Zen by Default at Breakfast

It was in San Francisco, the ides of March, Summer Solstice, this my second encounter with Master Stone. The first had been almost three years earlier at a workshop given in Santa Barbara. At that time I was just an enthusiastic student, having completed my first series of classes in basic T’ai Chi Chih.

I wanted more! So when my USCB instructor, Jane, told the class that the originator of the form would be doing a workshop in our town, I made it a point to attend. Justin told the assembled audience “…you will all make good teachers…”. Of course he was talking to ME, and so I pressed onward with my practice, became a teacher and went on to the SEIJAKU training in San Francisco.

Master Stone was in rare form, and dispensed his own unique brand of JOY. One of the things I noticed about him was his childlike enthusiasm about mealtimes. Indeed, he even mentioned he had picked this spot for the training because of the …whole slew of fine restaurants in the area.

Deep thoughts crossed my mind as I ate. The WAY, TAO, ZEN, that is, there is a way to do everything in life, the correct way, as the Zen masters have shown by perfecting the many crafts and even aspects of tea and food serving…..Many of my fellow teachers and masters sat in large groups and had some wonderful home style cooking. One morning I noticed a customer sitting near me had ordered the same huge breakfast. As I slowly and deliberately finished all the Yang food before moving on to my Yin pancakes, I noticed his manner as he quickly consumed his meal. He had poured syrup over his cakes but it ran all over his other food. My careful approach eliminated this sort of culinary “faux pas”.

This man was not as meticulous as I was, but did that somehow make him less of a person than me? It is a blessing that I have had the training and exposure to remarkable teachers like Towne, Ridley, and Stone. How clumsy my T’ai Chi must look compared to theirs. I was humbled by this realization. Reminded of my human frailty I have a moment of clarity and bliss as I see, all are equal. It is then I recall in scriptures Christ said, “….come and eat breakfast.”