Won Buddhism of Manhattan

My first introduction to sameness and nothingness was at a retreat I attended in 2001when I realized that the pure emptiness of the sky was the same as I.

In completing an exercise that was assigned to the group, it became apparent that we were all the same the same as the rivers, grass, flowers, sun and hills, etc...  

In realzing our sameness, the buddha nature in all becomes easier to recognize.

It’s helpful to find a quiet spot in nature to do the exercise but if it is not convenient, nature can be found in the mind’s eye. Quiet your mind and focus on nature.

Choose one object from nature. Any object will do; a mountain, the ocean, a river, flower, tree, moon, animal – whatever feels right.  Once the object is decided upon, completely give your attention to it, without judgment.  When the mind is free of distraction, make a list of all the qualities about the object that come into the mind.

When the list is complete, add the words “I am” before each quality.

What does this say to you?

I am the sky.
I am free to move in every direction.
I am powerful winds.
I am the calmness of the night.
Sometimes I am cloudy, sometimes I am bright.
I am the space between every particle and
I am in all that there is – and, is not.
I am the space that all there is travels through
and I can carry everything.
I am pure nothingness.

April, 2009