O Neness Quarterly Newsletter of BRIGHT DAWN CENTER of Oneness Buddhism Vol
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O neness Quarterly Newsletter of BRIGHT DAWN CENTER of Oneness Buddhism Vol. 22 No. 1 Spring 2018 THE EARLY YEARS by Rev. Koyo Kubose It is late February and I am sitting discussion sessions that emphasize It was also in the spring of 2015 at my desk, preparing the Spring Rev. Gyomay Kubose’s books that my brother Don also passed issue of our Oneness newsletter. and sutra translations. This LM away. He was a core supporter of all My attention keeps focusing on Study Program is a non-residential, my efforts in developing our Bright the theme of spring. My memory internet-based program that Dawn Center (BDC), including brings up many notable events that culminates in an LM Induction the building of our new Sierra occurred in past springs. Let me Ceremony that participants attend in Sanctuary. An Opening Dedication share some of them with you. person. In the planning period before was held in the spring of 2015, a It was in the spring of 1998 the actual start of this program, we few weeks after Don’s passing. that we (the Kubose family) held introduced the lay ministry concept Later this spring, our tenth LM a Dedication Ceremony for a new by honoring four persons from our Induction Ceremony will be held organization that twenty years later local Sangha, who for many years in our Sierra Sanctuary. A decade fi nds itself in Coarsegold, California provided active leadership. I’d like has fl own by since our move to as the Bright Dawn Center (BDC). to give special recognition to the California. As I refl ect on the early The founding mission or purpose fi rst person, Richard Brandon, who history of both the BDC and then of the BDC is to carry on the received this honorary lay ministry my own personal journey, I am at lifework of Rev. Gyomay Kubose’s status. the age where my memory of time approach/expression of the Dharma It was in the spring of 2002 divides itself into decades rather teachings. It was in the spring of that Richard formally established than years. 2000 that Rev Gyomay Kubose a retreat center in Plymouth, In fact, I think I will outline passed away, at the age of 95. Wisconsin. To honor Rev. Gyomay a timeline of memorable events In the spring of 2004 my book Kubose, Richard named it “Bright according to decades, starting “Bright Dawn: Discovering Your Dawn Homespread.” It was at with the 1940’s when I was born Everyday Spirituality” was printed. this retreat center that we held and moving through to the present One reason the book was titled our fi rst LM Induction Ceremony decade. I might even make some “Bright Dawn” is because my in the spring of 2008 because it projected plans for the 2020’s and father’s Dharma name, “Gyomay” was that spring that we moved 3030’s. Why not include even the means “Bright Dawn.” The book our organization from Illinois to 2040’s? Like I say, “Keep Going!” pays tribute to the bright dawn California and it took a while to theme by describing my early get unpacked and established at morning ritual of seeing the sunrise our new home in Coarsegold. I’d Inside over Lake Michigan and how like to mention that as I write this Don’t Complain; Don’t Explain p. 2 aspects of this ritual can relate to article, it is almost exactly three Bach’s Socks p. 2 life teachings. years since Richard passed away in Organic? p. 3 In the spring of 2006, we started early spring, 2015. His faithful wife No Fixed Wisdom p. 3 a Lay Ministry Study Program, Maryann and son Forrest have taken Discover the Way of Oneness p. 4 Blank Canvas p. 5 which is a two-year program of over the responsibility of running Reader Reply p. 5 weekly reading assignments and the retreat center. DON’T COMPLAIN; DON’T EXPLAIN by Dharma Dan I’d like to expound on the title of this individual differences considered in the context of article. I don’t remember where I fi rst nature? heard this quote but the origin is not as When you walk into a forest and look at trees, you important to me as providing a context don’t complain that the trees are growing crookedly, that involves a life teaching. For example, consider twisting this way and that way. When you go to a the context of a business leader. In fact, the quote beach and look at the waves, you don’t complain how has been attributed to Henry Ford or one of his waves are imperfect. So, when humans get together, descendants. How might the quote can be used as a why do you see each other in such judgmental ways? philosophy for business success? This is Dharma Dan and I have good ears… I don’t When business is not good, the successful leader seem to hear any answers coming from my human does not complain about how his workers need to audience! shape up or work harder. Instead of laying blame, BACH’S SOCKS a leader looks for actual solutions to problems. By Renee Seiyo Blaming and criticizing others only leads to a toxic work environment. The other day, my little dog, Bach, greeted me at With regard to his own executive decisions, a leader the door when I came home, as he always does, and should not feel defensive about having to rationalize followed me into my bedroom, as he always does. his major actions. In other words, he doesn’t have He can’t wait for me to take my socks off so he can to always be explaining himself to others. If one is grab one and run down the hall with it. I don’t really afraid of criticism, that’s a sure way of suppressing want to take my socks off sometimes because it’s creative problem solving. cold, but I really have no choice as he is jumping up To summarize, the fi rst part of “Don’t complain; and down and all around. He’s on me like a monkey don’t explain” refers to refraining from complaining on a cupcake! He is beside himself with the most to or about others when there is a problem. The second joy and happiness that I can’t help but give him both part refers to not being overly defensive about one’s socks. He can’t run away with it fast enough with it major decisions; that is, you do not always have to be hanging out of his mouth and then a split second later explaining yourself to others. In both cases, there is he is back for the other one. Still with no pause in his a shift away from judging people, whether others or joyfulness. oneself, and directing attention to how a problem is Well, this time, I said out loud to myself, as I being handled. watched him race down the hall “I wish I could get The quote “Don’t complain; don’t explain” is excited about a sock!” Then it hit me, after all these not only a good philosophy in business but also for years of watching him. Why don’t I get excited about life in general. One implication of “Don’t complain; a sock? Maybe I should be that excited about a sock. don’t explain” is the importance of respecting others Maybe I take my socks for granted. Maybe, I should and oneself. This means not being overly infl uenced be more grateful for the little things I never give by stereotypes and by “shoulds.” The uniqueness thanks for. Is a sock really a little thing? Not really. of individuals and their absolute value without There are no differences in illusions, remember. comparative judgment is the attitude behind “Don’t I mean, what if I didn’t have a pair of socks and complain; don’t explain.” it was really, really cold and I wished I had a pair of In contrast, a dualistic attitude of right and wrong nice warm socks. Socks would then be high on my can often lead to the use of labels that a person is priority list and my gratefulness practice. So why do lazy, stupid, selfi sh or mean. Such an attitude lends I need something that I am uncomfortable without one to view individual differences in a negative light. before I make the connection that I should be more We need to challenge this kind of attitude. How are grateful for, well, everything in my life. Universal Teachings For Everyday Living Page 2 ORGANIC? NO FIXED WISDOM By Dharma Dan By Alex Chong Do Thompson* Hey, there was space in this newsletter issue for *Alex is a member of LM10 which will have their Lay more copy, so I was asked to contribute another little Ministry Induction Ceremony this May. This article is article. I thought I’d write a few lines about the word from one of his class reports on the Heart of Wisdom “organic.” One of our LMs Gio Sayo (LM3) wrote Sutra text as translated by Rev. Gyomay Kubose us an email about this word. He had visited us for a When Gyomay Sensei made the comment about there few days last November and during his stay, he and being, "no fi xed wisdom", I literally had to put the Rev. Koyo had conversations about our Bright Dawn book down for a while and let that soak in.