December 8 (or 8th day of the 12th month) is the day we celebrate the Buddha's awakening. Shakyamuni's awakening--manifesting his Buddha Nature--is the awakening in all of us. Our day-to-day activities--getting up, eating, going to work, reading poetry, sitting on a cushion--all activities are opportunities to manifest our Buddha Nature. To celebrate this auspicious day, the sangha of One Mind Zen Collective held a Poetry Slam to help all sentient beings to celebrate with us, and to manifest their own inherent awakened nature in their own ordinary activity.
