{"id":41082,"date":"2013-05-20T04:25:18","date_gmt":"2013-05-20T09:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horizonsmagazine.com\/blog\/?p=41082"},"modified":"2015-06-03T04:26:33","modified_gmt":"2015-06-03T09:26:33","slug":"al-rapaport-open-mind-zen-synchronicity-with-old-friends-and-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/horizonsmagazine.com\/blog\/al-rapaport-open-mind-zen-synchronicity-with-old-friends-and-new\/","title":{"rendered":"Al Rapaport, Open Mind Zen, Synchronicity with old friends and new"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday I \u00a0went to Sensei Al Rapaport\u2019s \u00a0Dharma Talk at the\u00a0Open Mind Zen Center<\/a>, where Al is the Spiritual Director. He spoke on the mystical poems of\u00a0Rumi<\/a>\u00a0and how they point to a deep understanding of spiritual practice.\u00a0 Although I know Al, it was my first time at the center. I arrived a little early and parked in the back. I was glad to see Marsha, Terry and Jenny there, as well as Robin for whom I worked 20 years ago.\u00a0 We began with a couple of chants then went into a 30 minute silent meditation. I enjoy silent sitting with a group before teaching and discussion begins.\u00a0 It allows everyone to settle into the intention at hand and let the mindstuff fall away.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

The center is on a busy highway, so there was much sound from the traffic.\u00a0 That gave many opportunities to bring my attention back into the Now, sitting and breathing.\u00a0 The dog next door barked.\u00a0 Another trigger to come to my breathing, follow the air flow.\u00a0 The temperature in the room was perfect.\u00a0 The space between attendees was perfect. Back to my breathing.\u00a0 I always know when 20 minutes is up, and the extra 10 made me feel more bonded with the group.\u00a0 The bell sounded, meditation ended with a few minutes of standing, stretching, then the talk began.<\/p>\n

This is not a review of his talk.<\/em>\u00a0He recorded it so it will be available. Al began first by asking the difference between poetry and prose.\u00a0 Without looking it up, I\u2019m not sure what prose is. I never thought of myself as a poet but looking back at some of my writing, I can see where it appears as prose poetry.\u00a0 He gave a quick history of Rumi and how he was inspired to write mystical poetry. He read a few poems for us. He read each twice. There was commentary, discussion and good insights. I like seeing in new light people I know from the past. People I\u2019ve never had deep discussion with. I love seeing new depths to them, as I did yesterday with several friends.<\/p>\n

It began raining while we were inside and the background music to Al\u2019s dharma talk became the sounds of splashing from the cars driving by. Still raining afterward, I walked out to my car in the rain and stopped on the way to smell the gardenia. There were two: one newer blossom and one fading bloom.\u00a0 Both smelled as sweet.\u00a0 I drove home in the rain and puddles, and my new tires felt secure on the wet road.<\/p>\n

I was guided to Publix on the way home, although I didn\u2019t need anything.\u00a0 I pulled into the first available space, next to a guy trying to start his motorcycle in the rain. \u201cIt always does this when it gets wet,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Oh, that\u2019s why I\u2019m here<\/em>\u00a0I thought. I offered to drive him to his girlfriend\u2019s. On the drive, the saw on my dashboard the holy card of Blessed Mother, image of Sai Baba and Jesus, and the card for \u00a0Open Mind Zen<\/a>\u00a0right in front of him.\u00a0 He said he\u2019d been thinking about zen.\u00a0 He asked if he could have the card.\u00a0 Of course he could.<\/p>\n

I will attend on Sundays.\u00a0 Join me at \u00a0Open Mind Zen Center<\/a>, 878 Sarno Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935. See the website for training and other info.<\/p>\n

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