Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, reads from renowned Zen teacher, Ikkyu: “If it rain, let it rain; If it rain not, let it not rain; But even should it not rain, You must travel with wet sleeves.” What is religion? It is an inquiry into yourself. The German theologian, Meister Eckhart, once wrote, “There is an agent in the soul, untouched by time. . . God Himself is that agent. Keep looking inside a seed, you’ll find nothing. Because its essence is invisible. It is there, however, that Truth abides. We are looking for nothingness, Lola notes, laughing, “Nothing doesn’t give you much to look for, does it?” But she adds, “Thou art that.” If you are sure you know something, then how would you ever seek it? Search for nothing at all. Just ask, What is here? The missing 18 years of Jesus’ life, from age 12 to 30. What did he do? Life without choice. Bankei: “There can be no death for what was never born, so if it is unborn, it is obviously undying. There is no need to say it, is there?” Lola explains that we need to learn to watch everything, even our pains. Our tummy aches. Our head aches. Be the watcher. For then you’ll be better prepared to watch your death. Oct 21, 1984
