As of today, October 5, 2013, all three of my children are away from their homes.
Micah, who lives in New York is in Ashland, Oregon at the Shakespeare Festival. This is something he has been doing since his days at Stanford University. Rachael is visiting her college friend in San Diego, California, where she went to university. Jessica, who now lives in Barcelona, is in Ibiza before starting graduate school in tourism at the University of Barcelona.
I love all my children dearly and miss them especially when they are away from home.
I offer this verse to my children and all travelers. May they all return home safely.
Children who run away from their families
Lonely travelers
Wandering in distant lands
May they return home soon
And be reunited
With their loved ones
This verse comes from the Chinese tradition of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. It appeared in a article in the Spring, 2013 issue of Tricycle magazine by Chan Master Guo Jun, abbot of the Mahabodhi Monastery in Singapore. He teaches widely around the world.
In the introduction to Guo Jun’s article, Andrew Cooper writes about Chan.
Legend tells us that Chan Buddhism began in India, specifically when the Buddha transmitted his true dharma to one and only one disciple, Mahakashyapa. History, however, tells us a different story, namely that Chan originated in China some time around the 6th century. Over time, the Chan school spread throughout most of the Chinese sphere of cultural influence—to Korea, Vietnam, and of course Japan, and it is by its Japanese name, Zen, that Westerners recognize it best. Of course, it is not just the name; the Japanese tradition is by far the most familiar and visible of Chan’s various cultural manifestations, though Korean and Vietnamese traditions as well have gained sizable footing in the West. All of which makes for a certain irony: while Chan originated in China, and while China, after the Indian subcontinent, has been the most historically influential home for Buddhism, Westerners tend by and large to have very little working knowledge of contemporary Chinese Buddhism. [Read More…]
The last page of the article links to a very beautiful video provided to Tricycle members. Since it is a private video, please take a look at this one instead.
Master Guo Jun: The Beginner’s Mind
This video is reminiscent of Zen Master Suzuki Roshi’s famous book, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, and his famous quote,
In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.
My heart goes out to all lonely travelers who are far from home. May they return to loving arms and caring hearts.
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