Buddhism<\/a> in the West, well, you better get out more. There\u2019s a reason that the joke about how many Buddhists it would take to change a light bulb is funny. One would turn it this way and another would turn it the other.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWell, that doesn\u2019t seem all that funny just now.<\/span>
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Anyway, I\u2019ve found conferences quite valuable, despite all the blah, blah, blah. Connecting with others and hearing about how others are approaching this great experiment is really quite helpful and fascinating.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIf you teach and think that you\u2019re beyond all that, well, that\u2019s probably just arrogance.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>I take in a conference every couple years and that seems about right for me. I went to the American Zen Teachers meeting in Rochester last summer so this year I\u2019m doing other things. I\u2019m rather introverted and usually find myself exhausted from all the talk that Buddhists like to do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nBut if you think it isn\u2019t about speaking, here\u2019s a piece of Dogen for ya:<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nTo speak to another does not necessarily divide self and other. Speaking to another is self speaking to self. It is self and self, hearing and speaking together. One ear speaks and one ear hears. One tongue speaks and one tongue hears. Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind, root, consciousness, and objects are all like this. Furthermore, one body and one mind realize and practice. This is the ear itself hearing and speaking, the tongue itself hearing and speaking. <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
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