This week’s topic for reflection is the eighth of Dogen’s Eight Awakenings of Great Beings, not engaging in hollow discussion. Not engaging, sounds like not grabbing onto and also not pursuing. So when you notice hollow discussion let it go. It could also mean when someone else is engaged in hollow discussion don’t join in or don’t engage others in your hollow discussion. Conversation is hollow when we use it for distraction. It takes us out of the moment or the situation we’re actually in. We’re off in the future, the past or imagination. Hollow discussion is most often done with ourself and is a kind of thinking. Hollow discussion creates the distraction we can fixate on instead of being present in the moment. And regrettably, “Life is what happens when you are busy doing something else.”
When meditating, how much time do you spend in hollow discussion? For me it’s a lot. What I do when I notice this is simply bring my awareness back to the breath. Breathing is natural and always present in the moment. When being present and breathing, feelings sometimes appear. I allow it, viewing the feeling with curiosity. What’s it feel like? What’s it about? Being present with what is, is very different from being distracted with hollow discussion. Practicing this simple returning to the breath, we teach ourselves how to be more present and alive. Our meditation will effect our life and our life effects our meditation.
Life is often difficult and even traumatic and we develop defenses. These defenses sometimes remain longer than they are needed. Returning to the breath works very well but sometimes what is needed requires more courage and the help of a therapist. There are many voices inside us that grab our attention. For example the critical voice, entitled voice, why me voice and the hurt or angry voice. It is important to see them and take responsibility for them. We can make a choice regarding if we believe them and how much power to give them. By not engaging in hollow discussion we awaken to our life.
Please join us for morning Zoom zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, in person zazen at the McNail Riley House Saturday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion of the topic for reflection blog from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357
Passcode: 278259
Gassho,
Futai
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