Tesshin opened his talk by mentioning that in many spiritual traditions, the start of fall is a critical time of transformation.  For instance, in the Jewish faith it is considered the beginning of the year.  During the New Year services, the Shofar – or ram’s horn – is blown.  This blast serves as a reminder for the congregation to wake up and attend – something important is going on here!  What is that important thing?  It is one’s spiritual practice, of course.  We use these times of transition to move beyond our everyday concerns to something much more important.

Tesshin next asked – how should one reconnect to a spiritual practice?  To help in this process, he recounted five questions posed by Erza Bayda.  (Ezra Bayda received dharma transmission from Charlotte Joko Beck, and teaches and writes at the Zen Center of San Diego.)  

Question 1:  What Is going on right now?

This question challenges you to slow down and objectively understand your situation as it really is.  Not the internal story you tell yourself, but what is really going on.  Tesshin likened this to a sailor reading a navigational chart.  The chart is not like a GPS map – it is a tool to tell the sailor what is going on close to a given position.  How deep is the water?  Are there dangerous currents?  Is there a hidden reef?

Question 2:  Can my problems be “Welcomed” as part of my path?

It is commonly said in Buddhism that the adversary is the best teacher?  For instance, on many occasions the Dalai Lama has publicly thanked the Chinese – even though the Chinese government has worked so hard to destroy Tibetan culture.  Why would he do this – because only through the adversary can one practice true love.  It is easy to love a friend, but what about an enemy?

Question 3:  What is my most believed thought?

This practice really goes to the core of who you are?  What thoughts do you hold closest?  What beliefs make you who you are?  Tesshin exhorted us to challenge these closely held beliefs!  Are they really true?  Can they be proved?  What are my emotions around these thoughts?  If I did not have these beliefs, who would I become?  The idea here is that these closely held beliefs are really not the “real you.”  They are simply characteristics. 

Question 4:  What is this?

For us practicing Zen, this is the most critical question!  This is the question we take up when working Koans.  This is not an intellectual exercise.  We need to step beyond believing and non-believing.  Tesshin emphasized that one cannot think up an answer – living life “directly” in this exact moment is the only way to get at the solution to this question.  Of course, it is difficult to be mindful when life deals you “curve balls” because the mind wants to protect itself with defenses and narratives.   However, these stories carry the terrible price of delusion!  This is one of Buddhism’s key messages.

Question 5:  Can I just let this experience be?

Does every experience in our life need to be dealt with?  Must we grasp at good experiences all the time?  How many times have you focused on how to preserve a positive experience so hard, that you never actually experienced the thing itself?  In a similar vein, not ever negative situation needs to be actively fought against.  Sometime it is better to just let things work themselves out.  Not everything needs to be fixed.

Tesshin wrapped up by giving a short background on Ereza Bayda and providing the below link to the five questions.

https://www.zencentersandiego.org/files/articles/SUN2010-5Questions.pdf