Practicing

Practicing:

there's a story I've always loved of the great Zen master Dogen disappointing his followers. He was once asked if meditation led to enlightenment and his immediate response brought much alarm to those who had believed they were on the fast-track to a soon, if not eventual awakening. Dogen's answer was a straight forward no, with a smile, and their despondence only made it wider. What Dogen explained is that the practice itself is enlightenment, we awaken through the action and not because of it. 

and so it is with forgiveness. 

our practice is not done for the promise of heaven, but for the immediate realization of heaven's presence in the very moment of our practice. The peace of God isn't an attainment, it's available right now for us to claim, and when we do...we're as awake as we'll ever be. 

enlightened even.

forgiveness is instant zen, circumnavigating the ego and getting straight to the heart of the matter. We forgive in order to perceive reality, literally seeing past every story we've ever told about others, and ourselves as well, so that we can awaken within a singular light that joins us. Dogen was right, of course, our practice is the very essence of the thing we believe we're seeking. Forgiveness doesn't lead us to heaven - it reveals it.

right here.

now.

~

I love you, Eric

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Thank you.