{"id":634,"date":"2009-04-14T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-04-14T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/treeleafzen\/2009\/04\/gratitude-trust-a-willingness.html"},"modified":"2009-04-14T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2009-04-14T11:00:00","slug":"gratitude-trust-a-willingness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/treeleafzen\/2009\/04\/gratitude-trust-a-willingness.html","title":{"rendered":"Gratitude Trust & A Willingness to Yield"},"content":{"rendered":"


(for technical reasons, there will be no sitting broadcast today) <\/i><\/p>\n

This is something I preach from time to time, but I thought it worth saying again. Perhaps it is good to shout it
\nclearly. Namely, in Buddhism, we have a strange attitude toward life
\nand the universe …<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

I would not call us “theists<\/span>“. And I would not call us “atheists<\/span>“. Yet we have a very definite gratitude, faith and confidence in this realm in which we live. <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

For
\nwe see and experience clearly the deep interconnection of all phenomena
\nof this world, taste that our birth in sentient form was not but random
\noutcome, sense a reason and direction to human life and all of
\ncreation, honor this place, express deep gratitude, trust and a
\nwillingness to allow all to be. <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

We are not “theist<\/span>s”,
\nfor we do not ultimately require or cling to a particular ‘god’ or
\n‘gods’ to run the show. (That’s not to say that we can’t if we wish,
\nand one can be a Zen Buddhist or Zennist while a Christian, Muslim, Jew
\nor the like. We can. We neither require a “god”, nor push any god
\naway.). <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

We are not “atheists<\/span>“,
\nas we do not see reality through nihilistic eyes, as merely cold, dead,
\nchaotic, random and pointless, without guiding hand, system or path.
\n(Again, one might combine Zen practice with such an outlook, but it
\nmight make one’s practice something cold and dead in result). <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

I
\nsometimes compare our attitude to that of innocent babes with a deep
\ntrust in this source and world that birthed us, that feeds us and which
\nsomehow allows us air to breathe. Sure, it is not a perfect place as we
\nmight always wish it to be (and certainly, if I were in charge of its
\nmaking, I might choose to do things a bit differently), but it is an
\namazing place and a miracle that we are here. Do you know all that was
\ninvolved in allowing that to be, in allowing you to be … from the
\nstars … to the flowers and trees … every twist and turn of history
\nand natural conditions that allowed you to be?<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

No, as the spring
\ntime comes following the winter, and life returns … I say that we are
\ngrateful to that which allows it all to be, and us to be. Thank you. <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

In
\ndropping our sense of separate self, we trade our limited perspective
\n(as but tiny cogs, pointlessly spinning) for a vision of the whole
\n“Universal Machine” … ’tis precisely us, and we are that. Amazing!! AMAZING!<\/span> <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Perhaps
\nwhat we have is a deep faith in “god” … but without the need or
\ndemand to know her name, her story or all that she wishes of us. We
\nplace no demands upon her, even the demand that she be “god”. <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

We
\nare alive, so I expect we should live! Gee, if something or someone
\nwent to all the trouble to let that be possible, then we should just go
\nahead with it and live our life well <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

… and,
\nthough I think it unlikely, even if it all just happened for no purpose
\nat all, we had best go ahead with it and live our life well!<\/span>. In any case, live life well!<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Seemingly,
\nwhen we think of all the endless crossroads at which history might have
\ngone otherwise … all that was necessary for our lives to be here and
\nnow … we should not be here. Yet here we are … leading to the
\nconclusion that we should<\/span> be here. And whatever brought us here, we trust. Thank you. <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

We express a willingness to yield, to allow, to embrace. We Celebrate and Sink Right In! <\/div>\n

AMAZING! <\/span> Shout it from the Rooftops! <\/p>\n

Endless deep bows of gratitude.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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