practice buddhism

I’m rereading “Appreciate your life, the essence of Zen practice” by Taizan Maezumi Roshi. Maezumi Roshi was the teacher of Genpo Roshi, who’s the teacher of my teacher Nico Sensei. This book is very, very helpful to me. Dogen has had a big influence on Maezumi’s teachings and also in this book.

Practice = Enlightenment

From thursday until sunday I’ll have a four day sesshin at the zendo of my teacher in Amsterdam. I very much look forward to see him and my Dharma brothers & – sisters again. One of my closest Dharma brother will receive jukai on sunday. A celebration!

I just finished this book by my teacher’s teacher. A fascinating read about the Big Mind process. I recommend it, but it’s even better to experience it live at a Big Mind session than reading a book about it.

This is a picture to cherish. It makes me very, very happy to have this one! On the left my teacher Nico Sensei and on the right his (also mine of course, just not officially) teacher Genpo Roshi. Roshi gave a two-day Big Mind workshop in Amsterdam this weekend (look on his website for more information about Big Mind) and afterwards we went to a nice, Spanish restaurant.

I have a “zen weekend” at the zendo. Today (saturday) it will be from 15.00 until 21.00 hrs and tomorrow from 10.00 until 17.oo hrs. We’ll practice lots of zazen and will also eat together. There will be daisan and tomorrow there’ll also be a Dharmatalk.

The book I’m currently reading is Siddharta by Hermann Hesse.

Today I wrote and sent a long letter to my zenteacher, to ask him if I may receive shukke tokudo; monk ordination. I’m a bit nervous to get a reply, but I’m happy that I’ve told him my wish… Now I have to await…

This morning I also finished the book “Bearing Witness” by American Zenmaster Bernie Glassman Roshi. It was very inspirational to read about the retreats he led in Auschwitz-Birkenau and as a homeless person on the streets. It also brought me some inspirational ideas to integrate in my own zen practice.

Tonight my 4-days retreat (sesshin) starts at a beautiful former monastery in the south of our country. My zenteacher will lead the sesshin and this is the schedule:

06.00 Waking up – coffee – tea
06.30 Zazen (sitting-in-meditation)
08.05 Service (Singing Sutras)
08.15 Breakfast
09.15 Excersize
10.00 Coffee – tea
10.30 Zazen
11.10 Dharmatalk
12.30 Lunch
- Break (Sleeping ;)
15.00 Zazen
16.15 Coffee – tea
16.45 Zazen
18.00 Dinner
19.30 Zazen
21.05 Bodhisattva Vows
21.15 Tea – Sleeping

“How do I need to do this?”
“In a kind way.”

(from: A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson)

There’s no Way to Happiness,
Happiness is the Way.
- Buddha

For me this is an ongoing practice which never ends (well, maybe when I die ;). Zenbuddhism is my life..

Every wednesday I practice zazen (meditation) with my zenteacher and my group (sangha) and I listen to the teacher’s Dharmatalk. Every thursday I go to the zendo for a studygroup. This time we study the texts of St. John of the Cross. Yes, we study not only buddhist texts, but also learn about other religions and cultures. I attend sesshins (retreats) regurlarly and I received the Buddhist precepts in jukai ceremonial in november 2005.

But the most important thing is that it’s just my daily life…