Seasons of Gratitude

Han at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

This has been a year of my mother's passing as well as many friends and colleagues. There is something about losing a dear friend and loved one that brings forth such a wide range of emotions and feelings — that brings to foreground the immediacy of this life we are living. Along with the grief of loss is the sensation from deep down of gratitude. Gratitude for this life, gratitude for sharing precious wild moments with those that have passed, and renewed gratitude for those people and thing that are right before me.

This is the season of giving thanks — yet we all know gratitude can be given in all seasons. I, at least, need reminders. At Tassajara Zen Mountain Center there are large wooden blocks that are struck hard and clean sending a sound that carrys through the valley calling students to "practice" in the meditation hall. Written on the the wooden blocks (Han) are words that remind the practitioners of the immediacy of our life. I have seen many translations written by various teacher at various zen centers. The one above reads:

"Wake Up 

Life is transient

Swiftly Passing

Be aware

The great matter

Don't waste time"

From a Cypress tree I cut this winter after the fire here that burned our property and almost burned our home, I have been cutting, carving, planing, shaping, a Han for my home.

I hope to write something like:

"Life is transient

Be aware

Be grateful

Wake Up!"

With a large wooden mallet I hope to strike the slab of wood and let the sound penetrate to the bones reminding me of this wild life unfolding. The sound calling up from deep down the presence of gratitude and wakefulness — a reminder and call to life.

Giving heartfelt thanks to you all,

Steven

P.S. For those that might want to read more about gratefulness here is a link to an article that I wrote sometime back that is published on Bro. David's Gratefulness website: Meal Chant Stew.

For more about the fire of less than a year ago: Pfeiffer Fire