Shukke Tokudo

Kittenwar! A Real Vote

Isn't this just the cutest couple of cats you've ever seen! And the pose is so great. So why wouldn't Kittenwar! take it (some bullshit about it containing a CAT, of course there's clearly a KITTEN too)? And why are my other kitten photos losing to kittens that aren't nearly so cute?

If you're looking for a great website on which to waste some time, try out kittenwar.com. No, the kittens aren't fighting (as in the photo from April which they didn't accept either). You get to vote for the cutest between a pair of photos. What a great way to get pictures for his book.

Anyway, since mine that were accepted don't seem to be doing that well in the voting (they're barely below 50/50) I've decided to go on and vote for the least cute kitten to make their dear people feel a little better. Try it (there are some pretty cute kittens there).

What is with all this Anger?

Yesterday I was completely filled with anger and could not figure out how to dissipate it. The ninth grave Zen precept exhorts us to "Actualize harmony – Do not indulge in anger". Try as I might, it got indulged. So, as a "good Zen Buddhist," how do I handle this? I stop attaching attaching to it. Yeah, right... OK, as a garden variety human being I blame everyone else in the world for it. No, that won't work either. Um...

Mettai's First Blog Entry

This is a very interesting concept: logging my thoughts and such for the whole world to see as if somehow they (a) care and (b) matter and (c) exist...

If you found your way here and don't know why... Join the club.

Head Student Ceremony

My poem:

Just so, this is not like that.
Defilement does not resist the path.
The choice is up to the horse.

Zaike Tokudo

Jukai

I received 11 of 16 Bodhisatva precepts at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center from Taiun Michael Elliston and my dharma name METTAI (滅諦) which means Cessation of Suffering (or The Third Noble Truth). I also received a Wagesa and Juzu beads as vestments of the rank of "Initiate". The Wagesa later got traded in and went to prison (but I think is free again).

The Three Treasure Refuges:

   I take refuge in BUDDHA, the fully Awakened One

   I take refuge in DHARMA, the compassionate Teachings

   I take refuge in SANGHA, the harmonious Community
Three Pure Precepts:

   First Pure Precept — not creating evil — Do no harm

   Second Pure Precept — practicing good — Do only good

   Third Pure Precept — purifying intentions — Do good for others
Five Grave Precepts:

   Affirm life — Do not kill

   Be giving — Do not take what is not freely given

   Honor the body — Do not engage in sexual misconduct

   Manifest truth — Do not speak falsely

   Proceed clearly — Do not cloud the mind with intoxicants

Did I become intoxicated here? Was I already?
So, I became a member of the community (Sangha).