Taking Care of our Community

Letter From Our Guiding Teacher, Jokai Blackwell Roshi
September 2023

Dear Friends,

In the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition, we offer a chant at the conclusion of meditation each evening. We recite the words, “Time swiftly passes by, and opportunity is lost.” This is a direct reminder that another day has passed, and with it, valuable opportunities to be involved in the lives of those around us and truly present in our world. Each one of us has the capacity for immeasurable positive impact in this life. At the heart of each of our meditation traditions is the active exploration and realization of our most authentic self-nature. We study the Self, in order to better express and actualize the very best aspects of who we are, day after day.

The primary purpose of Long Beach Meditation (LBM) is implicit in the name. We exist to practice and share the straightforward art of meditation. To meditate is to deepen our appreciation of this mysterious life. Time seated on the cushion, bench, or chair is time invested in allowing the body-mind to refresh and return to its natural, indivisible state of being. Practicing meditation is a powerful support for the individual. The adage that we should put our own oxygen mask on first, before attempting to help those around us, is applicable to dharma practice. To sit, to breathe consciously, is to put on our own oxygen mask. We do this together. We demonstrate taking responsibility for ourselves and for one another in the simplest and more direct way. And as we do, our practice is transformative. As our collective achievement is emphasized, the underlying unity becomes apparent. From this point of view, all modes of travel or transport are “the raft to the other shore.” We are all “on board” in unique ways. In a certain sense, dharma teachings or the basic art of inquiry can serve as fuel for our journey.

Through our exposure to Buddhist teachings, we become acquainted with words like ‘enlightenment’ and ‘awakening.’ These terms can feel exotic or abstract, and when misunderstood can even become impediments to our spiritual growth. What, after all, is enlightenment? When we practice, what do we enlighten? What is awakening? What is it that we awaken from, or to? What is truly involved in this exploration? These are all good questions to ask! We should not think of enlightenment as a distinct event in time. To do so forestalls our enlightenment here and now. The light of awareness is already and always apparent. Each one of us reflects, contains, transmutes, and shares this light through our own singular lens. To awaken is to realign with the fundamental presence that enlivens all things, without exception. Why not awaken to this right now? Time, after all, swiftly passes by. Our collective meditation practice forms a solid foundation for an engaged, present life. As we share our days, we continue to grow and deepen in our work together. It is an exciting time for LBM! The sphere of our activity is widening and developing. We are taking our practice into the out-of-doors, onto the beach, into urban gardens, and so essentially, into the vast and boundless spaces of our busy, messy, and beautifully complicated lives. It is encouraging and inspiring! We are building a community with deep local roots, and strong branches that reach out in many directions. Let’s take good care of it.

As always, I welcome your reaching out to me directly at jokai@longbeachmeditation.org. Thank you for your many contributions and continued, valuable support. 

Bows,
Jokai

Robert Lurye's Guidance on Mindful Eating

We gathered in the courtyard to taste one bite of food, read two poems and be with friends.

Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn
by Wu Men Hui-k’ai
Author of the  Zen/Chan collection The Gateless Gate first published in 1228

Ten thousand flowers in spring, 
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, 
snow in winter.
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.

We did an experiential exercise to taste one bite with all the outer and inner senses with “beginner’s mind.”  We were offered the invitation to explore enjoying a meal with direct experience as a practice to free a clouded mind and self monitor how hungry or full you are. 
First notice if you feel hungry or full, with 0 being not hungry at all and 10 being very full. Keep checking in on this body sensation along the way. 
Put the fork / utensil / food down between bites, savor with the senses. See what arises, and passes away. Possibly face wanting, not wanting, mind wandering, etc. Begin again with beginner’s mind. 
Robert mentioned teaching of the Buddha to King Pasenadi that Robert learned from Bhikkhu Analayo in a paper he wrote “Overeating in Ancient India.” The teaching was to help the king learn to discern “good measure,” what is gratifying and what is not, what is beneficial versus what is harmful, what is wholesome or unwholesome. 
Mindful eating is a practice that can offer a clear lens for how we are in the world and in sitting practice, to notice craving and aversion. The constancy of desire to “keep feeding the craving mind” can be seen in news feeds, social media feeds, email feeds, streaming media feeds, entertainment, shopping, smoking, drinking, ruminating, etc.

Tea
by Thich Nacht Hanh

You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.  
Only in the awareness of the present, can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup. 
Only in the present, can you savor the aroma, taste the sweetness, appreciate the delicacy. 
If you are ruminating about the past, or worrying about the future, you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea. 
You will look down at the cup, and the tea will be gone. 
           Life is like that. 
If you are not fully present, you will look around and it will be gone. 
You will have missed the feel, the aroma, the delicacy and beauty of life. 
It will seem to be speeding past you. The past is finished. Learn from it and let it go. 
The future is not even here yet. Plan for it, but do not waste your time worrying about it.  
Worrying is worthless. 
When you stop ruminating about what has already happened, when you stop worrying about what might never happen, then you will be in the present moment.  
Then you will begin to experience joy in life. 

Letter From Our Guiding Teacher, September 2022

Dear Friends,

The first days of fall are finally here. We welcome cooler temperatures! Children have returned to school, summer vacations are perhaps fond recollections, and Halloween merchandise has already begun to appear in stores. This summer and into the fall season, yet again, California faces the continued tragic consequences of drought and extreme weather, including wildfires. As if this were not challenging enough, this year especially, many of us have been impacted by the steep increase in the cost of living, most keenly experienced by those with limited means. Meanwhile, societal support systems are inadequate at best and eroding in real time. In light of these difficulties and plenty of other significant concerns, the refuge of community is a clear and ever-present need. At Long Beach Meditation (LBM), we strive to maintain and refine a welcoming and peaceful place for the practice of meditation. It is through meditation practice that our capacity to respond appropriately to our families and communities grows and deepens.

Recently, the LBM Board and our teachers collaborated to improve and refine our Mission Statement. Please take a moment to read the statement, a concentrated reflection of our shared intentions, on the LBM website’s About page. Your feedback and comments are always welcomed. Inclusion is at the very core of who we are as a community and an organization. To be truly inclusive is to go beyond all distinctions and differences. As we navigate this perplexing and challenging human life, it serves us well to see and acknowledge that we are all of the same mysterious root. This fundamental awareness is our shared birthright, the common ground of being, the very source of beauty, diversity, uniqueness, and, yes, difference.

Looking ahead, I am committed to working to strengthen our community connections. Our Sangha is local, national, and even international! Meeting locally, at Bay Shore Church in Long Beach, stalwarts welcome new faces each and every week. Through the incorporation of our online meeting space, we connect with members and supporters from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond. We are committed to improving our meetings and classes in both the in-person and online spheres, investing in new technology as we embrace the reality that the post-pandemic world presents. Seeking to understand and match the current, always-changing reality is the living practice of Dharma practitioners. Over thousands of years and hundreds of generations, countless people have realized this marvelous way to study and appreciate the self, through the radical practice of sitting down and becoming still in body and mind. Zen Master Dogen was once asked, “There are many gates for buddha-dharma. Why do you recommend meditation exclusively?” Dogen Zenji replied, “Because this is the front gate for buddha-dharma.”

At LBM we look forward to all that we can achieve and offer together. A human life is such a rare occurrence in the vastness of space and time. In Buddhism it has been said that to be born a human is as rare an occurrence as a sea turtle rising once every hundred years from the ocean depths to poke their head through a knothole in a piece of driftwood! To encounter the Dharma is rarer still! We are each a rare and valuable happening, a living process, not separate from and always connected with one another and our world. To realize and actualize these connections, for the benefit of all, is our great work and calling. Let us dive fully into the teachings available to us and make the most of this precious gift.

I extend my sincere gratitude to each of you. As always, I welcome your reaching out to me directly at jokai@longbeachmeditation.org. Thank you for your presence and support. 

I look forward to continuing our journey together. 

Bows,
Jokai

Letter From Our Guiding Teacher, June 2022

Dear Friends,

At Long Beach Meditation (LBM) our mission statement directly illumines the core of our shared efforts: We practice the profound teachings that align with the Buddha’s path to awakening. The Buddha was a remarkable person with enduring influence from the time of his birth to the present day. A brilliant teacher, through tireless practice, the Buddha exemplified an exceptional path, transmitting and teaching the very heart of meditation though his life’s work. Recently, the LBM teachers were invited to attend a conference called The Future of America Buddhism presented by Naropa University and the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation. At the beginning of the conference which was held both in-person and online, a speaker noted that Dr. Lenz once stated, “If you meditate, then you are a Buddhist.” What did he mean by this? I have often emphasized that one need not identify as a Buddhist to practice meditation, yet I appreciate his provocative teaching and see the wisdom in it. As meditators we align with the Buddha’s path, a path that forms the fundamental landscape of an awakened life. The word “Buddha” translates simply as “Awakened One.” When we sit, awakening is the living fact, immediately in appearance. As each one of us is fundamentally awake, it is also true to say that each one of us is the Buddha, hiding in plain sight. 

We all benefit from the hard work and devoted service of the pioneers who brought authentic dharma practice to our communities. At LBM, our teachers represent varied lineages spanning the globe. In our hands and hearts lies the responsibility and work of transmitting the heart of the Buddha’s realization. As we maintain the strength, integrity, and vitality of this marvelous practice we embrace this commitment. It is important to consider our vision for LBM as an organization and our part to play in what American Buddhism offers as it takes shape and evolves. The pandemic years catalyzed significant societal changes, among them, remote and online models for participation in groups. New modes of connecting are now part of lives, work, and social scenes. It is a new frontier, both exhilarating and frustrating with all the wonder and difficulty inherent in traversing unexplored territory. Soon, the LBM teachers will be meeting as a group to discuss how we can best serve the Sangha in our online offerings. We understand that meetings held in the digital space are no substitute for in-person, face-to-face gatherings. We must carefully explore the form our practice takes in both spheres endeavoring to uphold a strong and accessible offering. My personal intention is to ensure that every person, without exception, who wishes to practice meditation, can do so in a safe, supportive, and welcoming space where the core teachings are rigorously maintained and directly available. Our historical traditions must never be diminished or diluted. At LBM we aim to uphold a strong and heartfelt standard as we create a container for practice in which participants of all backgrounds feel secure. The Buddha after all, was not a Buddhist.

As summer arrives in full and the days lengthen once again, let’s continue to enjoy and appreciate the gifts that this miraculous world offers to each of us. My teacher’s teacher, Maezumi Roshi emphasized that advanced practice is the practice of “gratitude and appreciation.” A grateful heart is a heart that seeks to give something back; the mind of appreciation is a mind that savors the preciousness of this mysterious reality we call life, and naturally looks to be of help and service to others. The foundation of the Buddha’s teaching is vital and real now. Suffering is an intractable aspect of this human condition, yet, as the Buddha showed and shows us, there is so much we can do to assuage it. Let us not stop until we end it, however unattainable the goal.

Bows,

Jokai