Zen is like a parachute jump...

Hi!

I'm  starting up the blogging again after being away for a while.

Even though i'm no authority of any kind, a humble Ordained Zen Priest, and just an modest fool at best, today i want to talk about the likeness between parachuting and Zenpractice.

So please read along.

When you hear the roar from the open door as the wind rushes in and around your airplane you realize it's time to jump.

You get up, stand in the doorway and look out...

The feeling you feel is at once both a rush and a world of fear, because what if?...

Jump.

Now a series of movements happen.

Movements you have done again and again, trained again and again so they become almost second nature.

You may not understand why you do them but you do them nonetheless.

Holding in the arms, pulling a chord, waiting for the chute to open.

If it doesnt open a new set of movements happens.

Scramble for the cord, pray a short pray, wait for second chute.

Suddenly the chute opens, whom!

A big pull/stop.

Floating.

You might think that you steer but you are just hanging there, going wherever the chute wants to take you.

So relax.

Enjoy the moment.

Landing.

New movements, new setting.

Been there, done that?

Maybe.

Now what does this have to do with zenpractice?

In zenpractice we do the same things.

We stand in the doorway, looking.

We do weird movements, get a feeling of ”floating” and land, only not in the same way, or is it?

And lastly, if the second chute doesn't open, enjoy the moment and hope that you instanly learn to fly...

So shall we get in the plane?

Mtfbwy

Fugen