“Don’t just stand there, one foot in and one foot out. Throw yourself in.”

The great matter of life and death is an ever present reality. Whether we are ready to face this reality or not, there is no guarantee we will see tomorrow or even take a next breath. How can this truth awaken our urgency to practice and enliven our fervor to live our lives?

In this recent dharma talk, Chodo Sensei encourages us, in Dogen’s words, to “practice as if your head were on fire.” Grieving the fresh loss of loved ones and sangha members is another opportunity to become urgently attuned to showing up to each moment. To fully engage the pain and beauty, the joy and sadness entails getting out of our ideas, philosophies, and concepts. Facing the great matter of life and death is not about being smart, but about being clear and curious. Chodo invites to sweep our minds of the conceptual baggage and old stories that hold us back from throwing ourselves into life. As Mary Oliver writes in “When Death Comes,” a poem Chodo offers at the end of his talk,  ‘I don’t want to end up having visited the world.’ Throw yourself in. 

Chodo Campbell Sensei is a Zen teacher, bereavement specialist, grief counselor and a recognized leader for those suffering with the complexities of death & dying, aging, and sobriety.  The educational non-profit he co-founded, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, touches thousands of lives every year through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices. Chodo has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning and other media outlets. 

Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji –  Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

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The post Sweeping the Mind Clear | Chodo Campbell appeared first on New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.