Welcome to another series of blogs, topic: koans!
As I share what I've learned about koans and my experience with them, things might get too obtuse, confusing, or far out. It’s likely helpful then to note that working with these koans helps one to live with more peace, ease, confidence, and compassion. At the very least, having a touchpoint each day, hour, moment is a great mindfulness practice. An excellent way to navigate the inevitable trials of these lives and times! Koans came about when Buddhism was carried out of India and met
Taoism in China. The resulting sect of Buddhism became known as Chan and when that found its way to Japan, it became known as Zen. Koans are awakening stories of various lengths and from a wide variety of people both monastic and lay-folk, but most commonly between students and a master.
Inner peace
I loved being isolated in wilderness, canoeing, backpacking, finding the perfect camping spot to watch the sun go down. To wake early just to enjoy a paddle on the flat lake, to sip coffee at the water’s edge, or to have earned a deep sleep and fall into it under the stars. Algonquin Park is only two kilometres from my home now. Since I can’t paddle or hike into it these days, I figured living close by was the next best thing. It seemed to make sense to Kelly. As I told this story for the nth time, it rang even more true. I’ll move to town eventually and that will be fine too, but for now, as I become even less able-bodied, living in the refuge of nature is a gift.