Teachings

How do we meet this moment we find ourselves in - a world that is changing so fast and is so chaotic and confusing it’s difficult to find our bearings. I am grateful to be a part of a loving Sangha community and a Zen spiritual tradition that nutures a sane, grounded way of living that meets each moment with openness, kindness, deep respect, and grace.

I am an American citizen, but its increasingly difficult to know what that means, as this moment is often given over to division, partison politics, biopolar ideological disagreements, fear, and violence. Is America having a nervous breakdown? This crisis of identity is debilitating. And what adds to it, is the barage of lies and conflicting stories coming at us so fast, we have no way of knowing what is true or false, what is fact or fiction. Overwhelmed by this flood of noise, it’s easy to become numb and to withdraw.

Autumn colors of gold and yellow, flecked with red. A brightly shining sun. Schiller Park South exuded a gentle warmth of beauty as my husband and I were walking the dirt path. As we walked, we came upon a number of logs and branches across the path.

“The obstacle is the path,” Joshin said matter-of-factly as we stepped over branches, sometimes using our hands to clamber over a few of the larger logs. He didn’t stop and say, “Oh, I wish this path was clearer” or “Why doesn’t someone cut this log away and clear the path?” We simply did what we needed to do - walk over them.

In the middle of the Pacific, 2,500 miles away from the nearest continent, lies a chain of islands called Hawaii. The weather is mild and sunny with trade winds that often keep the humidity in check. Fragrant flowers and salty sea air embrace you. Colors are vivid; mountains are vast. Amidst this beauty, powerful storms and volcanic eruptions occur. Hula and I were born from this rich environment.  

My mother told me that at age six, I asked her to take me to hula class. She took me to our local Shingon Buddhist temple where Louise Beamer taught hula to children of many ages. Aunty Louise played her ukulele and sang while we danced. Her instruction was gentle. I was entranced.  

Dancers must be in touch with their bodies. We must know where our torso, head, arms, hands, legs, and feet are in time and space. This requires mindfulness and practice. It’s a source of focus and concentration as we learn to tell a story with our bodies.