10th Street Zendo
422 10th St. East S7N0C9 Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Ken and I heard a talk about vows the other night during his teacher Shishin's zoom. I remember when I took a vow not to get in a car for a year it started a sangha discussion about the value of taking a vow. Seems they can help us stay on the Path. But what about the fact that everything changes - what about living in the moment, going with the flow? And do they really help anyway? Maybe we'll share our experiences of making vows, or "solid promises".... Saturday at 11. https://zoom.us/j/244303515

Do you know how to raise an ox? First you have to find it, and it's hard to catch even a glimpse of it sometimes. And taming it?! Whoa! Tune in tomorrow and Ken will tell you all about it! Zoom at 11 am: https://zoom.us/j/244303515

I just finished a two-day solo retreat. I was fortunate to have had two phone calls each day with my generous teacher Komyo, for which I'm super grateful. And what shall we talk about tomorrow? The next two folds on the Path: Right Action and Right Livelihood? The latter always makes me squirm a little... Here's the zoom contact info - everyone welcome. Sat. 11 am. https://zoom.us/j/244303515

Haven't we also all spoken words we wish we could retract? Why is it so hard to only say what's true, and/or useful, and never gossip or speak grouchily? What is "Right Speech"? and does anyone know someone who is so mindful they never use "wrong" speech? And Ken and I had a near-death experience this week - very grateful to be alive! join our zoom tomorrow at 11 am. Https://zoom.us/j/244303515

I wonder if we'll continue our discussion about righteous anger tomorrow. I found some readings that affirm what I think is Danny's view, that anger against injustice and racism (for example) can be motivational and useful if it's dealt with skillfully. And then there's the Abhidhamma (Buddhist teachings on psychology) which considers anger and fear to be basically the same, in that we feel ourselves to be completely separate beings when they manifest. Join us tomorrow at 11... am. We may talk about this. Or about the Second of the Eight folds in the Path: Right Thought, also called Right Intention. Or about who knows what... Here's the link: http://zoom.us/j/244303515

Here's a long quote from something Donna sent me after our discussion last week about anger, specifically whether anger against injustice and racism (such as what we might feel towards those who stormed the Capitol building) is ever justified or useful... In her book, Standing at the Edge, Roshi Joan wrote that Buddhism gave her a fresh way to understand integrityone that looks through the lens of suffering. When we cause suffering to others or ourselves, our integrity is... violated. When we alleviate the suffering of others, our integrity is affirmed. Our practice at Upaya is about endeavoring to cultivate integrity, supported by the commitment to uphold ourselves in the midst of conditions and living by vow. It also is about having the capacity to discern what might be the appropriate response, the skillful means to address suffering. Not an easy assignment, to be sure, and we are always learning how to do this in stronger, better, kinder ways. This takes what author Joan Didion called moral nerve and means not turning away from the truth of suffering by being swept away by anger, anguish, fear, or denial. Roshi has written extensively in Standing at the Edge about moral suffering, which includes moral distress, moral injury, moral outrage, and moral apathy. And we are seeing all these forms of moral suffering rampant today. Roshi Joan reminds us that people so often find themselves in the defended stance of strong front (aversiveness, defensiveness, denial) and soft back (fear). Conversely, in our practice we endeavor to embody the opposite of this reactivity by developing a strong back (equanimity and the integrity of our actions) and a soft front (compassion). In this regard, the Three Tenets shared by her teacher Roshi Bernie Glassman reflect strong back, soft front. The Tenets are: Not Knowing or being radically open (soft front), Bearing Witness or not separating from things as they are (strong back), giving rise to Compassionate Action. Roshi also often reminds us that the Ninth Mindfulness Training in Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing ends with these words: We will do our best to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may make difficulties for us or threaten our safety. Strong back, soft front! This admonition is particularly important at this time, as we hold democracy, moral conscience and responsibility, and compassionate justice as core principles of our faith and practice. Thus, we cannot turn away from the profoundly disturbing events of this past week. This is the charnel ground we are in; this is where we bring our vows and practice forward as lived experience.

Welcome to 2021! While contemplating your new year's resolutions, come and talk about karma. This and every Saturday morning at 11. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/244303515

Join us for meditation and discussion every Saturday morning at 11, even on Boxing Day. The Zoom meeting info is Time: Saturdays at 11:00 AM Saskatchewan... Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/244303515