At the Monastery we were recently reminded of a guideline: when we come into the Meditation Hall for a sitting period, as soon as we sit down we place our hands in the cosmic mudra, right hand cradling the left, thumbs lightly touching to form an oval. We don’t sit with our hands on our knees while we wait for the meditation period to begin.
Placing our hands in the meditation posture as soon as we sit down in the Hall is a physical, concrete practice of greeting every moment as the Buddha at the door, of greeting every moment with loving attentiveness. It is practicing there is no moment that does not count. It is practicing making the choice for Life over ego in every moment. It is practicing ending suffering in every moment.
Sitting with our hands on our knees before the bell rings is a posture of waiting: As soon as that bell rings, I’m going to be ending suffering! I’m going to give it everything, just as soon as that bell rings. Any minute now. In the meantime, I’m waiting. I’m in preamble. I’m in the preamble to ending suffering, not ending suffering. I’m waiting for the bell. I’m warming up, not playing wholeheartedly.
Sitting with our hands on our knees before the bell rings is an ego posture. It is a posture of “just let me have this little bit of time for ‘me’ before the bell rings.” It is practicing looking to conditioned mind for information about how “I want” to sit. It is choosing ego over ending suffering.
Putting our hands in the cosmic mudra as soon we sit down—sitting like we mean it—is a physical, concrete practice of taking responsibility for Practice.
When ending suffering is more important than anything in this moment, we are ending suffering. When it is not, we are not. No future tense. No “I will end suffering.” No “when the bell rings.” No waiting. NOW. In this moment, and this, and this.... Working out our own salvation diligently, with both hands.
In gassho,
Anna