We spent New Year's Eve sitting in ch'an on a muddy road next to a cauliflower field. I had this thought: A new year, a new mind. There is no time, there is no measure. Whether sitting in meditation or spinning in the busy affairs of the world, all discriminations are false coverings. Everything returned to "O" (zero).

Right now it's perfectly all right to completely let go and put it all down. Why don't I resolve today to be "right on" in every thought, word, and deed, and not be the least bit pretentious. What ever is holding me down is an illusion. My attachments can melt like snow in hot water with a single thought for the Way. I can truly be free and happy and make it my job personally to deliver all beings from suffering so we all get perfect enlightenment together. Yippee ! Happy New Year !

Disciples of the Buddha, the Bodhisattva,
Mahasattva, gives away everything in the
land, up to and including the position
of king. He can forsake all of these.
Amid all worldly matters his mind attains
independence. He is not bound, tied,
or attached to any of them. He leaves
behind all evil deeds and benefits living
beings.

-Avatamsaka
Ten Transference Chapter.

This morning we read The Buddha Speaks the Sutra of the Ultimate Extinction of the Dharma. It is a detailed account of the conditions and changes that will appear just before the Proper Dharma disappears from the world. (See Dharma Master Sure's translation of this Sutra in the prefatory pages of The Shurangama Sutra, Volume I . pg XIV-XVI.)
I had a strong response. Every word felt like it came from my own heart. I recognized the Sutra and felt totally familiar with it.

I knew I had heard it before, long ago. Tears began to come to my eyes as I remembered dreams and visions of the very things the Sutra describes that will come about.

Somehow it became as clear the sound of hammer hitting steel that this bowing pilgrimage, the entire Sangha, and the Master were all woven inextricably together in a deep and vital vow to protect and uphold the Orthodox Dharma. Our job was to prevent this Sutra from coming true. Truly the "pulse of the Patriarchs hangs by a thread."
Without regard to time or place or self, we come together life after life riding a vast and deep promise to cultivate to Buddhahood together and not allow the Dharma Ending Age to happen. Worlds and personalities come and go like the changing seasons but these vows never end. In my heart past all words I know this is how it truly is--throughout all numbers of kalpas, without cease.

He further makes great vows, vowing
to receive all Buddhas' Dharma
wheel, vowing to gather in all Buddhas'
Bodhi, vowing to protect all Buddhas'
teachings, vowing to maintain all Buddhas'
Dharmas--vast and great as the Dharma
Realm, ultimate as empty space, exhausting
the boundaries of the future, throughout
all numbers of kalpas, without cease.

-Avatamsaka Sutra
Ten Grounds Chapter
(Ground of Happiness)

Impermanence

Things aren't always what they seem
Bubbles, shadows, echoes, dreams.
Quickly come, they're gone as fast,
Drops of dew, a lightning flash.

No one stays and nothing lasts--
Reflections in a looking-glass.
Nothing lasts and no one stays,
As in the burning house we play.

Take heed, my friends, for who can tell?
Don't wait for thirst to dig your well.
The lonely graves are for the young
In vain my foolish song is sung.

Kuo Gao, Kuo Te and her children stopped on the way back to Los Angeles. They attended the winter session at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. They bowed in the morning with us and made a meal offering. Kuo Gao just took the Bodhisattva Precepts and was like a little kid, excited and happy.