Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Rohatsu


Day 4 of the Rohatsu retreat and I didn't even make it in at all today.  I worked once again during the day, and Wednesday evenings are newcomers night, so there didn't seem to be any point in going to the Center just to receive instruction but not actually practice zazen.  However, my home practice still continues through this week.

In my Monday Night Zazen quote of Zen Master Dogen, he says, "It is good to understand such things without misinterpretation when you enter the mountains or seclude yourselves in a city."  This is the first and only reference I've seen to Dogen acknowledging such a thing as an urban monk. I self-style myself as something of an urban monk - living alone in relative seclusion while in the midst of the bustle of the City, trying to be a bodhisattva at the very place where there are so many sentient beings to assist.  

If anyone knows of any other Zen references to the path of the urban monk or better yet, guidance for living the urban monk life, I would be so appreciative.

1 comment:

LS said...

O, i just love your blog