Sit n' Serve!

From sitting Zazen, we somehow come to know that the solid self we normatively identify with is not quite so solid as we first felt it to be.

It's not that the 'self' isn't there, but its how its there that's the rub.

Feelings arise, thoughts arise, perceptions come and go - but what is at the center of all this?

Is there a center to all this?

In some way, the whole thing hinges on perceptions based on a sense of possession and ownership - a fundamental sense of 'having' something.

Like feeling that you are in the midst of your day.

Or like feeling that you're having your  feelings, your thoughts, your perceptions, which leads straight away to labeling them as good feelings or bad feelings, attractive and repulsive situations, people, things.

So now its a good day, or a bad day, and for most that depends on how much we can stack our perceptions over on the pleasure side one of the equation.  Or not.

But it's not any use to think that these feelings or thoughts aren't there, nor is it that we should just give up and not have any opinion about anything.

Not at all.

If its time to play ball, please do step up to the plate.  And on the way watch that we don't misstep and trip or we may sprain our ankle, and lets make sure we swing at the ball, not at the catchers head.

There is a right way and a wrong way to hold the bat, to be sure.

And yet, there is a way of holding the bat that is not holding the bat at all.

What could that be?

What would it be to abide and act in non-possessively oriented perception?

Rather than search around in the sacred texts or holy places, the Zen pointer is clear:

Just Sit (Zazen - not getting anything, or fixing anything or figuring anything).

And then:

Just Serve (not promoting our self, nor making a grand show of our selves).

And then some more zazen...