Guidelines are a Blessing

Why all of these guidelines? Why all of these rules? “I’ve never felt so oppressed in my life. All these rules make me feel like I’m in 3rd grade again.” “Why can’t I socialize with people? These are the ONLY kind of people I’d like to socialize with.”

Why indeed all the rules and guidelines? They are there for 2 simple reasons:

(1) To assist each of us in waking up and ending suffering. The practice is to look inward and to see what it is that we are bringing to life. How does conditioning limit me? What is conditioning convincing me to believe that makes it hard for me to show up in the moment, to be present? With the guideline of not talking to others, I have the opportunity to bring all of my attention and awareness back to myself, to my own process. With the guideline of speaking from my own experience, I have the opportunity (once again) to bring the attention back here to THIS being. Speaking from my own experience, I am required to step into my own adequacy. Being a victim or blaming others is no longer an option. With the guideline of not looking at others, I have the opportunity to see: who wants to look? What does that part gain by looking? How is my attention drawn away to externals?

(2) To prevent us from interfering with others who are waking up and ending suffering. I come to the privileged environment (the Monastery, a local Zen Center, a retreat, a workshop) because I want to wake up and end suffering. I have taken that on. This is what I want to do. With every ounce of my being, I want to wake up and end suffering (when I’m not identified, of course!). I want to do that with other people who have the same commitment and willingness. It is truly a Sangha experience to be in the company of others who are so committed. It feeds my practice, and it feeds my soul like nothing else. The last thing I want is someone interfering with my practice! And, thanks to the guidelines, I know that it’s much less likely to happen. No one will come up and talk to me. No one will watch me washing dishes (and if they do, that’s for them to look at). No one will ever comment to me, ever, about what I shared in group and what I’m looking at. WHAT A PRIVILEGE! And, on those rare occasions when someone interferes with my practice (or I interfere with theirs), Bingo! I have another opportunity to watch and see what arises. What a blessing.

With deep Gasshō and appreciation for the privileged environment.