This week’s topic for reflection is fear and trust. As I reflect on these it seems fear drives away trust. Also, fear looses it’s power in the presence of trust. With trust we can welcome and open up. When afraid we appose and create separation or clinging. Look at how fear and trust work in you. How have you observed others coming from either fear or trust? Is fear and trust a place where we can come from? If it’s a place within us, where is this place? As much as you are able, investigate your fear. It’s interesting, we can only do this as much as we trust ourself. Do you trust yourself? Please also investigate your trusting. Can you trust yourself or your abilities without being able to control outcomes? Please set aside judgments and just notice, investigate. What are you afraid of the most? It is said we are most afraid of death or personal extinction. This investigation can help us directly see the fear of personal extinction is not valid. How’s this possible?
The fear of loss creates clinging which creates suffering as change is inevitable. What makes trust possible in any situation? Where can you stand to enable this open, compassionate trust? My haiku.
Snow is dripping down
Fir trees all standing upright
Welcoming the dawn
Please feel welcome to send us your poem or comment and join us on Zoom for morning zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday and Sunday morning zazen and discussion from 8:00 to 9:00. See calendar page for details.
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