Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Kashyapa smiled faintly, broadly, or not only smiled but laughed when Buddha held up the flower and winked. Many memories here. Was this an enlightenment moment for Kashyapa? Was his reaction purely spontaneous to the white flower? Did thoughts race through his head as he heard or imagined the other monks dissecting the flower with their well-trained discursive minds? Did he have any ambition to be Buddha’s successor? How does one prepare for a special moment when they need to just “get it”? How is it that Buddha taught for 45 years and yet chose the student with the smile rather than the one with the brilliant discourse?

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Progress-Not

I planned to show my progress in figuring out this koan. She corrected me, saying we don’t really make progress. Rather, we illuminate jewels. This connects to Connie’s way of walking through the woods. She doesn’t walk to get any place, rather she walks to walk.. to feel the earth under her feet, to see the trees in front of her, and to follow the clouds moving through the sky. Is that progress?

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Be Prepared—Not (blog.kimmosley.com)


As a Boy Scout, I worshipped the “be prepared” motto. It was my way to deal with life. The want-to-be monks at the Flower Sermon were well-prepared. They knew the Dharma and had a solid meditation practice. Yet when Buddha admired the flower their preparedness blocked their transmission. But what about Kasjapa? His mind was open and fertile. Buddha transmitted with him because Kasjapa didn’t have any expectations. He was fortunately un(der)prepared. That's virtuosity.

Friday, March 12, 2021

All Flowers Everywhere

Kashyapa swims in a boundless sea of flowers.

Cousin Brian wrote, “He held up all flowers everywhere.” When I imagine all that know this story of the Buddha holding up a flower, I can see all flowers being held up simultaneously, throughout space and time. Not only am I holding up a lotus, but so did those who preceded me as did my children and their children. Flowers filled the room. Flowers filled outside the room as far as Kashyapa could see. There was nothing but flowers.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Which flower did he hold up?

Buddha held up a flower. Sometimes it is depicted as a pure white lotus, but I like it better when it is a lotus with its roots dripping mud. That’s who I was today when I led service and messed up the robe chant. There were hopefully some moments where the “beautiful” end of the flower was revealed, but the mud was there as well. The point is not to be a stone buddha, nor to be a wild animal. It is the pure white lotus and the mud, all in one bundle. That's why Kashyapa smiled... or not.

Who's in the world?

Xiushan said, "What can you do about the world?" Dizang said, "What do you call the world?"