Embracing Afflictive Emotions and Mind-States
Dear Still Water Friends,
Many years ago I attended a week-long silent retreat with Dai-En Bennage, who is a Soto Zen Roshi (Master Teacher) and also a student of Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh). There were just nine people at the retreat and from time to time we were called in for an interview with the teacher. In an interview I had the day after I arrived Dai-En asked me how I was doing. I said that I was settling in and getting calmer, but from time to time my mind drifted to an ongoing conflict I was having with my wife. I assured her that it was not a major impediment and in a short time I would be undistractedly centered and relaxed. Dai-En smiled and then with great warmth said: “Mitchell, you have it wrong. Your disagreement with your wife is not separate from your practice. She is the face of the Buddha looking at... Continued
