Shundo David Haye

‘When we are in spiritual community, perfect or not, we see ourselves more clearly. We see the depth of our pain and rage while bowing or offering incense and flowers. We move so slowly that what is in our bodies cannot be overlooked. At first we might feel self-conscious in a community that observes our human frailty. OVer time, the ritual and ceremony take center stage and you begin to see another side of yourself, another side of life, despite being human. This side of life goes unseen in the rush of daily living. Creating sanctuary within requires the practice of stillness and silence provided in outer sanctuaries. When we get a glimpse of the unseen, we are brought back from where we emergred – be it the earth or the source of all life.’ (The Shamanic Bones of Zen)