Between a Wall and an Open Heart

Koinonia: The balance between intimacy and intrusion. Having an open heart is something that sounds so attractive, opening to experiencing engaging in relationship that has intimacy and closeness. Yet even then, there is always that tipping point onto subjects and in arenas that are private, personal, and often come with intense emotions. It's a fine...

Persevering

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." - Newt Gingrich How Truthful! Breathe and do the very next thing, Bryan Wagner

Those Clever Memes of Being

This is not kind of me but I'm sick and tired of those little one liners and statements concerning experiencing life. For a brief second when I see these statements and words, I engage in a fantasy of "Being here" or "love conquers hate" or "whatever." But the fantasy lasts for mere seconds, then fades...

Zen Growth in a Taoist process

Sitting outside at 5am, I was noticing how the dawn "breaks." When I'm present, and attending, I simply can't experience the light as it's increasing, the "dawning" is one movement, like a piece of music flowing or a stream. It's a process, not a measured movement, no varigated sections of dawn. Until I get lost...

Insight and Sound

During last Sunday's sitting, someone sneezed and it's interesting from a Zen perspective. When facilitating a Zen sitting the attendees meditate facing a wall, and I sit facing everyone's back. When the sneeze exploded, everyone except a few had a knee jerk response. Why? For me, this is important if you are examining the art...

Compassion: Emotion or Choice?

"Compassion is not a feeling, it's a cognitive choice contingent on circumstances, current status, conditioning, wants and needs. I feel good by acting compassionately, the idea that the word "compassion" is a discrete emotion that feels good my having it, only leads to expectations and suffering. The idea that I can "practice" to increase some...

Weeds and I

The word "weeds" points to an imaginary category of plants. There are no actual weeds. It represents a desire, judgement, attitude, status, and worth. Lots of suffering happens over the word "weeds." Except there aren't any. What are the "weeds" in your life? Bryan Wagner

Right Intent

What are my motives in these passing moments? In Buddhism we hear about "Right Intent," part of the eightfold path, and the importance of knowing our intentions. I have no idea why, but I always like the word "motive" instead. It has a more "personal" feel to it, a little bit sinister. But it also...

Zen of Memory and Meditation

"Memories are great because you can add more details!" Lately I've noticed the stream of thought is amazingly pliable and appears vulnerable to whatever the conditioned personality decides is supportive or needed. Memories are changed to match emotional needs in the moment, and this necessitates adjusting the memory. I remember events from a singular first-person...

The Permeable Journy

Lately I've been noticing how important it is to focus on remaining open and be willing to absorb experience instead of the constant need to fix, manipulate, or resolve experiences. I find staying permeable changes my perspective drastically. I consciously open the door to possibilities and probabilities. Sometimes I find myself in circumstances that are...