Good morning!
We had a few very chilly days going down to five degrees F. I posted pictures of the moon, morning sun, steaming sea, ducks, and daffodils sent from Japan on our blog yesterday. The chilly air makes the water steam, and ducks enjoying swimming in the warmer water.
A monk asked Tozan (Dongshan), “When chill and heat come, how can we evade them?” Tozan said, “Why don’t you go to the realm of neither chill nor heat.” The monk said, “Where is the realm of neither chill nor heat?” ” Tozan said, “In chill, chill kills you. In heat, heat kills you.”
The Buddha used to teach lay people about donation (dāna), morality (sīla), and birth in heaven (sagga). Birth in heaven means Brahma-vihāra, Brahman’s abode or living in friendship, compassion, joy, and equanimity (upekhā, lit. throwing away, as in the fourth stage of jhāna, zen).
Dogen put them in the “great, mature, and joyful heart,” detailing his teacher’s “soft tender heart.” Bodhisattvas strive for the Six Perfections (pāramitā) of donation, morality, forbearance, striving, concentration (samādhi), and prognosis (prajñā). Donations can be that of goods and good dharmas.
1/11/15
Source:http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/007/420/54/N000/000/002/125076454993716303273_001_20090820193548.JPG