A DAY OF MINDFULNESS at Dharma Well
a Dhamma-talk by Daito Zenei, Sensei Life Abundance Zen Buddhist Sanctuary
Saturday, February 26, 2538 B.E. (1994)
[This is an introductory Dharma talk given by the Venerable Zen Master Thompson at the commencement of this One-day Retreat.]
NA MO A DI DA PHAT.
-PREFACE-
I would like to begin our DAY OF MINDFULNESS here at this most beautiful and sacred BodhiMandala retreat site, known as DHARMA WELL, by first bowing with my deepest respect and gratitude to all those friends, students, and disciples, and especially to Senior Dharma Teachers Dhamma-Ratta and Dhamma- Dayavati for exemplifying their utmost adherence to the SIX PARAMITAS, or PERFECTIONS in making the Dharma Well Retreat site a reality for us all.
[Dharma Master Thompson makes deep bow.]
Let me recite these SIX PERFECTIONS for the benefit of all of us here tonight:
1) The Perfection of selfless Giving.
2) The Perfection of Keeping the Precepts.
3) The Perfection of Patience and Humility.
4) The Perfection of Zeal and Perseverance.
5) The Perfection of Samadhi.
6) The Perfection of Wisdom, Compassion and Enlightenment.
What we will be attempting to accomplish here today is to awaken to our true-nature, known as Buddha-Mind.
Many people come to Zen Retreat for many reasons. Usually one comes to Zen Retreat for one of three reasons.
1) Firstly, for an intellectual understanding or confirmation of Dhamma (Truth).
2) Secondly, for the purpose of learning the Precepts and how to live a good life.
3) Thirdly, from ones compassionate heart- seeing the suffering among all sentient beings- one wishes out of heart-felt kindness to deliver oneself and others from defilements and suffering.
It does not matter which of these three reasons you have decided to join with others today. All three reasons will be fulfilled at the end of our retreat.
Let me put into your minds from the very onset that each of you are like a precious gem whose brilliance is hidden by a coating of impurities.
If you are to enjoy the pure brilliance of your gem-being your true Buddha-Mind nature- you must first resort to "polishing", to rid yourself of all impurities which cover up your very Buddha-Mind.
Polishing what
Polishing of your "mirror-like mind". Enlightenment is like polishing your contaminated mirror-like mind.
There are four significances relating to uncovering your true-nature by such "polishing". Let me briefly explain the four.
1) The first significance to be revealed is when by reason of removing all objects to a distance from a mirror there is no reflection, so when all disturbing mental conditions and all mental spheres in contact with objects through your sense-organs are done away with, there is no disturbance of your Mind”s tranquility.
2) The second significance is one of greatness of its affirmation of trueness. No matter what the phenomena or the conditions may be in the world- they are reflected in the mirror of your Mind”s Buddha-Nature with perfect trueness and impartiality. There is nothing that enters, nor that departs, there is nothing that is lost, nor destroyed. For, in the true Buddha-Mind, all conceptions are of the same flavor, that in its suchness abides unchanged and permanent. For true Buddha-Mind yields to no contaminations that can possibly contaminate it, and even its reflected contaminated conceptions have no effect upon it. Its intuitional nature is never disturbing and, on the contrary, is in possession of boundless nonintoxicating virtues that influence all sentient beings to draw them into the unity and purity of Buddha-Mind.
3) The third significance of Buddha-Mind considered as a mirror, is an affirmation of the greatness of Freedom. Just as a mirror freely reflects all objects brought before it, so…
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