“I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now” ~ Joni Mitchell

In Zen, there are always two sides. Roshi Bob Kennedy once told us that if you wanted to talk like a Zen master, just add “or not” to every statement you make. The challenge is to see from both sides at the same time. Can you do that? If you can, when you can, when you do, you may be tasting enlightenment.

We are all one. There is no separation. Roshi Bernie used to say, “We are all one body.” And we are all, each of us, unique, distinct. Choose just one side and you land in suffering. Can you feel yourself as part of the One Body and your own uniqueness at the same time?

Most of us come to Zen practice locked in our uniqueness and our separation. It’s all about me. I want inner peace. I want to be enlightened. Me, me, me. Some of us as we dive into Zen practice experience the Oneness. The experience can be intoxicating, addicting. We want to hang onto it. If we cling to oneness, we miss the boat. Look at clouds from both sides, a lesson to be learned and relearned.

I’m in relearning mode as we begin an online Peacemaker training in council facilitation.  We’re doing it in two, small-enough groups so that people can experience the council practice as they learn to facilitate while we evolve our Peacemaker, bearing witness approach to council. We hope that the participants will emerge with a common approach to facilitating, and yet each group is unique. Each has its own distinct flavor, emerging from the unique ingredients of its members. And at the same time each group is part of one body with the intent to arrive at a common approach to practice.

As the lead facilitator for both groups, I am plunged into trying to see both sides at the same time. Can I nurture the uniqueness of each group while holding the oneness of the project intention? Can I look at both sides? It’s a hard, wonderful practice.