Cowboy parable for the first precept, no killing
Imagine a very tough, strong, vigorous cowboy holding a gun, in a showdown. The other cowboy misses his shot, and this cowboy now has another chance to control everything, but he is waiting to shoot. We see he can kill. What is going on in his mind? If he throws away the gun you see what is in his mind. He cannot kill. That is our true nature.
Shikantaza as both the question and answer about life
Shikantaza is one immediate answer to the question of what life is all about, and getting up from shikantaza is a continuous answer to how you live.
Being lived by all beings through eating
We eat living food. Through our food we learn constantly how to live on this earth. We are constantly supported by all phenomenal currents of life; we are lived by all beings. That is the truth.
Living the precepts by fulfilling the wishes of all lives consumed
One hundred thousand million lives came into our life, which is each of these dynamic lives, and we are fulfilling their wish of who they wanted to be. That is the way to live the Precepts.
The noble face of dying as realization of no-stealing precept
Dying people show a very noble face. They have realized the truth of existence. They suffer and suffer with lots of pain in their bodies and many ideas. Finally, they give up everything. Something heavy drops off, everything drops off, and their faces become very relieved.
No stealing as recognition of nothing to lose
Please remember this "no stealing" Precept. It is the ultimate recognition that you have nothing to lose. Even if you, your whole body, is stolen by somebody, your whole mind by somebody, you have not lost anything.
Devotion as mutual freedom within the no-stealing precept
One example is devotion, which is to give yourself to a person or situation. The devotional relationship of teacher and disciple is not one sided. To have two bodies is at this point a remarkable sign of freedom.
Personal reflection on distinguishing love from attachment
It is only in very recent times that I really notice the difference between purity of love, and attachment, and I'm very much aware of my attachment in love.
The fundamental contradiction of embodied existence
To have a human body on this earth is a complete contradiction. We cannot escape from it and it is a hard phenomenon to see through.
Applying the third precept to teacher relationships, personal confession
Having so many teachers felt to me like some sort of adultery, in a much deeper sense. I was very thirsty to learn, and each master, each teacher, fulfilled me. Finally, my Dharma Master settled me down, "No more seeking!"
The master's presence continuing in all beings
The ones who I see in front of me, all are his manifestation. I mean the Master's continuity is right here. I can see it. Right here. For always, in all ways, he comes to me.