Commitment, Responsibility, and Trust

Yesterday,

during the brainstorming session at the Dojo, Mike added three words to the board Commitment, responsibility and trust. This reminded me of a lecture I attended at the American Chan Buddhist Center in St. Louis.

Dr.David Shaner was the speaker and the Topic was on Buddhism and engaged monasticism, In other words making every day life your monastery. We are all connected, and the cause of suffering is ego, we live in an illusion of separateness. This is craving, covententness and dogmatic desire, the opposite or being empty of separate self is selflessness and this enables connection. We need to adopt multiple viewing places--give up attachment to one view places. selflessness is the ability to to adopt others point of view and position. If I don't see you as separate I see you as me, to Judge, criticize, and blame come from separate self. Ego is a mental construct due to the craving for permanence. Once you realize that we are all connected, and that karmic disposition is created now!!! You are responsible for you actions, both conscious and unconscious thoughts, and the role you play in every interaction and relationship. There is no other to blame, if I harm you I am truly harming myself. This is the nature of my study and the reason for making a deeper connection to my self and others. To me this is the very nature of Ki- Aikido.