This is the sixty-sixth autumn I have seen. The moon still lights my face. Dont ask me about the meaning of Zen teachings - just listen to what the pines and cedars say on a windless night. Ryonen Genso, written shortly before her death; excerpted from a chapter and reflection by Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao [of the Zen Center of Los Angeles] in the new, brilliant book, The Hidden Lamp: stories from twenty-five centuries of awakened women, edited by Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon. i was fortunate to have attended a seminar/workshop given by Florence and Susan this past weekend, where I heard Roshi Wendy read her chapter, as well as Myokaku Jane Schneider, co-founder with her husband, Peter Schneider of Beginners Mind Zen Center in Northridge, read her chapter with focus and conviction. Very inspiring event overall and a wonderful wake-up call and startling reminder that for centuries, the awakened and illuminating wisdom of women has been the missing link in much of Buddhist dharma, as it has in the other major religions/spiritual paths!! Women were denied access to dharma education, learning, teachings and admission into the ranks of hierarchal positions, i.e., lamas, rinpoches, roshis, etc. in general, the wise voices of women were silenced and emerged rarely, one of the reasons this book is of such crucial and critical importance....and, as i am finding out with the reading of each story, koan, reflection, etc. it is equally as significant for us guys who claim to be on the path of enlightenment; amazing and almost paradoxical that those who claimed for centuries to be on the path and many who were said to be enlightened, closed the door on women - wow, what an enlightened approach!!! I am grateful to the emerging, transforming consciousness among Dharma practitioners in the west and that we are gradually realizing the gift of dharma wisdom our sister aspirants contribute and that I have had the honor of meeting some of them this past weekend!! May all beings become free of biased thoughts and the rigidity of traditions that are exclusionary; may all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering; and may all beings experience equality and joy on their journey. In gassho. Namu Amida Butsu.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 18:19:56 +0000