By Chigan Roland Jaeckel Roshi
The change of seasons reminds us of the ever-dynamic nature of life. Fall has turned to winter, and the days have gotten shorter in the northern hemisphere of our planet. More darkness than light exerts its natural influence on our physical, emotional, and mental being. Even when the light begins to increase, day after day, darkness still prevails, while the upcoming springtime approaches ever so slowly.
Similarly, periods of darkness appear in our lives, as life has its own seasons. All of this is a natural process, the interplay of activities of opposing directions, qualities, and properties. Even society and culture are subject to alternating periods of openness and freedom, and times when conditions are more favorable to undo these freedoms.
While it is all just a reflection of the natural activity of change (or the Dharma Activity as my ordination teacher used to call it), as human beings with the ability for introspection, cognition, and compassion, we have the opportunity and responsibility to not only experience but deeply fathom the functioning of this activity. The arising and disappearing is met by a mind that, if untrained, attaches to likes and dislikes and is convinced of its own permanence – even though the consciousness that experiences the changes is of that very same nature, arising and disappearing.
When we speak of liberation in the context of Zen practice, what is it from which we are becoming free? Is it that darkness and everything that challenges this world and society actually vanishes? Is there any solution to this dualistic worldview, separated into light and darkness?
Through introspection, Zazen, we rediscover the underlying nature of our being: our original face that exists before the dichotomy of our human, dualistic consciousness. So, you may ask, how does this make a difference when the present world still confronts us with warfare, genocide, racism, misogyny, and so many more issues?
Once we awaken to our original nature, we begin to relate to these challenges in a fundamentally transformed way. When darkness starts to prevail, we turn on our own light and help the world find its way to a brighter place. By learning through our first-hand experience how this activity of Dharma works, we become increasingly skilled at being in accord with the activity itself, and we are less likely to be overpowered by its content.
Human beings are remarkable. Our inquisitive mind enables us to investigate our own being, the nature of mind, and the universe. Let’s sit down together and investigate this human condition with vigor and determination. May this newsletter and the activities of the Zen Studies Society continue to illuminate the way for this Sangha. May we all be a light to one another and everyone whom we encounter!