My teacher’s teacher, Noda Daito Roshi, once told me, “Daishin-san, please don’t think less of me because I drank sake. If I had not had a few drinks in me, I would never have considered becoming a priest.” (Read the full story here.)

I tell this story not to encourage you to break the precept urging us to refrain from intoxicants, but to humanize our teachers. The Zen path is available to everyone, regardless of their poor life choices. In fact, I sometimes equate zazen with unconditional love. Sitting upright and still, open and aware, we can experience the unbounded love of the Buddha.  

Buddha teaches us to love the parts of ourselves that we hate. When we allow this, we embark on a path of self-acceptance. Accepting ourselves as we are, even the ugly parts, is the foundation for wise decision making.

Love the self. Settle the self. Serve others.

Joined Palms,

Daishin