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Thought for Today
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the original candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. ”
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How to join our weekly sessions
 Our group continues to meet every Sunday night at 7 pm, as we have done for the past 7 years. These days, our meetings are virtual, through the magic of the Zoom app. Our format remains the same: A shared reading and discussion, a 15-minute zazen meditation and a final benediction.
If you are interested in joining us, fill out the form on this page and we'll send you instructions.
Stay safe ... sleep well ... live long.
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Of paychecks and dogs ...
 In parts of Manchuria, the carts are pulled by huge dogs. The driver hangs a piece of meat in front of the dog’s nose and the dog runs like crazy to try to get at it but of course he can’t. Then, after the cart has reached its final destination, the dog is thrown his meat. And guess what? In a single gulp he swallows it down.
It’s exactly the same with people and their paychecks. For an entire month they run after the salary hanging in front of their nose. Once the salary is paid at the end of the month they gulp it down, and then they’re off again, running after the next paycheck. Nobody can see farther than the end of their nose.
If you're not careful you’ll spend your entire life doing nothing besides waiting for your hopes to someday be fulfilled. If you do, you'll never appreciate what you already have, what is really in front of your nose: Your family. Your friends. Today!
--the late Zen priest "Homeless" Kodo
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Zen in the time of Coronavirus
 Such a bizarre time to be alive. (You might have noticed!) Thousands of people all around the country are dying. We seem to be surrounded by disease. Yet, yet … in some places where you go you see a sense of calmness.
The world is undergoing the unique experience of a pandemic and the effects are visible for all to see. But in addition to the physical manifestations of the COVID-19 virus, the disease is creating psychological repercussions. Mass hysteria, myths and rumors around the disease have taken a toll on many and even healthy, unaffected individuals have fallen prey to the weirdness of the times we live in.
One fact remains paramount: Fear may be affecting us more than the virus.
But as Buddhists who practice meditation (“zazen,” in our case) we know how to deflect the fear, don’t we? Since the time of the Buddha the solution remains much as it has in the past 2,500 years:
Stop what you’re doing. Disconnect. Sit still. Close your eyes (or stare at the floor). Focus on your breath. Inhale... Exhale... Breath is the enemy of fear.
Pay attention to the silence that surrounds you. Silence is our native habitat. We are born in silence. We retreat to the sanctuary of quiet when we need an escape. Feel the love all around you, coming mostly from yourself and going to yourself.
Repeat in your mind: This is good. This is life. This is me.
In times of stress we go back to basics. Don’t spend a lot of time on the Internet and social media. Filter out the fake news. If we can create fear through our thoughts, we can certainly create thoughts of calm and peace as well.
And most importantly: Stay safe … Sleep well … Be here for another tomorrow.
—Don DeMaio
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And finally ...
May the blessings of these practices awaken your own inner wisdom and inspire your compassion. .... And through the blessing of your heart may the world find peace.
The ZenSarasota group meets every Sunday night at 7 pm for Zen and zazen (meditation). We start with readings and discussion, then transition into zazen and chanting.
Come find the rest and inner peace that keeps us all in balance.
Our zendo is in the James Reeb Room on the campus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota (map here). Contact us at zen@uusarasota.org or, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can use the Contact form on our website.
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