I can do that but it'll be very few words. Before I directly answer your query, it is important to understand the context of it. I have a fondness for rain. Sitting Sesshin at a Zen Centre can be VERY tough.
The schedule is wake up at 5am, on your cushion by 5:30am and sit until breakfast in 25 minute sessions of Zazen (meditation: returning to focus again and again) with 5-7 minute period of walking meditation bebetween. All of this is 100 percent silent other than bells and clappers to guide the Sangha so the Sangha does not need to think or worry. After that about 30 minutes to serve yourself and eat followed by a short Sutra service, the Zazen until lunch. Lunch is short just like breakfast because the entire Sesshin is in order to facilitate as much sitting (Zazen) as possible. Typically there is a short 30-45 minute break after lunch then ore sitting until dinner. Again a short break and more sitting until bed between 9:45-10pm roughly.
By that time you are exhausted. These retreats (Sesshin) last a week. There is no eye contact or speaking allowed. Sitting can be painful. Our thoughts can be painful. Sitting on the cushion breathing in and out and enduring our very own poisonous mind with its machinations and all of that is tiring.
I have a fondness for the sounds of rain. Sitting in a wet valley, with rain dripping off of everything. Merging with the drip drop, splash of rain.
This June where I live, it was particularly rainy. I love this because it makes sitting so lovely. 25 minutes can seem like hours or seconds. Time disappears in one's total absorbtion in one's practice. I wrote the poem directly after sitting in the morning here at home.
Now I'll answer your question
I had nothing in mind when I wrote it.
Glad you like it.
🙏
Sacred Peak
npub16j…zq4nn
2024-08-31 23:24:05
in reply to nevent1q…fy2l
Author Public Key
npub16jad3sjdf0hynxhmpzpsuuwazqlxrcq824kjpw3w7wr8ldt3xm0q0zq4nnPublished at
2024-08-31 23:24:05Event JSON
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"content": "I can do that but it'll be very few words. Before I directly answer your query, it is important to understand the context of it. I have a fondness for rain. Sitting Sesshin at a Zen Centre can be VERY tough.\n\nThe schedule is wake up at 5am, on your cushion by 5:30am and sit until breakfast in 25 minute sessions of Zazen (meditation: returning to focus again and again) with 5-7 minute period of walking meditation bebetween. All of this is 100 percent silent other than bells and clappers to guide the Sangha so the Sangha does not need to think or worry. After that about 30 minutes to serve yourself and eat followed by a short Sutra service, the Zazen until lunch. Lunch is short just like breakfast because the entire Sesshin is in order to facilitate as much sitting (Zazen) as possible. Typically there is a short 30-45 minute break after lunch then ore sitting until dinner. Again a short break and more sitting until bed between 9:45-10pm roughly.\n\nBy that time you are exhausted. These retreats (Sesshin) last a week. There is no eye contact or speaking allowed. Sitting can be painful. Our thoughts can be painful. Sitting on the cushion breathing in and out and enduring our very own poisonous mind with its machinations and all of that is tiring.\n\nI have a fondness for the sounds of rain. Sitting in a wet valley, with rain dripping off of everything. Merging with the drip drop, splash of rain.\n\nThis June where I live, it was particularly rainy. I love this because it makes sitting so lovely. 25 minutes can seem like hours or seconds. Time disappears in one's total absorbtion in one's practice. I wrote the poem directly after sitting in the morning here at home.\n\nNow I'll answer your question\n\nI had nothing in mind when I wrote it.\n\nGlad you like it.\n\n🙏",
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