This little known mystic has been most kindly allowed to have a Zen teacher. I am now a lay disciple in the Soto Zen lineage. With that said, I have also been given a dharma name, Myo’i. The name itself has a translation, with “Myo” meaning mystery, strange, clever and “i” meaning mind, heart, inclination, intention and thought. It is indeed strange having a new name, albeit used seldom while at the temple. The name, like many things in Zen is in part a koan and something that simply merges with practice.
Probably the most important change in my practice, by having a teacher, is that I feel a personal motivation to stay focused on the practice. The first suggestion by my teacher was to start looking at how my karma influences my perceptions. This goes along the lines of Buddhist philosophy regarding reaching to ones roots (the storehouse consciousness). The link provided explains how everything we perceive is shaped by this ever-flowing body of habits, emotions and thoughts that is the base of our experience. The exercise is to investigate emotional reactions developed by delving into those roots that make up what we believe to be the self (a self that is always changing). Our past actions and ongoing habits continually “sink” into this storehouse consciousness. Our actions, or karma, then will color and bias how we see and how we react to the world. By becoming aware of emotions when studying our roots we offer the possibility of recognizing the unwholesome behaviors and habits that can then be replaced with wholesome ones.
Another things lately is that I question, with an openness, all aspects of practice. Why mediate, why mindfulness, why precepts why investigation of our karma, etc. What is it that can free us from suffering and lead us to becoming more joyful, compassionate, loving and happy people? A beautiful book showing how we might open up to these positive states is Boundless Heart by Christina Feldman.
At my current level of understanding it seems like all practice should resolve into a net effect of being kinder to others. It might be a bumpy ride but it has to move in that direction. All the main tools of Zen practice aim to loosen the ties of the frailties (of the view) of being a small isolated “self” in a very large sea. In her book Feldman writes something very elucidating about the self. ” In a path of awakening there is no endeavoring to annihilate the self, to improve the self, or to disdain it. There is the profound invitation to liberate our hearts from all fixed views of self.” Myo’i is dancing on the far side the moon!
Little Known Mystic 