Friday, April 13, 2012

A Balloon Reflecting the Moon


I practice meditation and I forgo sessions at my own risk.

Passing thoughts can seem to be invasive and disruptive during a meditation session. One learns that they needn’t be a problem. Passing thoughts can become part of the flow by letting them do just that—pass through. Rather than confront and combat the thought that intrudes one just looks at it with mild interest as the benign bit of nothingness that it is and then one watches it move on. It’s no more or less interesting than a balloon that floats through one’s field of vision and is then forgotten. Thirteenth century Zen master and poet Dogen described the situation beautifully and with characteristic brevity:

The moon reflected
In a mind clear
As still water
Even the waves, breaking,
Are reflecting its light.
(Translated by Steven Heine)

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