Vine of Obstacles Zen

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Zazen at the Beach

Record of Going Easy

Yúnmén's Sound and Color

The issue of sound and color is one that comes up a lot in the Zen tradition, because it is central to awakening. In the Diamond Sutra, Chapter 26, we find this verse: Seeking me by using form/color or seeking me by using the sound of my voice A

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Keizan Featured

What Is The Heart of Zen? Reflections On The Transmission of Luminosity

The Record of the Transmission of Illumination (J. Denkoroku) by Keizan Jokin Zenji (1264-1325) is one of the most important dharma texts available to us today - so important that the great master Harada Sogaku Roshi (1871-1961) chose it for his reformed koan curriculum. In a recent post, I shared

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Dongshan

Dongshan's Other Five Stages of Practice

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Spring in Duluth

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Fayan On The Importance of Dharma Companions

Keizan

A Black Lacquer Person Runs Through the Night: The Sudden Awakening of Keizan Jokin

Sudden, great awakening is the life blood of the Zen school, both Soto and Rinzai.

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Dahui

Intimate Friendship: "When You Sing, I Respond; When I Sing, You Clap Hands"

Denkoroku

Do Not Use Your Hand Like A Visor

After he had completed training, one of our Zen ancestors, Tiāntóng Zōngjué (天童宗珏, Heavenly Child Clan of Jewels; J. Tendō Sōkaku; 1091–1162), appeared in the world as a teacher. Yes, the source text has the phrase "in the world." Keizan notes in his Denkōroku (Record of the

Denkoroku

Not Looking Toward The Peace Of The Innermost Mind

As I mentioned in my last post, in our ongoing Vine of Obstacles Zen practice period focussing on the teaching of Keizan Jokin Zenji (1261-1325), a fourth generation master in Japan, we see that a great deal of his teaching simply points to how to do it - Zen practice-awakening.

Keizan

Intimate Knowing: How To Work With Thinking In Zazen

In our ongoing Vine of Obstacles Zen practice period focussing on the teaching of Keizan Jokin Zenji (1261-1325), a fourth generation master in Japan, we see that a great deal of his teaching simply points to how to do it - Zen practice-awakening. And Keizan also exudes a particular tone,

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Record of Going Easy

Bumping Into It Here, Knocking Into It There: Fǎyǎn’s Substance and Name

Dahui

Plucking a Blade of Grass: The Wondrous Dharma of Miàodào

Below you will find a dharma talk by an incredible (and largely unknown) Zen master, Miàodào Dǐngguāng (1095-1170), one of only three women Zen masters listed in Outline of the Linked Flames, a transmission of illumination collection published in 1183. Miàodào had been a student of the Cáodòng (J. Sōtō)

Going Through the Mystery

The Awakening of Yaeko Iwasaki: No Place Not Known

No Place Not Known V20:00/1431.3795921× In this post (actually a slightly clean-up repost from earlier this year), you'll find a selection from Going Through the Mystery's One Hundred Questions. Also, a few years back, while I was in the midst of translating and

Denkoroku

Establish Yourself In The Ground Of Dharma

This week in our Vine of Obstacle Zen practice period, we are studying the 46th ancestor, Danxia Zichun (丹霞子淳, Vermillion Mist Pure Child; J. Tanka Shijun; 1064–1117) through Keizan's Record of the Transmission of Illumination. In this post, I'll give you a tiny bit of

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Keizan

On the Branches of a Tree With No Shadow: Great Ancestor Mufuku Sonin

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Full Moon, Rolling Clouds

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Record of Empty Hall

Yantou Doesn’t Agree: More on Mature Zen

Record of Going Easy Featured

Learn Zen From This Old Woman: Iron Grindstone’s Old Cow From The Record of Going Easy

We're deep into winter here at the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage. Intense cold and clarity follow the big storm that swept through much of the country last week, and we're looking at forecasts for more snow this week. What better time for the Iron Grindstone?! Iron Grindstone

Going Through the Mystery

The Diamond Trap and the Fortune Teller: Going Through the Mystery 40

Dogen

Dogen’s Instruction for Householder Zen Training

(Eihei kōroku V8.14) Translated with introduction and notes by Dōshō Port Introduction Because this Dōgen dharma discourse (hōgo) was written for householders, includes examples of awakened householders, and offers instructions for householders, I've long been curious about it. After all, 99% or so of those engaged in

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Dogen

Do Not Get Close To Such People (EK8.14.7)

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Dogen

Noble Ones, Do You Not Trust This Yet?(EK 8.14.6)

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Dogen

Householders With the Power to Polish the Bright Mirror (EK 8.14.4)