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Ekyo's Blog Sharing form the heart
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Change we did |
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November 21, 2008 I never thought that in my blog I will be writing about president of USA, but I cannot help but to share something. Time after last sesshin seem to be a crisis after crisis in my work situation. When two essential machines which I use all the time break within three days I wonder if something is telling me that change is needed in my life too. My tools are leaving me… Today, as I see snowflakes falling majestically and laughing again while recollecting one of the Zen sayings I relaxed and decide to take time to write this page. There are two events from the contemporary history, which I will always remember and where I was when it happened and how I found out about it. One was 9/11 and I wrote about it in earlier page. Second is electing Senator Obama for president. Since New Hampshire debate I have been his supporter and fan. This was the first time I had a time to watch it and learn who the candidates were. I was in peace seeing that they all were great people, especially after the darkness of recent eight years. I saw a very wise and virtuous person in Barak Obama… Of course at that time it was really a dream to think that he might become a president, considering conditions and history of this country. But my nen was flowing in his direction all the time … During Harvest sesshin week there was an election day and I was trying to make my mind weather to miss it in order to see this historic moment. A week before sesshin I went to vote. I was very inspired seeing how many people were already voting. The feeling in the office of Board of Election was profound as everyone knew this is a very crucial time. The bus goes trough the beautiful country side and small towns on the way to Catskills. I was told that this corner of NY State is mostly red so it was a surprise to see how many signs with Obama name were in front of people’s house and only few for the other candidate. This was reassuring but I was a bit nervous knowing that pools showed only a few point lead. During sesshin wee keep silence and there is no contact with outside world. I could not imagine waiting till end to find out about election so I spoke to tenzos asking them to slide a note with election’s outcome under my room’s door on Tuesday evening. As our formal sitting was over at 10.30 pm I continued sitting and came back to room at midnight. I waited another hour doing zazen in horizontal position but note did not come. Exhausted I fall asleep… As in dream I heard someone knocking. I woke up not knowing where I was… Where am I? Why am I here? What I am doing here?These simple but profound questions were facing me again, as several times before when someone woke me unexpectedly during sesshin night… As knocking stopped I concluded that perhaps I overslept wake up bell so why not continue sleeping, who cares… But when I looked at clock it was only twenty to 4.00 am. It was clear that my alarm set at 3.00 am was not effective in waking me up… Well, I thought, if I hurry up I can still make to zendo before wake up bell. A minute later someone again knocked at my door. Without thinking I said: Yes? This was Tenrai telling me: Ekyo, Senator Obama won presidency… Still half asleep I said: Thank you very much for letting me know.
The world is taking a breath of relief, I thought… Only later during morning chanting of Kanzeon with the words Nen, Nen ju shin ki tears of joy were flowing beyond my control. Now, after couple of weeks President–elect Obama is already working hard forming a new cabinet. The choices are so far outstanding. Someone wrote: "The right decision is a virtue." "They seem to be making the right decisions." Recently I was touched while watching Obama family in 60 Minutes interview. These are very normal people. At last we have some honest people in government... Change indeed can happen and only such being as Barack Obama has power to inspire people to believe in it and make it reality. The power of virtue is endless.
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