Tomorrow, Monday December 18, the 12th New Moon of 2017, begins the Real Bodhi Season. 2017 is special in that the Lunar Bodhi Day coincides with Christmas!
Each day, we will eat one of the Bodhisattva cookies, who will be released into the world to provide guidance for this Christmas Season. On Christmas Day, the 8th Day of the 12th Moon, we will eat the Big Buddha and Dorje with our two guests.
Most of the things I’ve posted about so far relate to the first item of the Noble Eightfold Path, “Right View”. It is seeing that Reality, the past, present, and Future are One, but our minds delude us to thinking we can carve out parts of it and ignore the rest. That disconnect between our minds and reality is the source of Dukkha. To fully engage with the Universe, you must first empty your mind, sterilize it, of all beliefs. I’ve said that if you understand that, you are on the path to enlightenment, and in fact are enlightened because you are on that path.
So what did I do last December 8 on the Secular Bodhi Day? And what is it that you should do on the upcoming Lunar Bodhi Day on December 25? It is a vow to the second item of the Noble Eightfold Path, “Right Resolve”. The Right View only passed you through the gate, which was always open.
Right Resolve is Faith in the Right View. It’s the one time you can purposefully contradict that “I want for nothing” thing. You must want to see the world as One, not the delusion that is as real as the walls of the cave you’re living in.
It’s critical to understand that by emptying your mind of all beliefs, removing any attachments/clinging to things (Dukkha), you are not abandoning your loved ones, responsibilities. Rather, you will still be here, life goes on, but you will see that all things belong. You will not fear, you will be fully accepting, you will be fully engaged in life.
Keep Calm, Merry On!
Reverend Dukkha Hanamoku
Ordained Zen Priest of the Order of the Common Area Ponds
Fishnu 