Why Sit a Retreat?

        Lifetime after lifetime human beings indulge in self-serving thoughts and actions, which create karma.  Karma is the residual formation left over from the process of cause and effect.  These formations can be likened to habit and conditioning which tend to clog our ability to see, hear, smell, taste, feel and think clearly.  Before taking on a spiritual practice, we are controlled by karma. 

        Originally there is no karma, no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body and no mind.  This means that all things are fundamentally empty and are created by mind alone.  For a human being to attain this point it is essential to cut through thinking and perceive the source of one's karma as empty.  In the moment of directly perceiving karma as originally empty, all karma of the past, present and future is extinguished.  Only then is it possible to see, hear, smell, taste, feel and think clearly.  Only then can we begin to work with karma as it continues to appear.

        A sitting meditation retreat allows, through the practice of supportive forms and together action, to cut through our attachment to thinking and karma.  The practice of a retreat can be likened to the burning off in the natural world where the outer casings of trees, plants and grasses disintegrate at high temperatures to allow for the sprouting of the seeds.  Similarly in a retreat, a Dharma fire is created through our kong-an practice, sitting, chanting and bowing meditation, all of which serve to burn up karma and release the seeds of wisdom and compassion.

        In putting aside our attachment to our opinion, condition, and situation the mind becomes clear.  Clear mind is like a great round mirror, which reflects truth, moment by moment.  Eating time, just eat.  Sitting time, just sit.  Walking time, just walk.  Cleaning time, just clean.  If someone is hungry, give them food.  If someone is thirsty, give them a drink of water.  So the true meaning of sitting a meditation retreat is to use one's practice-realization to save all beings from suffering.               

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Last updated: 13 August 2008.