I explain to you matters pertaining to enlightenment,
But don’t try to keep your mind on them.
Just turn to the ocean of your own essence
And develop practical accord with its nature.
- Yangshan courtesy of dailyzen.com

Many of my clients have expressed frustration when I do not tell them what to do. They come to my office seeking help for the problems they are having in their lives. What is implied is their inability to take care of themselves. If I am just giving advice I run the risk of validating their belief that they are incompetent. Instead I sit with them and we turn together to the oceans of  our essence. We acknowledge and investigate the worries,fears, and conflicts with an open mind. That process has great potential for my clients  to develop a practical accord with the nature of their essence. I have no place in that work. I can only provide a space for them to experience the learning and wisdom of reflection and self acceptance.

Meaning to get away from intellectualization
And avoid word traps,
I sailed across the sea to search for the
Transmission beyond the teachings;
Went on pilgrimages till my sandals broke
And found water in the clear stream,
The moon in the sky.
 - Kakua (1143 - ?) courtesy of dailyzen.com

Anna Freud considered intellectualization to be an important part of adolescent development. Stepping away from our feelings and into our thoughts can bring a sense of calm and order to an emotionally chaotic world. A situation that is particularly evident in adolescence. A defense mechanism protects but does not allow for learning. We create our own word traps to justify our reactions and build up our self esteem. Learning becomes a liability and evidence of incompetence.When we catch ourselves justifying our behavior we move from being defensive to being curious. The shift to curiosity is necessary for our pilgrimage to begin.
The search for transmissions beyond teachings is the acquisition of wisdom. Every day is a pilgrimage of sorts. We step through so many moments distracted by our thoughts and preoccupied by our desires. When we return to the present moment- with the simple act of the in breath-we shift into our pilgrimage. Even if it is for a brief moment, the act of returning allows the moon in the sky and the water in the clear stream to become our guides to enlightenment.

Sages are benevolent without trying,
Trusted without speaking.
They gain without seeking,
Succeed without striving.
They take naturalness to heart,
Preserve ultimate reality,
Embrace the Way,
And promote sincerity,
So the whole world follows them as echoes
Respond to sounds;
As shadows imitate forms.
What they work on is the root.
 - Wen-tzu, courtesy of dailyzen.com
Anyone who comes in for psychotherapy is, by default, stimulating their inner sage. We all have the capacities for everything that is described in this poem. In therapy we work on the root. That does not necessarily mean long conversations about childhood experience. The root is the  basic assumptions we have about our self, our life, and our world. As new ideas emerge in our conversations,  ultimate reality is preserved. What we take for granted becomes a rich experience  of wonder and amazement. Our capacity to modify and change our basic assumptions helps us to take this  naturalness to heart and promote a sincerity in our personal growth. A natural outcome of this work is a cultivated benevolence and selfless regard for others. We are the Way.

If your mind is fixed on a certain spot,
It will be seized by that spot and
No activities can be performed efficiently.
Not to fix your mind anywhere is essential.
Not fixed anywhere,
The mind is everywhere
The Original Mind is like water which flows freely
Whereas the deluded mind is like ice
There is a passage in the Diamond Sutra that says:
"The mind should operate without abiding anywhere."
 - Takuan (1573-1645) courtesy of dailyzen.com

Freud taught us to maintain an evenly hovering attention when listening to our clients. His point was an open mind allows us to pay attention to everything that is discussed with equal importance and regard. I  listen to the struggles and concerns of my clients with an open heart and an open mind. When the hour is up they return to their painful life while I get a cup of coffee.  While that may sound callous it is an important part of coping with a day filled with appointments. Fixing my mind and holding onto that pain  commits a tremendous amount of mental energy which  would increase exponentially as the day progressed. I take a few minutes between each session to pause with the all important in-breath and reflect on what was discussed before returning to the present moment. It creates a pace that allows me to be fully present and fully available to each of my clients; from the first appointment till the last. If we can apply this strategy to our lives we can perform our activities more efficiently.  Taking small breaks through out the day creates an opportunity to let go of those thoughts that demand tremendous amounts of mental energy. By aspiring to engage our lives with an Original Mind we can manage our pain; our fears; and our joys with resilience and equanimity. Letting go is not forgetting, letting go is allowing everything  to be a part of our life with equal importance and regard. “Like water that flows freely.”

Our original mind includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient within itself.
You should not lose your self-sufficient state of mind. This does not mean a closed mind, but actually an empty mind and a ready mind.
If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.
                                                                      - Shunryu Suzuki (1905-1971) courtesy of dailyzen.com

“ I know what I need to do, I just don't do it”. This is a very common phrase I hear in the initial meeting with a new client. A very powerful belief that allows the individual to be trapped in a web of shame and self contempt. Therapy can make this worse by insisting there are many possibilities.  We sit with this dilemma and spend our time understanding the different ways it disrupts and complicates daily life. Despair is the most powerful outcome and can have a devastating effect on an individual’s quality of life. Thoughts of suicide are not far behind, especially if there is a belief that others are suffering as a result of this constant failure. As we sit, our conversation creates a new space to explore. A space that is validating and supportive will allow  the idea of a beginners mind to emerge in our shared endeavor. The many possibilities of the beginner’s mind arise in subtle ways. To shift into an active problem solving discussion obscures their presence. It's like identifying  a faint star in the sky by looking to the side and seeing it in our peripheral vision.  The discovery of a new experience usually happens between sessions when my client is engaged in some other activity. We celebrate these revelations  and begin discussing the next steps for this new beginning.  When we can step back from our self defeating beliefs our beginner’s mind is engaged. Our self sufficient state of mind  resides in the periphery of our consciousness. In a loving and nurturing environment we can help each other to tap into it’s limitless possibilities.

Reaching my hut built of quiet mystery,
I sweep clouds away and settle into repose.
There's no one left to climb with me beyond
Slippery moss and frail vines to this peak
Where autumn winds bluster and breeze
And spring grasses grow lush and green.
                  - Hsieh Ling-yun (385-433 C.E.) courtesy of dailyzen.com


We all fear being alone in the world. Our relationships are an essential part of our sense of self identity. In therapy the work is often directed to the conflicts experienced in the interpersonal arena. I like the idea that each of us has a hut built of quiet mystery. A metaphorical “place” for us to settle into repose. It is a dangerous delusion to think we can achieve a state of equanimity that allows us to experience life without pain.  For the hut to be a refuge we need to allow all of our feelings to settle with us.  Insight and self awareness are far more important than comfort.  Conflicts in our relationships are the most important opportunities for us to deepen our understanding of ourselves. If everything is going well there is no motivation to change. Relationships grow and develop over time, there is a necessary tension that facilitates this process. The quiet mystery of our hut is the uncertainty that allows these changes to happen. To step into this  uncertainty is to walk  the path to our hut. It is a path we have to walk alone if we are to discover our own truths. As we come to know ourselves we are able to have meaningful and fulfilling relationships with the important people in our life.

If one lives in peace, a day can be like a year.
Trying to sleep, I toss and turn on the worn out mat,
And pace around and around
In my tattered monk's shawl.
The Master suggests I make my bed
Among the wind and bamboo,
And have a drink beside the waters of the rocky spring.
A nod of the head, and all worldly affairs seem wrong.
Laughing at myself,
I understand the wisdom of the Master.
- Su Shih 1073 courtesy of dailyzen.com

Giving advice in psychotherapy is a risky endeavor. I frustrate many of my clients when I decline their requests for advice. A suggestion to make a bed among the wind and bamboo is to allow one to find their own answers. I work hard to ask questions that encourage self reflection and curiosity. We all seek a life in peace; in the spirit of the bodhisattva we seek peace for all sentient beings. We engage in life as a student and a master. My work is to allow my clients to recognize the master within; drink beside the waters of a rocky stream; and realize the opportunities for a life in peace.