Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, continues her examination of Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching, now in Chapter 17. "The great rulers - the people do not notice their existence; The lesser ones - they attach to and praise them; The still lesser ones - they fear them; The still lesser ones - they despise them; For where faith is lacking, It cannot be met by faith. Now how much importance must be attached to words!" - Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao In today’s America, Lola’s exploration of Lao Tsu’s words are more relevant than ever. The difference between true seeking and consolation. The Bible says man is created in the image of God. What in us is in the image of God? We often say, whatever happens is for the best. But is it? For the Witness, good and bad outcomes in the usual sense don’t matter. He is not involved. We convince ourselves of a false contentment, even when outcomes are not good for us. But that is not true equanimity. Lola recounts the tale of the fox and the grapes. The ego fulfills itself by any method. You say something to yourself long enough, you start to believe it. DO NOT DECEIVE YOURSELF. As the Bible says, “come out from among them, and be ye separate…” It is not telling us to be our egos, but to be our True Self. Zazen is an understanding of reality that does not come as the result of analysis. It is direct perception from the noesis . *** During the last fifteen minutes of Lola’s talk she focuses on the internal process during our meditation practice. Lola explores the Law of Interdependence. Relationships coming together, then parting, and how when conditions are right, the threads come together. If you truly observe yourself during your sitting, you move from thought to thought, from thought to no-thought, from no-thought to no-thought, and so one. To and fro. In this movement you pass through the Ku , the zero. Do you see it? Ku and Shiki . If you meditate for one hour daily, if you truly concentrate, you can merge with the Ku . When a person becomes a Being instead always Becoming, then the true individual can shine through. Jul 31, 1988
