This week Joey led our reflections through different modes, beginning with a guided body scan; here is a link to the body scan by Koshin Paley Ellison, Soto Zen teacher and Co-Guiding Teacher of the New York Zen Center of Contemplative Care (also the author of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up). Scroll down past the other teachers to hear Ellison’s talk: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/online-meditation/
Next, Joey played excerpts from a talk by Zen priest and author Zoketsu Norman Fischer on Suffering and Gratitude: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/audio_player/134/26188.html Joey writes:
The book I believe he refers to in his talk and that I have found helpful at this time is called Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong.
In these times and in all times, his point that patience gives us the capacity to welcome difficulty is one I am trying to keep in mind. By asking “what’s happening?” when fear, anxiety or narrow-mindedness arises can actually keep us, as he says, on the path of least resistance and the smoothest approach to happiness. He points out that the practice of patience when tough times arise, gives us the opportunity to both notice all the ways we try to avoid them and when we can turn toward misfortune or difficulty with strength, forbearance and dignity we are ennobled in the process.
He reminds us that even in suffering, there is the possibility of gratitude. Because of our pain we are more sympathetic to others. “Finally, yes, I’m grateful. I healed my wounds and was able to love.”
Finally, Singularity by Marie Howe:
Jeffrey also recommended the website: https://www.brainpickings.org/
Burlington Buddhist Sangha 