The Bright Dark

Deep Autumn Greetings Fellow Travelers of the Way!

As autumn becomes us, I have been contemplating darkness and the creaturely way my body seems to respond to the cold-dark. Maybe you too feel a little more intimate with the night and the dark creature of the body at this time of year.

Sometimes I feel, and I know others feel, that we are living in dark times—and whether this feels true for you—I think we all know something about the dark.

Whether its as the seasonal darkening of autumn, energetic darkness, or political, personal, emotional, technological, relational, spiritual—darkness is often something we fear or feel uneasy about.

Is it what is potentially lurking in the dark, or the darkness itself that sends shivers up the spine, drops dread in the gut, and perpetuates a sense of an impending doom?

We often invoke darkness when hope feels sparse.

When the way ahead feels hard, dismal, heavy, untenable or uncertain. Will we be ok? Will those we love be safe? Will the things we value and care about continue to be available?

Dharma teachings throughout time remind us that there is a light within the dark.

Call it bodhi, the awakened heart, vow, love. When we recognize even just an ember of this light—liberation is unstoppable.

I feel grateful for my dharma friend Taishin Michael Augustin for reminding me of the unstoppable nature of bodhi this week.

Having friends and practice companions on this path is essential. Our warm hearts and bright minds can point out a path together, footstep by footstep through whatever apparent darkness. I’m grateful for the many teachers, guides and friends that grace my life—they are truly bright points of light in this great mystery.

Sometimes, and I imagine you have experienced this as well, we even find the dark nourishing in itself. The dark invites unknowing, unbecoming, self-forgetting, openness, mystery, shunyata.

Darkness is alive—emergent, subtle, bright.

darkness is the home from which we come—zen koan

Jogen and I will be exploring this theme of the Bright Dark in our upcoming non-residential retreat at Deep Waters in Portland, OR. What is your relationship to the dark? What happens when you get curious about the darkness? Is there a bright thread in the dark in your life? How do you nurture it?

Universe Somatic: The Bright Thread in the Dark — January 22nd - 25th

Universe Somatic is a practice that integrates group meditation, movement and energy work with a spirit of experimentation and playfulness. We explore the union of spaciousness and embodied energies in a contemplative practice that is embodied and expressive.

The theme for this Universe Somatic is The Bright Thread In the Dark. We will play in knowing and not-knowing, hope and despair, yin and yang, creation and destruction, dancing in deep relationship with these polarities while also listening for the thread that doesn’t get stuck on either side.

During this retreat you will be invited to give expression to a full-range of energetic experience some of which may be familiar and comfortable, others which may challenge core implicit beliefs about who you are and what you do. We will be engaging in practices using our voices and our bodies, integrating movement and stillness, sound and silence.The retreat will commence on Thursday January 22nd from 7-9pm. The schedule on Friday and Saturday will run from 9am to 9pm with two separate two hour breaks for lunch and dinner. Sunday will conclude the retreat and we will meet from 9am-2pm.

You, Darkness by Rilke You, darkness, that I come from I love you more than all the fires that fence in the world, for the fire makes a circle of light for everyone and then no one outside learns of you. But the darkness pulls in everything- shapes and fires, animals and myself, how easily it gathers them! - powers and people- and it is possible a great presence is moving near me. I have faith in nights.

Faith in the Heart-Mind

The Great Way is not difficult for those who do not pick and choose. When preferences are cast aside, the Way stands clear and un-disguised. But even slight distinctions made set earth and heaven far apart. If you would clearly see the truth, discard opinions pro and con. To founder in dislike and like is nothing but the mind’s disease. And not to see the Way’s deep truth disturbs the mind’s essential peace. The Way is perfect like vast space, where there’s no lack and no excess. Our choice to choose and to reject prevents our seeing this simple truth.

Another light in the dark this autumn is the Faith Mind poem of the early Chan tradition. The podcast episode above is an exploration into the practice of awakening faith in ourselves as we walk this path of liberation in our lives. A reminder that the light of awareness is always right here, and that we can recognize this light for ourselves. The poem is an invitation to recognize Mind beyond thought and discrimination. An appeal to the seeker in us that knows that all that arises is the Way.

We are exploring this poem on Monday Nights, feel free to drop in!

On Monday Nov 3rd we will be doing a Ceremony for the Hungry Spirit. A practice of honoring the parts of us whose hungers and desires at times can feel bottomless. This ceremony will take place as part of the Monday Night Online Dharma offering. Bring an offering to your hungry spirit to participate in the ceremony. I will also offer a guided meditation to help us connect to the energy of the hungry heart that lives in us.

If you live in Columbus, we will do this ceremony in-person on Wednesday Oct 29th!

Weekly Online Meditation Event

Monday Night Dharma — 6P PT / 9P ET Join weekly for drop-in meditation and dharma talk. We are currently exploring the Faith in Mind poem by the 3rd Chinese Ancestor.

Feel free to join anytime. Event lasts about 1.5 hours. ZOOM LINK

In-Person in Columbus, Ohio through Mud Lotus Sangha

Weekly Meditations on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Retreats, Meditation instruction and other events can be found on our website.

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I’m Amy Kisei. I am a Zen Buddhist Teacher, Spiritual Counselor, Astrologer and Artist. I offer 1:1 Spiritual Counseling sessions using IFS and Hakomi (somatic mindfulness). I also offer astrology readings. Check out my website to learn more. I currently live in Columbus, OH and am a supporting teacher for the Mud Lotus Sangha.

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