Some of us might find ourselves hungry with a tremendous desire for enlightenment. Conversely, some of us might just be looking for a way to get through the day. Both of these standpoints are legitimate. Coming from our position of acceptance, how can we say otherwise? Luckily, we can have our cake and eat it too. Regardless of our goals or the challenges that we face, we can discover our perfect composure. In doing so, we invite presence, we shift the seat of awareness, and we shed a lifetime’s worth of programming, at least for a moment.
Stay in touch with Tao and look for every situation, every person, every moment to be your teacher. Yet hold these ideas delicately as you navigate the day. Let them be the backdrop which conditions and colors your attitude and actions. This is the source of your perfect composure. Have faith, not that everything will work out or that everything happens for a reason, but faith that you are connecting to the best, wisest, most creative version of yourself.
Disperse the clouds
“In Buddhism enlightenment is called the unconditioned, that which shines naturally when the heart is not entangled in the forces of grasping, hatred and ignorance.” Jack Kornfield
Don’t waste even one moment with regret or self-pity. These are just further examples of “grasping, hatred and ignorance.” They are grasping at an illusory perfection. They are self loathing and self hatred. The ignorance is an ignorance of ultimate reality and your true identity, the I am of Tao. Each flash, each seamless glance of letting go, is an act of not-doing which allows your perfect composure to step forward.
Perfect composure, in any time, in any situation
So why do so many of the teachings talk about the power of presence? Why do I speak now of this idea of perfect composure? Whether we are seeking to permanently transform our experience of life, or we are just trying to get through the day, the method is the same. Both of these goals are part of the problem. In fact, the teachings tell us that there is only really one problem in our lives and there need be no goals. Our faith, our fearlessness, our experiential understanding will increasingly transform how the world sees us. Each perfectly composed act will help get us through the moment, get us through the day but also begin to permanently redirect the undercurrent that flows within our lives.
Explore more
In today’s featured image I have included a quotation from Suzuki Roshi. I have tried to make no bones about the fact that the teachings on this website are geared toward the cultivation and realization of an overall Zen mindset. It should not be forgotten that Zen Buddhism has a long and rich tradition. Suzuki Roshi was a central figure in introducing and popularizing these traditions to the west.
This article from Lion’s Roar presents two teachings from his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. In addition to discussing some of the subtleties of the Zen practice of zazen, we also find a fresh take on many of the concepts that consistently arise in our lessons here. For example, consider this excerpt in relation to our recent discussion on the topic of our true nature. “Each one of us has our own name, but those names are the many names of one Buddha.”
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