Greener grass

Good morning!

After the tornados we are now having a very quiet Sunday morning. And after our sittings, we have a very peaceful, quiet world.

With a lot of rain, now we have dogwoods, spirea, lilacs, azaleas, irises, lilies of the valley, and big, beautiful peony flowers blooming in our garden.

Dogen said, “Flowers fall in lamentation. Weeds flourish in detestation.”

After cherry blossoms, magnolias, plums, and pears, we’ve been enjoying other flowers blooming in continuous succession.

In the natural force and situation, weeds also grow. Yesterday, I dug dandelions. My neighbor across the street has an impeccable green lawn.

The surrounding neighbors have some dandelions, and they are worried about dandelions spreading seeds and spreading more dandelions. I’ve been trying to dig them up while the soil is soft.

As you know, dandelions have deep roots and are difficult to root out. The root tips left underground may grow full-fledged again.

When they are emerging, we can easily pull them out. There are abiding ones from the past in our big yards, which necessitate herbicides and pesticides.

Dandelions in Japan are somewhat rare on roadsides, etc., and are rather loved. We don’t know if dandelions are flowers or weeds.

Nowadays, we have natural farming, using no herbicides, pesticides, or even fertilizers, growing vegetables together with weeds – just cut down, if necessary.

This may be a more natural way. “Flowers” and “weeds” are due to human judgment, relative to gain and loss. We call some flowers and fruits, if gained. We name them weeds, if lost.

If we sit in zazen, there is no gain or loss, lamentation or detestation. We can settle in peace, conditioned by nothing. From here we may get solutions.

Dogen said, “Even if this dharma is abundantly endowed, without cultivation, it is not developed; without verification, it is not attained.”

If we practice, we are sure to develop, verify, and attain it whenever, wherever. So I hope everyone enjoys this peace, nirvana, and tastes amrita, ambrosia of immortality.

4/24/11