[Photos Max Vollmer, Click on any image to enlarge]

I spent this past Sunday with my daughter Yukyo at the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, OR.  Yukyo (her given name was Emily)  is a resident at Dharma Rain and a student of Soto Zen Buddhism.  The monestary was co-founded by Kyogten (Gary) Carlson with his wife Gyokuko Carlson in 1986.  Kyogen had this to say about his Buddhist practice: “There is so much to learn and so much to know.  It’s good to keep moving forward.  And yet, whatever we have is, in a very profound way, absolutely complete and always enough.”

Most Sunday mornings at the Zen Center, following meditation, a Dharma Talk (a lesson or teaching) is given by an experienced member of the community.  On this particular day the topic was Seeking Refuge.  It began with a parable known as the Gift Fulfilling Jewel.

In this parable, two old friends, one wealthy and one poor, are eating and drinking wine together. The poor man drinks himself into a stupor and falls asleep. Early the next morning, the wealthy one must leave on business. Before he leaves, the wealthy friend sews a priceless jewel inside of the robe of his poor friend, who is still asleep. Later, the wealthy man comes across his friend, who is still living in poverty. He points out to his poor friend that all this time there has been a priceless gem hidden inside his robe and that he did not have to be living in poverty.

This parable shows, in simple terms, the principle that every human is endowed with infinite potential and inestimable worth. It teaches us that the key to overcoming the constraints of our present reality, whatever they may be, lies within ourselves.

[Photos Max Vollmer, Click on any image to enlarge]

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk rejection.

To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.  The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.  He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love.  . . .  Only a person who takes risks is free.

–  Anonymous

[Photo Max Vollmer, Click on image to enlarge]

The saying “the truth hurts” is familiar to almost everyone. Yet how many understand that we should welcome having our eyes opened.  Painful truth can open the body and mind to what is before us that we have been unable or unwilling to see. Prejudices die, knowledge grows, wounds are healed, dangers are averted. Facing the reality of things deepens our understanding of ourselves and others.  [Photo Max Vollmer, Click on image to enlarge]

Clouds will bring rain tomorrow, but this evening there was a sunset that looked like the interior of the island was on fire, and a full moon rose at virtually the same time across the harbor.  For me, this signified balance and harmony.  I spotted the moonrise on the horizon because a tour ship passing in front of Karl’s house caught my attention just as a slice of moon appeared over the water to the east.   Can you spot it?  [All photos Max Vollmer, Click on any image to enlarge]