A Buddhist Detective?, by Susan Rakow

Are you one of those people that relaxes with a good detective story? This may seem an odd question for a Zen group blog. But recently, I was turned on (thank you Louisville Zen Center’s dharma study group) to a unique detective, Tenzing Norbu, in the book “The First Rule of Ten” by Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay. Tenzing is a former Tibetan monk who always wanted to be a policeman. When he leaves monastic life at 18, he’s given that opportunity and he becomes an LAPD detective and later a private investigator. But he doesn’t leave his training behind, and we are introduced to an officer who does daily meditation, is a vegetarian, investigates his thoughts and feelings, and strives to live with compassion and intentiont to reduce suffering in every circumstance. He’s complicated, like the rest of us.

 I found it instructive to see how he brings his practice to his work and his relationships, even if his practice isn’t Zen. Here’s an example taken from his thoughts following an interview with a suspect: “I felt sad for Thomas Florio, Sr., but there wasn’t much I could do besides send him good thoughts; he would have to do the rest. Life demands that we face the consequences of our actions, and sometimes it boils down to a series of sweaty ten-minute conversations that you’re either willing to have or you’re not. Florio had a few such conversations looming over his future, and I hoped for his sake he wouldn’t put them off for too much longer.” Or this one when he’s trying to help someone make a decision: “Every situation comes with myriad karmic influences and conditions. The Buddha himself said that karma is so complex a person could go crazy trying to figure it out…” Or here when he’s trying to focus on some dilemmas in his work during meditation: “I posed my questions…What are these three men really up to? How can I use my skills and presence to ensure that the highest good is accomplished? I ended with an all-purpose benediction I apply whenever I ask for assistance from unseen forces…May answers come to me by easeful attraction rather than stressful pursuit, and may all beings benefit from these inquiries.”  There are numerous incidents when Tenzing senses something in his body and uses his spiritual practices to investigate the possible emotions or thoughts behind the feeling with the kind of curiosity and intensity that is at the root of our Zen practice as well. 

Of course, there are many many invaluable nonfiction books on Zen and the dharma that will spur us to practice. But as a retired English teacher and an avid reader throughout my life, I have never lost my enjoyment of a good novel.  And this one hits several buttons at once. Perhaps you’ll enjoy it too. 

Resolutions, by Susan Rakow

It’s common practice for many of us to make new year’s resolutions. Research suggests we tend to break them within just a few months! Lose weight, exercise more, etc. Not that these aren’t worthwhile goals. Of course we can make efforts to be at a healthy weight for our age, height, and individual physiology and exercise to keep our bodies fit for as long as we are able. But what does this have to do with Zen practice?

 

Among the 16 Precepts, are the Three Resolutions: 

I resolve to do good. 

I resolve to avoid wrong. 

I resolve to liberate all living beings. 

 

These can be powerful statements of commitment to growth and change for the new year. Each one turns our attention to actions that will demonstrate our True Nature as it manifests in our daily lives and will honor the interconnectedness that is revealed in our Zen meditation practice and in awakening experiences. 

 

What does it mean to “do good?” While in some ways this will differ for each person based on his/her karmic circumstances (work, family, community, school, etc.), the root of it is to act in ways that decrease suffering for ourselves and others. A simple act like picking up trash when we take a walk in our neighborhood or shoveling the snow for an elderly neighbor makes the world a more compassionate and beautiful place.  Sometimes our actual job is “doing good”, whether it’s as a doctor or a janitor, a bookstore owner or a grocery delivery person, a mail carrier or a mayor. If we ask often enough “How do my actions contribute to or help alleviate suffering?” we will be able to live up to this resolution more and more often. 

 

What does it mean to “avoid wrong?” This might seem obvious from the previous resolution; if “doing good” means helping alleviate suffering then obviously “avoiding wrong” means not creating or contributing to suffering. And that’s true…but it’s not enough. Sometimes, telling a lie is more convenient. Not wearing a mask in a pandemic is more comfortable. Breaking up with someone by text message is easier. But what’s at the root of these “wrong” actions? The Self. And one of the essential teachings of Buddhism and Zen is No- Self. The Self is a useful construct that contributes to psychological well-being and we each need a healthy self-concept to function. But The Self has no abiding reality and the actions described above are only designed to be convenient, comfortable, and easier for this imagined Self. So when we resolve to avoid wrong, we can ask whose suffering we are attempting to alleviate? And if it is ONLY ourselves, we might need to think again. 

 

It is also not okay to continually cause ourselves to suffer and allow others to abuse us. It’s a delicate balance, and often, the most damage we do to ourselves is with negative and harmful thoughts about ourselves. “I’m worthless,” “I’m not good enough,” ‘I don’t deserve to have peace or happiness.” For some people, these negative thoughts contribute to anxiety and depression. So “avoiding wrong” includes not listening to these negative voices in our heads as well as not committing acts that harm others. 

 

But it’s the third resolution that is the foundation for living up to the first two. When we resolve to “liberate all beings”, the starting place is with ourselves and our zazen (seated Zen meditation practice.) When we break through and liberate ourselves from our thoughts, the delusive thinking that is the source of suffering (as we know from The Four Noble Truths), we rouse the energy and strong focus we need to work at living up to the first two resolutions. Just as we need to bring our attention back and back again and again to our meditation practice, we need to try again and again to manifest these resolutions in our daily lives. 

 

The grounding for all of this is daily Zen meditation practice. DAILY. PRACTICE. And practice involves not just those moments of wholeness, but the moments of distractedness followed by the awareness that we’ve frittered away, and the return of our attention to the counting, the breath, or the koan. 

 

That’s how to live up to our New Year’s resolutions…not just for 2021, but for every year we are fortunate and grateful enough to be alive.

The Five Pillars of Wellness, by Susan Rakow

A fulfilling life is one that prioritizes self-care while at the same time, recognizes our responsibilities and connectedness to all living beings. Identifying your life’s purpose and meaning often requires deep introspection and reflection. These pillars support health and well-being in body, mind, and spirit.

Pillar 1: Sleep and Restoration
Sleep is vital for health and wellness. The body and mind undergo well-deserved restoration while we sleep. Disconnecting from devices in the evenings, taking a warm bath and incorporating peaceful breathing techniques into your bedtime routine are wonderful practices to help get rest each night. Most adults need 6-9 hours and teens need more. 

Pillar 2: Nutrition and Nourishment
Clean eating positively impacts the immune system, energy levels, mental health and skin. Making healthy food choices improves nutrition and helps the body and mind function at their best. This includes drinking plenty of water. 

Pillar 3: Exercise and Movement

Movement is crucial for life longevity. It doesn’t matter what activity you choose, but getting moving every single day is an excellent wellness practice. 20 minutes of cardio a day increases happiness and promotes a healthy life. Yoga stretches provide needed flexibility in body and mind. It is even more valuable when exercise is outdoors and we are spending time in nature, experiencing its healing benefits. 

Pillar 4: Socializing 

While this is difficult during quarantine, we still need to make sure we are connecting to friends and family. Technology can help and we are lucky to have some, even if it’s just a land-line telephone that allows us to call and talk to people. In our own homes, we need to put phones and other devices aside and play games, have meals together, listen to music and dance together, watch movies and TV together, and learn from each other, regardless of our ages. Mom and Dad can learn to play video games (and lose) and kids can experience black and white movies (and groan). But together. Zooming in to meditation sessions can also be surprisingly nurturing, creating social contacts that also nurture our Practice. Human beings are social animals and we need these “spiritual friends.”

Pillar 5: Meditation
Zen Meditation Practice is not an achievement to conquer. Daily meditation creates space for peace of mind. It helps us develop the attention and awareness that allows us to be fully present with other people and all living beings. It cultivates the equanimity we need to ride out the everyday storms and inevitable changes in our daily life. While it may be easy to add “in these very difficult times,” when we look at humankind and our existence over eons, when have people NOT faced difficulties? Siddhartha Gautama’s first noble truth, “Life is suffering” was voiced 2500 years ago and is no less true today. However, he also taught that there is a way out of suffering and that is through our Practice.