The weeks of sunny settled weather since the start of the month broke yesterday. Back to more typical Irish summer weather, sunshine and showers….

There is no attainment whatsoever. Because there is nothing to be attained.

The Heart Sutra

The first time I heard Suzuki Roshi speak, he said “You are perfect just as you are”. I thought “He doesn’t know me. I am new here” But again and again he would keep pointing in that direction saying “You have everything you need”, “You are already complete”, “Just to be alive is enough”. I finally had to assume that I was not the sole exception to these assertions, but I was still dubious.

And as I continued to practice and talk with other students, I found that many people share the conditioning that leads us to think that there’s something wrong with us. If we could only “get”, “do” or “be” something more, “then” we would be alright.

Its so easy for us to get the idea that there is something wrong with us. And so hard to let go of that and just appreciate this one life, as it is, as a gift.

Blanche Hartman, Seeds for A Boundless Life