On Being Thankful
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
This morning I am typing on friend Allen's computer. I admit these last couple of days have worn me down. This morning, however, I am feeling on the uphill swing. I took a little time away from Talmud this morning to sort out my car. After the Academy tomorrow I am driving to the Refuge and staying for the week. The Refuge is a wonderful experience. I very much look forward to being there. But more than anything else, I look forward to finally moving into our new home and being settled.
Each morning I wake and am thankful; each evening I go to sleep and am thankful. Thankfulness is a wonderful state of being. We must develop it, encourage it. We do this by first noticing that we have something to be thankful for. I am thankful for my wife. She loves and protects me. She nourishes me. She encourages me. I am thankful for my family and friends. My children who are always such a source of surprise and delight, a source of pride and wonder. My friends who nurture me, recognize me, and give me so much joy.
I am saddened by my challenges. I am not comfortable with outward expressions of fondness and praise. I do not offer to my family and friends the same that I receive from them, or at least not in the same measure. I suppose we can all learn to do better at this. I suspect it is a good practice. One reason this is, I suppose, that many of us walk around feeling as though we are such frauds.
Zen is an introspective practice that must have, to coin a phrase, extrospective applications. We must learn from our self examination and be fearless as we rise from the cushion and step out into the world. My practice is deepening. I am emerging without an "I" more frequently. This is a good thing.
I will be ordering things for the Zendo shortly. We have been fortunate enough to have received several generous donations from our Clear Mind Zen website. For those in the Las Cruces area, I would like to know if you would be interested in beginning a Zen practice with me in my new Zendo (limited seating to six experienced practitioners who wish to become my students) and on what day. I was thinking about a Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM or Saturday or Sunday Mornings at 8:30 AM. Please give me your feedback.
Thank you very much.
Be well.