on cultivation

earlier in the summer, which is rapidly drawing to a close, around june, i decided to experiment with a little gardening. i cleared a patch and planted tiny tomato and jalapeno plants. i also sowed coriander, basil and cucumber seeds. the basil seeds were tiny- smaller than the tiniest mustard seed imaginable. with a bit of skepticism (actually a lot), i sowed, watered and watched them closely as weeds and grass sprouted. but in about two weeks, something miraculous appeared in the form of tiny basil plants- unmistakable in their shiny green, already fragrant leaves. the basil plants are now about a foot high and redolent- it was indeed a miracle that had unfolded right in front of me- in the here and now. i cannot resist making parallels with mindfulness and meditation practice. in our quotidian life, we try and sow seeds of mindfulness, accompanied by weedy doubts but nevertheless watered by the gentle rain of daily practice, and they eventually bear fruit. that is the heart of dogen zenji's shikantaza or just sitting. miracles happening under our noses waiting to be experienced while we try and strive for them and miss them.

i have a good friend who used to be vegetarian but had to switch to a meat diet for health reasons. she was naturally a bit upset about it and brought it up in a conversation earlier on the day i was clearing the patch. as i was uprooting the grass, clover and unnamed plants and loosening the soil, i also noticed earthworms and ants. it struck me that even a vegetarian way of life involves killing sentient beings. while i had understood this intellectually, its visceral significance struck home only that day. i was aware of the countless sentient beings that have been sacrificed in the fields, in the roads by the trucks bring produce to the store, as we walk.. just bring food to our plates.

i will end with a beautiful meal gatha recited in sesshin before partaking of food-

first, seventy-two labors brought us this food,
we should know how it comes to us.

second, as we receive this offering,
we should consider whether our virtue and practice deserve it.

third, as we desire the natural order of mind to be free from clinging,
we must be free from greed.

fourth, to support our life we take this food.

fifth, to attain our Way we take this food.