A Painting A Day
Apr. 4th, 2015 08:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
riotheclown"Sister Elaine">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugsuQVCGS-U
I have found that the reference to God or gods leads to more misunderstanding than understanding. I have difficulty at times with people getting very lazy when they slap a label on something and think they have "mastered" it. But in the case of Sister she is not referring to anything that can be an excuse so I just sit, notice the thoughts that chafe at references to God and creation and continue to sit. To be honest, we are all encumbered by our concepts, and I am as encumbered as anyone. I sit for the same reason as everyone does, to understand my true nature.
"If the experience brings you to freedom there are no boundries" to quote her. She is one of a very few Zen Masters in the world. Soto Zen is one of the few Buddhist lineages that offers transmission, a requirement of becoming a Sensei, to women, as the historical "Buddha" did 2500 years ago. I am fortunate to belong to a sanga that she founded.
I painted this one for her 90th birthday. She still sits regularly with the Toronto Zendo and this painting was presented to her at the party.
I have found that the reference to God or gods leads to more misunderstanding than understanding. I have difficulty at times with people getting very lazy when they slap a label on something and think they have "mastered" it. But in the case of Sister she is not referring to anything that can be an excuse so I just sit, notice the thoughts that chafe at references to God and creation and continue to sit. To be honest, we are all encumbered by our concepts, and I am as encumbered as anyone. I sit for the same reason as everyone does, to understand my true nature.
"If the experience brings you to freedom there are no boundries" to quote her. She is one of a very few Zen Masters in the world. Soto Zen is one of the few Buddhist lineages that offers transmission, a requirement of becoming a Sensei, to women, as the historical "Buddha" did 2500 years ago. I am fortunate to belong to a sanga that she founded.
I painted this one for her 90th birthday. She still sits regularly with the Toronto Zendo and this painting was presented to her at the party.
