Omotenashi has been part of Japanese culture for a long time. Omote means front, nashi means nothing. Omotenashi means from the bottom of the heart, sincere. Omotenashi is an important concept from the tea ceremony which is closely related to zen. The host who is serving tea and the guest are treating each other sincerely.
There are a couple of zen phrases closely related to Omotenashi.
Ichigo ichie (一期一会）is a famous zen phrase, literary means “one time, one meeting”. Often this phrase is translated to “Once in a lifetime”. Each moment is unrepeatable and special in its own right. Appreciate this moment and focus on this special moment.
Mukudoku (無功徳）Don’t expect any returns or rewards for doing something.
We can prepare, sit and talk at our zendo with Omotenashi.
Deepak shared Atithi Devo Bhava, a similar concept in Indian Hindu-Buddhist philosophy.
With the current state of the world and our country, I find myself feeling angry at myself and feeling useless and powerless for nothing being able to make any changes. Through meditation I found out that the difference I can do is to reduce hate in the world. But how do we do that? While meditating I told myself that through empathy I could achieve that. Meditation taught me that separation is the biggest illusion we tell ourselves as humans. Since we are raised and taught different cultures, religions, and politics, but we are all one species who are trying to strive through nature and the communities we build. Ultimately we all bleed red and we all share similar emotions.
Peter had sciatica nerve pain due to Herniated Discin in March 2020 when the COVID lockdown started. This was extremely painful for Peter. He wanted to get treatment, but physical therapy and doctors were not immediately available due to the lockdown. He was frustrated and angry as nothing was helping his pain. His mind was full of negative feelings and thoughts. Then, he heard someone say meditation might help ease his pain. He would like to give it a try out of desperation. He read a book about meditation and learned the importance of breathing. When he breathes in, he can feel the pain and feel the relief when he breathes out. Through meditation, Peter became mindful of his body’s doing and recognized the pain. Breathe in – still alive, breathe out – let it go…
Also, when he was in pain, his wife asked,” How are you doing?” He initially felt, “Don’t you know I am in pain?” and felt anger. However, as he started to meditate and be mindful of his surroundings, he began to feel differently; his wife’s question was “love.” Meditation helps Peter shift the state of MIND FULL of negative and stressful thoughts to MINDFULNESS which allows him to see things clearly with calmness and peace felt inside.
The clinic office reopened in June, and Peter paid his first doctor visit since the onset of his sciatica problem. He was given medical treatment from March through September. His pain gradually eased off, and he started returning to his daily walking exercises. He meditates while walking. He meditates while walking. Through mindfulness, Peter learns and practices living fully at every moment in the present. Both were saying hello to a stranger and slowing down paces to enjoy the beauty of nature (flowers, trees, hills, clouds, etc.), aware of their surroundings, giving him energy and joy.
Peter recognizes Meditation cannot totally eliminate his pain and suffering. But meditation can help Peter alleviate his pain with calmness inside his mind and peace at heart.
“Mindfulness does not regard pain as an enemy that needs to be suppressed. It does not want to throw the pain out. It knows the pain is a part of us.” —Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Buddhist Monk.
This is the recording of talk about Keisaku from 2017.
Kugyo san talked about how Keisaku is used at zendo. Also here is the link to twiki for more info.
Here is a picture of the garden, starting to bloom.
Hakone Zendo 