“Everyone can start a meditation practice by pondering this question every day – what was your original face before your parents gave birth to you?” ~Master Jinje
Last week I went to the historic Riverside Church to hear Seon (Zen) Master Jinje, the 79th Patriarch in the Korean lineage of the Buddha. My friend, John and Justin – the genius duo behind FreshFluff, invited me to the event and given my interest in and dedication to daily meditation, I couldn’t pass it up. To be in the presence of someone like Master Jinje, someone so disciplined and so full of goodness, is an honor. Secluded in Korea, this was his first visit to the U.S. and given the reception he received I’m sure he’ll return. Our society needs his message: meditation is a vital part of a rich and meaningful life and it is available to everyone. It begins by questioning everything.
Master Jinje took questions from the audience and one member asked how someone who has never mediated before can begin a practice. It’s a common question. The word “meditation” is a loaded term. Many people feel they need to have a religious practice or that they must already have some level of enlightenment in order to meditate.
Master Jinje put that concern to rest. He insisted that meditation is for everyone, and that it should be practiced by everyone. We need to time to sit and tune in to our own inner wisdom, and yes, there is an inner wisdom in every person. You, me, and everyone we come across throughout our daily activities. All you need to do is think about who you are authentically – not in terms of your relationships or your work or where you live. Consider the challenge of considering one simple question – “What was your original face before your parents gave birth to you?” All of a sudden everything you know is shattered. All your preconceived notions of an identity are gone. Now the real work begins. Who are you on a soul level?
For me, this question is scary and exciting, and therefore it warrants some more consideration. There must be something in there for me, and so I sit every day now and think about this question. It becomes an all-consuming question and practice; my troubles fall away as my mind turns this idea over and over again. And that is its magic. All of a sudden I am a part of something much bigger, braver, and wiser just by asking this question and not shrinking away from its answers.
Enlightenment is not so far away; it’s not some mysterious, out-of-reach goal. It’s with us right now. Within you, there exists an enlightened sensibility and it wants its fair share of air time. It doesn’t need a microphone; on the contrary, all it’s asking for is a few moments of quiet time with you and you alone. It has all the answers you seek, and those answers will be revealed one tiny jewel at a time every time you show up to sit and be still and consider who you are at your very essence. Listening will be rewarded.
Christa Avampato 
Listening will be rewarded, Christa, but listening is also its own reward.
People in the Big Apple, unfortunately, are always rushing around: eating on the go, drinking on the go, meeting people on the go. There is a sense here that there is no time; that time is finite; that time is your enemy; that you are always racing against time.
When you sit down to meditate, however, you enter the realm of what is timeless. Suddenly, you find your daily concerns falling away: you are in another zone. From that level of consciousness, even your body is maaya or illusion. You can no longer hang on to the things you own; you can no longer find solace in your creature comforts or salary.
Thus, meditation allows you to connect with your spirit. Gaining access to your divine guidance is key, because it can help you in resolving problems and making decisions and getting things done and achieving results.
Even musicians know about the value of the silent spaces between the notes. Music happens only when you are prepared for the pause. This interval gives you the chance to play the next musical score. Cheers.
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I love that analogy to music. It’s the quiet in between the notes that make them all the more beautiful. And so it is with our life and our actions – meditation amplifies the goodness we do in our busier moments.
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