Vine of Obstacles Zen

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A Stone Bridge? The Teacher-Student Relationship in Zen

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Going Through the Mystery

Postscript for Going Through the Mystery's One Hundred Questions

This too....

The Gift of Milkweed

Post Meiji Soto Orthodoxy Featured

The "Soto Zen" of the PMSO: A New Religion Whose Time Has Passed

Ironically, today in the West, most Soto practitioners, as well as most Soto teachers, seem to unknowingly embrace what they think is the "Soto Tradition" and "Dogen's Way," when, in fact, what they are embracing is a recently reformulated religion....

The Ten Vows of Samantabhadra

Here's a different little post. Above is Samantabhadra (普賢, the full extension of compassion) Bodhisattva, also known as the Bodhisattva of Universal Good. The expression on the above image of the bodhisattva's face changes dramatically depending on the focus point. Or is it just me? Samantabhadra

Sunset from just now

Nodding in Zazen

Someone on Rinzai Zen Facebook Group referenced this teaching from the Pali Canon in response to my recent post about sleep practice. The sutta is actually about the opposite - how to wake up when you're trying to meditate, rather than how to sleep when you're

Dahui's Shobogenzo

Where Buddhas Apply Their Minds

Tetsugan Sensei and I had thought we might work this gem from Dahui’s Shobogenzo into a Sunday dharma talk on the Awakening of Mahayana Faith. It seemed like too much, though, so I'll share it with you here. [520] National Teacher Wuye said to some disciples, “The

The Zen Way of Sleep

Recently, Meido Moore Roshi posted a short fireside sesshin talk about sleep practice. You can find it here. In the talk, Meido Roshi mentions the Soto monastic practice for sleep that I have shared bits and pieces of before, so I thought I might stitch it together for you. One

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Sunrise, Sunset

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Going Through the Mystery

How to investigate the three subtle and six coarse aspects?

Dahui's Shobogenzo

One Geeky Review of Dahui's "Treasury of the Eye of the True Teaching"

Dahui Zonggao (1089–1163) was (arguably) the most important Zen master ever. (1) He is credited with developing the keyword method (話頭, huatou) that revolutionized Zen practice and that, in my opinion, is the greatest development in the meditation realm since Shakyamuni Buddha. Most importantly, the innovative teaching of Dahui

Sunrise Photos from October 19

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Menzan Zenji and Dainin Roshi on "The Acupuncture Needle of Zazen"

Dahui's Shobogenzo

Don't Stray and Diligence Will Be Boundless

Another dharma nugget for you today, again from Dahui's Shobogenzo. I'll soon be moving on from this focus, although will probably return to it from time to time. The review that I've been preparing for months is almost cooked and I'll post

Dahui's Shobogenzo

What are the Three Treasures?

You might be surprised. This nugget is also from Dahui's Shobogenzo. The master here, Sanjiao Zhisong, is in the Linji branch, 16th generation in China, 45 from the Buddha. [610] Master Sanjiao was asked by a monk, “What are the Three Treasures?” He said, “Rice, wheat, and beans.

Dahui's Shobogenzo

Bowl With No Handle

"You are Buddha" - how can this be grasped? On this point (and lack thereof), another nugget from Dahui's Shobogenzo. The master in the koan below, Dalong Zhihong, is a 12th generation successor of the great Deshan Xuanjian. [598] Master Dalong was asked by a monk,

Dahui's Shobogenzo

Not Moving Suchness

I took the above photo a few days ago and when I reread the passage from Dahui's Shobogenzo below, it came to mind as the "just right" companion. The master who gave the talk below, Fojian, is a 21st generation teacher in China (50th since the

Season Change at the Hermitage

Dahui's Shobogenzo

I am not here

Keizan

Mind is Such

Here is a short passage from Keizan's Record of the Transmission of Illumination (Denkoroku), Chapter 9. I stumbled on it again last night and it struck me as a wonderful summary of the path. This is from Bodiford's translation (modified, of course): "The followers of

Recent Photos from the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage Environs

Hongzhi

Línjì’s True Person

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Going Through the Mystery

Going Through the Mystery's One Hundred Questions Update