My Troubled Mind

I can't believe we've lost Anthony Head. I grew up with Buffy, watching him as a complex father figure. I know I won't be alone in my grief of this wonderfully talented man.

Christ Has No Body

Jesus’s journey from suffering on the cross to death to resurrection provides a good example for how to transform suffering into awakening. Crucifixion, death by torture, is an extreme example of suffering. Death is an extreme example of acceptance, of giving in to the inevitability of circumstances. Physical resurrection from the grave is an extreme example of awakening. Sometimes it is helpful to have extreme examples to point out a more moderate path.

In Zen we are fortunate to have to opportunity to resurrect ourselves constantly. We begin by noticing that we are suffering, that we are on the cross. We recognize our inherent divinity or basic goodness. We understand that we don’t want to be on the cross and we don’t deserve to be on the cross. As we learn to accept our circumstances, which include our experience of suffering, we can see into the nature of our suffering. We can see into the nature of suffering. At that point we give up our resistance and experience a peaceful, living death. As we continue to live our life with this realization, we experience resurrection.

The Sages cling to the One And take care of this world; Do not display themselves And therefore shine; Do not assert themselves And therefore stand out; Do not praise themselves And therefore succeed; Are not complacent And therefore endure; Do not contend And therefore no one under heaven Can contend with them.

-- Laozi, Daodejing Chapter 22

Rivers and seas Can rule the hundred valleys. Because they are good at lying low They are lords of the valleys.

Therefore those would be above Must speak as if they are below. Those who would lead Must speak as if they are behind.

-- Laozi, Daodejing Chapter 66