bosatsu: … it is a concrete example of the law of impermanence…
Pema Pera: I would have come more often, were it not for me being here three times a day now in my play version of things
Pema Pera: yes
Pema Pera: I very much like the way Dakini runs the show
Pema Pera: going with the flow
Pema Pera: respecting people
Pema Pera: yet helping them
Bunan Bosatsu: You know… In Zen, we try to avoid beating on ourselves when we are not able to do something… or to be where we ‘think’ we should be….
Pema Pera: yes!!
Bunan Bosatsu: I think you are doing a great deal of work…… something has to bend… or it will break….
Pema Pera: not necessarily
Bunan Bosatsu: …this is what it is to be human.
Bunan Bosatsu: We all pitch in…. we all do our part….
Pema Pera: this is what I wanted to do my whole life
Pema Pera: so now I can finally do it — seriously
Pema Pera: it feels like everything in my life has led up to this — strange as it may sound
Bunan Bosatsu: As a clergyman… it is my drive to always be *available* …. many times, I am sitting in the Zendo… and I am the only one there…. cold…. uncomfortable…. alone…..
Pema Pera: SL or RL?
Bunan Bosatsu: BUt if I am the only one for a million sittings… and nobody else comes… *I* am still practicing… (RL)
Pema Pera: yes!
Pema Pera: Like Shantideva
Pema Pera: who wrote a book for himself
Pema Pera: and hoped it might be useful for a few others too
Bunan Bosatsu: BUt…. if only *one* time a student comes…. and nobody is there for them…. this is an act of violence perpetrated against their consciousness…
Bunan Bosatsu: So…. I make sure that I am there….
Pema Pera: I feel the same
Pema Pera: even though I am not clergy in any official way
Pema Pera: with what I am doing here
At this point Storm dropped by.
Storm Nordwind: My contribution is… splunge
Storm Nordwind: Which is an old Monty Python term
Bunan Bosatsu: Most Excellent!
Pema Pera: good old MP
Storm Nordwind: It means. Not yes, not no, and I’m not being indecisive
Storm Nordwind: Truly insightful i always thought
Bunan Bosatsu: A good Zen answer!
Storm Nordwind bows
Bunan Bosatsu: Does a dog have Buddha nature?? — SPLUNGE!
Pema Pera: yes, we need words like that
Storm Nordwind laughs
Bunan Bosatsu: In the Chinese/MP dictionary Mu! = Splunge!
Storm Nordwind: very good!!!
Bunan Bosatsu: :-)
Pema Pera: ;-)
