Righting the boat

I capsized my practice recently, just tipped right over and fell out. I got to a point where I came up against a wall, and then just flipped the boat. Ten thousand things crashed in, and I went below water. All of the old coping strategies were sampled, once again clinging desperately to old habits, although I knew they would fail. They did not disappoint. This morning in the zendo, I came up for air, righted the boat, and got back to zazen. Boat, water, air....mu!

Summer Maple

Summer is here, and the Japanese maple in the neighbor's garden is beautiful. The deep maroon will change into fiery red when fall arrives. Nestled in a sea of green surrounding trees, it reminds me of the contrast of the seasons. I have been absent for a while, as life and zazen have been quite fragmented. Too much travel, and the pounding surf of ten thousand things crashing through the gates of awareness. But a new spark now gives inspiration, and so the rise and fall of the breath brings me focus again.

Old tree, new leaves
Who is the wind blowing?