Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Koan: Case 230, Entangling Vines
Guishan Lingyou picked up a grain of rice and said, "Millions upon millions of grains of rice issue from this single grain. Where does this grain issue from?"
What is it like when we forget where we came from? What can we do to re-connect to the One Source?
Has this source ever left us? What happens when we think we are in charge?
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to _____________, and practice these principles in all our affairs.
Koan: Case 8, Entangling VinesLingyun Zhiqin of Fuzhou was enlightened upon seeing the blossoms of a peach tree. In a verse he said:
For thirty years I sought a sword-master
How many times have leaves fallen and new buds appeared?
But since having seen the peach blossoms,
I have never doubted again!
Upon completing the 12 Steps, we can notice whatever is happening right now is our life -- a life unimagined before recovery. The answers to happiness, joy and freedom are always available with our next breath. Realizing this, in order to keep what we have gained from our practice, we must give it away.
Another koan to consider comes from the Lin-chi School:
"Wherever you are, just take the role of host, and that place will be a true place."
For more input on this Step/Koan, please read my posting for September 20, 2011.