Keizan - Vine of Obstacles Zen

Vine of Obstacles Zen

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Keizan

A collection of 9 posts

Happy Awakening Buddha Day

Happy Awakening Buddha Day

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

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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

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

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.

Do Not Use Your Hand Like A Visor

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

Not Looking Toward The Peace Of The Innermost Mind

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.

Intimate Knowing: How To Work With Thinking In Zazen

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,

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

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

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

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