#34 North Dakota

 DEAR NANSHIN

Nanshin (Nancy White) of the Open Land Soto Zen Sangha in Fargo North Dakota, interviewed me for a half hour prior to our sitting and book discussion.   

She was energetic, engaging and kind, as I explained my desire to try different traditions with the availability of zoom, although explaining why 'North Dakota', was harder to do; I said that I was curious as to what was in North Dakota; I had found very little, one Sri Lankan group which broadcast out of Minnesota, and Open Land.   That's it, except for lost groups of Nepalese/Bhutan refugees (the flow of whom has been almost eliminated by the Trump administration). 

It was interesting to have Nanshin review my current and past practice, which has occurred several times for Sanghas that ask for a consult before joining.  These interviews are always supportive of my practice and it's fun to consider how other practitioners size you up.  It's never felt critical. 

Nanshin emphasized the radical inclusion of 'EVERYTHING' in our lives in Soto Zen and explained 'Shikantaza' or 'just sitting'.  I considered how 'just sitting' spread into our lives, how to not add to anything we do;  'just (fill in the blank)' and to consider letting go of excessive self judgement, which can get in the way of being. 

Thirty minutes of sitting was followed by a book discussion on The World Could be Otherwise by Norman Fischer of the San Francisco Zen Center.  I was happy to be included in reading chapter one of the book out loud, and it seemed fortuitous that I was present on night one. 

In the book, Fischer loosely relates modern life to the six Paramitas or perfections in Mahayana Buddhism (they are present throughout Buddhism in various quantity).   I only got through chapter one but I enjoyed it very much; Fischer presents the notion that we can see the world far differently, far more openly, and more spiritually than we might have learned to expect.   

A poem from 1989 by him: 

I’d Like to See It

BY NORMAN FISCHER

A compendium of words was stored here

Just underneath the chimney

I’d like to see it that way

Fortune won’t stand still for that

And pressure of the air flattens paper

I’d like to see it that way

One comes into the room groomed, a pleasure

There’s a patch of glitter in the glamor

I’d like to see it that way

Each moment opens up sudden as an umbrella

On a day storms gather like wool

A way I’d really like to see it

So you can’t assume a face again

Before the non-face puts in its appearance

Nor can you push at the door expecting satisfaction on the other side

I’d like to see it that way

Many’s the time and time for reflection

Truer than truth the subject’s interconnections

I’d like to see it that way

I was born on a day absolutely unique in world history

Birds grasp their path in air

I’d like to see it that way

It’s standard to pack half a dozen at a clip

Imagine the red thing yours alone at last

I’d like to see it that way

The image almost takes shape superimposed

As a mist on top of ordinary daily objects

I’d like to see it that way

Life goes on forever like a dusty road

Down which we peer as we drink a glass of water

I’d like to see it that way

We return again and again born into wombs

The shape of inverted ice cream cones

I’d like to see it that way

So I could relax, put on my enormous suit

And ring your doorbell holding my breath and flowers

I’d like to see it that way

In order to be able to end war but

Would war ever end or would my wanting

To end it ever end if nothing ever ended

I’d like to see it that way

Everything is standing up and falling down again

Constantly like hair in wind

I’d like to see it that way

For the good of the nation behind bars

For my own good bundled up into piles

I’d like to see it that way

I blow continuously on this thing the landscape

Crumples around me like a felt hat

I’d like to see it that way

But the problem is I put out my hand

And only clutch air wanting to understand

I’d like to see it some way

Any way so long as I could know it was there

And could pull back the covers at will

To reveal my heart’s desire and measure it

I’d like to see it that way