Koshin Paley Ellison
Empty-handed I entered the world Barefoot I leave it. My coming, my going- Two simple happenings That got entangled. 

The reality of birth and death is that everything arises and passes away. One of the reasons why I love the Zen practice is that it is deeply focused upon the birth and death in each moment. That this moment will never happen again. And so the only thing that makes sense is love and tenderness and absolute attention— which to me is the intimate understanding that, as we leave the house and look into the eyes of our loved ones; and look into the eyes of our neighbors and baristas; that that moment will never be repeated. There is a famous Zen proverb, ‘Ichi-go, ichi-e’ which means, ‘one moment, one chance’— that’s it! To me, it’s incredibly enlivening and lively to allow that more and more.

For more of Koshen’s Observations, view Volume I

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 
Recent Posts
Sensei Robert Chodo Campbell
Published on:
When we can see death as ordinary, as a natural occurrence, then we see the extraordinary. I'v...
Read More
Allyson and Alex Grey
Published on:
To have a beloved you have to imagine the beloved. We are two artists collaborating in love. Our co...
Read More
Caitlin Doughty
Published on:
The funeral industry in general is desperate to sustain the status quo. There are many facets ...
Read More
Amy Pickard
Published on:
If society would look at death as a natural experience instead of a punishment, there would be a lot...
Read More