 LEGACY |
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Scott
Morrison: On hearing about Scott Morrison's death, I cried, not for Scott because I knew he was dancing through the universe as he had danced through life on this physical plane, one step further in his evolutionary journey. I cried for myself and for all of those who will no longer benefit from his teachings. I cried for this physical world because it had lost a fearless warrior for peace and loving kindness. Scott Morrison dedicated his life to finding peace within and without through the practice and teaching of mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and Zen Buddhist practices. Born in New Orleans, he studied at a Buddhist monastery and with many great Buddhist teachers. He taught in Atlanta for many years before moving away in the mid-1990's. He is the author of two books, There is Only Now and Open and Innocent. I was privileged to study under him during his time in Atlanta. This tribute to Scott is a necessary step in my grieving process and my hope that those reading it will benefit from his profound teaching and guidance. Scott Morrison was a seeker of truth whose life was guided by Buddhist principles and meditation. One of the most important things I learned from Scott is the importance of direct, personal investigation, his constant reminder to his students not to believe anything, including his or anyone else's teachings, without investigating and experiencing it for yourself. In the pursuit of investigation and the dharma (truth), he spent many hours in daily meditation, reading, writing, studying, and teaching. Scott taught, as Buddhism does, the practice of mindfulness, the art of living in the present moment. By training the mind with 'gentle persistence,' as you would train a puppy, mindfulness practice or insight meditation, is a technique to stay focused in the present moment. This is achieved, whether during meditation or during any act we perform, by concentrating on our breath as a means to stay fully aware of every moment we are alive without living in the past or the future. Truly focusing on and enjoying whatever you are doing in the present moment, without mentally drifting to the hundred other things your mind is chattering about, is difficult. According to Scott, “In terms of moment-to-moment awareness, it's not there. Probably the best way to understand Zen that I can think of is in terms of realization. Realization simply means that when you look at someone, you actually see them. And when you listen to someone, you actually hear them. And when you pause to take in a beautiful sight, a sunset, the beauty of a forest, flower garden, the face of a child, you actually enjoy that, you're actually there for it. It's the spaciousness and attentiveness that allows that to happen. Otherwise, what's the point in looking or listening or even being alive if we're not here for it, if we're not here for our lives?” The Buddha taught two things, suffering and the ceasing of suffering, and the way to cease suffering is through non-attachment and freedom from craving. “You and I cannot create peace,” Scott taught. “Peace is what happens when we stop clinging, when we stop craving and hoping and expecting and demanding and judging and denying and resisting and attacking and gossiping, condemning, blaming, hating, worrying, fearing, dividing, separating, competing, hurting ourselves, hurting others, and holding onto how we want things to be. Without these kinds of intentions and actions, we are free to start doing things out of awareness, out of caring and compassion, and sharing and loving for the person, place, thing, or activity at hand. That's peace.” Scott taught that the process of 'letting go' is fundamental to finding the freedom and peace within that we all so desperately seek. Ask yourself these questions to expedite the process. Can anything or anyone, any experience at all, be held onto? Is there anything, anything at all, in life that offers lasting happiness and security? Is there such a thing as a solid, separate, stable, permanent entity, including your 'self' that exists on its own? Is there anything, anywhere, that is not inextricably connected to everything else? Does 'it,' as well as 'everything else' stay the same from one moment to the next? Is anything worth getting or becoming (in the sense that being that thing will bring security or lasting satisfaction)? Is anything worth clinging to (if everything in life is always changing, can anything be held onto)? Is there any other 'time' besides now? Is there a 'past' or 'future' that exists outside of present memory? Is there anything that is more important than to be here, now, gently, fully aware of whatever is at hand? (You can learn more about Buddhism and Scottıs teachings at his website, (www.openmindopenheart.org.) Scott, I am grateful to have known you, to have been your student, and to have been your friend. Thank you for touching my life, guiding my spiritual development, and filling my soul. Those whose lives you touched will miss you. I bid you a most wonderful journey. Debbie
Ellison is a freelance writer and owner of Write-On Word Processing
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