The Big Summer Sit 2024

THE BUDDHA’S WORDS ON LOVING-KINDNESS

This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech,

And so the Big Summer Sit turns into the Every Single Day sit... with the first Day of Practice/Zen Practicum coming up very soon on March 3 to help straighten out any little kinks :)

Truly, nothing much happens without the dailiness of a practice. It's the same for any deep artform that has begun to take you seriously. And it IS an art - the art of being here, open and complete. It lights the way. And as the Buddha said, it makes of your very self a light.

Mary Oliver brings it home to u, the life-and-death strength of this practice:

The Buddha's last instruction

---- “Make of yourself a light,” said the Buddha, before he died. I think of this every morning as the east begins to tear off its many clouds of darkness, to send up the first signal -- a white fan streaked with pink and violet, even green. An old man, he lay down between two…

And to all my fellow weirdos (from The Chaser):

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Kynan

I promised to share a simple version of metta meditation with you after our sit today. Here it is (from Lion's Roar):

1) Sit comfortably, in a chair or on a meditation cushion. Allow your body to feel at ease and supported by the surface beneath you. Begin to connect to your breath, focusing on the inhale and exhale until your breath finds a natural flow.

2) Bring your attention to your heart area. You may wish to bring a hand to your heart, or leave them comfortably rested on your knees. Begin to offer loving-kindness to yourself by repeating these phrases, allowing ample space between each one:

May I be safe May I be healthy May I be happy May I be at ease May I be filled with loving-kindness May I be peaceful

3) Next, think of someone you love and care about. This can be a family member, friend, a pet, or…