Jokai Blackwell Sensei
Dear Friends,
We find ourselves in a critical time of truly painful division within our society. Amidst the strife currently unfolding it feels more important than ever to speak truth from our hearts, to stay open and connected, and to take good care of one another. Now, with real urgency, vital questions are alive in our hearts, questions which have the power to inspire skillful, compassionate, and resourceful ways of responding to suffering within and around us. An essential part of the work of peaceful, dedicated, spiritually engaged practitioners involves locating the still point amidst the chaos of the world, the eye within the storm of extreme conditions. This refuge is our shared inheritance. In times of uncertainty, and even despair, the jewel of sangha is without parallel—together we find comfort in our common ground while simultaneously realizing the strength and beauty of the difference we bring to the table.
Many of us have directly experienced the power of meditation to inform positive change in our lives. Over the years the indelible marks of living a life of present awareness and loving kindness become known and expressed in our flesh and bones. As we navigate the circumstances at hand, we must not forget the importance of our practice in the world and our connection to those who have come before. Our original founder, Shakyamuni Buddha was a person of peace, committed to nonviolence, and a practitioner, who through arduous effort, came to understand clearly the inherent equality of all life.
This very realization formed the heart of Dr. Martin Luther King’s timeless and compelling message. Dr. King stated with strength and love: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The Latin root of the word enlightenment means “into the light.” Faced with the horrors of what is going on in our world right now, we are not unlike the Buddha enduring the legions sent by Mara. We need to be still enough to find the light and to shine that light into all of the shadowy corners. This is a courageous practice. It is not a passive escape from a difficult reality; it is not a withdrawal from the world as we know it. This light that we are, this stillness that inhabits us, is the gate through which we avoid reaction and instead take action.
The late Zen Master Bernie Glassman provides an inspiring example of an accomplished teacher who was deeply committed to enacting transformation through social action and service in community. Bernie used The Three Tenets of Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness and Taking Action as a catalyst for transformative engagement in the world. The Three Tenets support our ability to clearly see, work with, and respond to complex and deeply triggering concerns and issues. Through the practice of meditation, we come face to face with Not-Knowing, realizing the limitations of our fixed ideas and concepts. Out of this place of open encounter with life, our capacity to Bear Witness to the pain of the world emerges. As we hear and receive the cries and sorrow of a nation in tumult, we naturally Take Action to respond to the suffering we see and feel all around us.
Our mission at LBM is to offer a welcoming space to all, and this is needed more than ever at this time. In response, we are expanding our online offerings. We are still some weeks from being able to return to our physical home at Bay Shore Church, and we will keep you updated. In the meantime, our classes continue via Zoom. In July, I am offering a Masterclass series over 3 consecutive Saturdays and will be joining LBM Teacher Franz Manfredi for a special Friendraiser, an opportunity for us to introduce others to the benefits of meditation. Details for these and other new events will be delivered soon to your inbox. As always, if you would like to connect one-on-one, please reach out to me directly: jokai@longbeachmeditation.org.
Please take good care of yourself and of others. No matter what we are facing and what will come next, our time-honored practice and peaceful way serves as a bright lamp, guiding our feet ever onward, together.
Bows and Thanks,
Jokai