“When the mind calms down, we can treat ourselves and others more authentically.” – Chodo Campbell 

Morality and right ethical conduct is not about appearing a certain way or trying to look good. Doing what is right is about owning your own shit, vowing with every misstep to act more skillfully, and continuing to practice what you truly value with others. How can you pull yourself together over and over again to experience a life of freedom and connection?  

In this dharma talk, Chodo Sensei explores Sila, the paramita of ethical conduct or moral discipline. The occasion for these teachings is the Contemplative Care Retreat which gathered around the theme of “The Nobility of Imperfection”. Beginning with the verse of atonement, Chodo invites us to face our minds and actions exactly as they are in the messiness and confusion of life. Drawing on his own experiences and the insight from Norman Fischer that “…wrong conduct unsettles the mind and heart…,” we are encouraged to find our breath and take our seats to help settle our minds and ground ourselves in this moment.  It is difficult to see what is fresh and new when we are caught up in the swirl of unskillful behaviors, Chodo tells us. How can we interrupt unhealthy habits and begin again, right now? This talk concludes with Zen Master Raven and daffodils teaching us more about liberation.   

ZENTALK NOTES

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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