修行会

a great vajrasattva, saotome shihan offered this lecture on november 12th, 2018 at aikido redlands. It has been written from memory.

pointer

the real diamond is beyond; stainless, not even mind can scratch it.
scratched, stainless, horse shit, on a cool fall morning.

case

sensei professed about a diamond dealer that sensei once knew whom sold plastic diamonds and real diamonds; can you imagine? hard to see the difference.

the diamond dealer once sold someone a far distance a real diamond, and had delivered a plastic diamond. he called the customer, apologized, and said that he would come bring the real one.

commentary

the flame shihan,
arisen.

the five-petaled flower,
burst forth, once more,
twirled in the hands,
of one man.

what a beautiful bouquet,
of wasps, hornets, and bees.