Tesshin, like everyone else, is locked down at home with his family.  Last weekend Tesshin’s family gathered around the TV to watch some light hearted shows.  They settled on the musical “Little House of Horrors” which is a “spoof” science fiction story about alien plants taking over the planet.  As the show was not on the main streaming services, Tesshin decided to watch the “Director’s Cut” on Youtube.  This version started as Tesshin and his wife recalled, but near the end it started to diverge.  In the original version, the plants are defeated and everyone lives happily ever after.  However, in the director’s cut all the humans are killed and the alien plants take over the world.  Hmmmm, that is not right!!  Tesshin’s kids ended up being upset – “Hey, we thought this was going to be fun and happy!!”  

What happened here?  Clearly, the director had an original and thought-provoking idea.  Luckily, in the movie industry, ideas are tested against small focus groups of movie goers to see if the plot works.  It appears that in this case, nobody liked this particular ending.  As such, the crew had to go back and completely change the ending.  In the theatrical release, the humans “win” in a funny and light hearted way.  Tesshin found this version and the family was “relived.”

Tesshin asked the group – what are we to make of this?  In life, we try to make decisions which we think are good – but we end up being totally wrong.  The lesson is to look at what you are doing and ask – “Is this skillful?  Is this really helping?”  We need to be like the movie director – we need to take feedback and adjust course accordingly.  Tesshin then asked, who acts as our focus group.  The answer is simple – our focus group are the people around us – family, friends, co-workers, etc.

Tesshin next related this to our work in Zen.  We take refuge in Buddha, Sangha, and Dharma.  These are the tools we use to keep our practice and our lives on target.  The historical Buddha is our role model and the Dharma – which translates to “reality” – is the universe we live in and interact with.  However, it is the Sangha which is key.  It is our fellow practitioners which provide us with feedback and keep our feet firmly planted on the path.  Buddha and Dharma are not enough!  We need each other now more than ever!  Tesshin remarked that this time of the Covid infection shows how true this fact is.

Lastly, Tesshin reminded the group that our path is not one of total self-sacrifice.  We give but we also need to take.  Ours is the middle way.  If we only give, we never offer the gift of allowing the other person useful.  Tesshin stated that in this stressful time, it is OK to take time for yourself as well.  It is OK, to lean on others.  Again, this is why Sangha is so critical – it is why it is considered one of the three jewels!  So, depend on your “focus group.”  Be willing to give, but also be willing to take the offerings being generously provided all around you!