Between aspiration, practice, enlightenment, and nirvana, there is not a moment\u2019s gap; continuous practice is the circle of the way.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n@font-face { font-family: \u201cTimes New Roman\u201d;}@font-face { font-family: \u201cTimesExtRoman\u201d;}@font-face { font-family: \u201cCalibri\u201d;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: \u201cTimes New Roman\u201d; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } <\/p>\n
\u201cAspiration\u201d (or \u201cinner-most request\u201d in Katagiri Roshi\u2019s vernacular) is included in the circle of the way and is an important fulcrum for practice. What is your aspiration for your practice? Do you think it wrong to be a Zen student and have an aspiration?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThink again. Without being vividly in touch with your aspiration \u2013 at least from time to time \u2013 you might be just wandering a snow storm or bogged down in slush.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOne helpful parlor game for unearthing your inner-most request comes from George Bowman, long-time Sasaki Roshi student and successor of <\/span>Seung\u00a0Sahn\u00a0Soen\u00a0Sa Nim.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\nSit calmly and ask yourself, \u201cWhat is the most important thing?\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\nLet the conditioned responses roll through you without attaching to any of them. When you hit on something that seems true, then ask yourself, \u201cWhat about this is the most important thing?\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\nContinue to refine your intention, distilling your response until your inner-most request is clarified.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\nThen get off your fat aspiration and practice it (thanks to Mark for this line).<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-vxxHYL0SBb8\/TYoSvpyx-gI\/AAAAAAAABGI\/_0c2qoY51Qc\/s1600\/101_1976.JPG\")
<\/a><\/div>\n