5 more colors to go.  I was out of the studio for a few days.  The longer I stay out, the harder it is to go back in.  I need to remember that.  Today when I got up, I ate breakfast, drank coffee and played some WOW, as per usual.  During that time I had my daily struggle with myself over what to do first, will I paint, will I read, blah, blah, blah.  So I went to a time tested source for help: http://www.daibosatsu.org/dbzindex.html and checked out the daily schedule outline for sesshin.  I've only been to one in my life and it was at least 10 years ago, but I figured if anything would be a good routine to clear my mind, it would be the daily practice schedule.  Breakfast:  check, Chanting: no way, Keith is asleep, Teisho:  substitute my Mumonkan reading, Zazen:  self explanatory and Daily work:  studio.  This worked great and I think it may become my morning routine, minus the WOW...we'll see, I'm a bit addicted to that game.  June 1st I'll be transferring to a new work location, after a week long vacation.  I really want to spend the next few weeks solidifying a daily routine, so I don't lose my life/work balance with the changes of a new location:  longer drive, new people, higher volume sales, less free time, etc. 

Here's something that stood out in today's reading:

"Positive samadhi is a total involvement with some object or activity.  Thus a painter, as he picks up his brush, will become completely concentrated in his involvement with painting-his painting samadhi....But (this is an involuntary state).  Voluntary samadhi can be attained first through absolute samadhi, which constitutes the essential foundation for all samadhi.  Being well practiced in absolute samadhi, you can enter positive samadhi at will.  Truly, it is a delightful thing!  Fixing your eyes upon it, a blade of grass, even a stone at the roadside, begins to shine with the beauty of its essential nature.  You are in closest intimacy with the object."

How wonderful it would be to live in that state at will.  It's interesting that I began these color studies due to a longing for my lost ability to regularly "be in the zone" when painting.  Since last July I experienced some success, but it has been hit or miss, mostly miss.  It is good that I have begun my Zen studies and zazen practice once more.

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