This is one of the primary Koans in Zen training used to open and awaken the mind. Zen Master Bassui, who was passionate about this koan urged his students throughout his life to take up this question. Our practice of Who’s hearing has strong resonances with the indigenous practice of Dadirri. Dadirri is a word that comes from the language of
Come on a pilgrimage with Fa-yen and get lost in the mind of not knowing. In this era of Covid 19 the fact of uncertainty has been front and centre. It has become clear that whatever we think, we really don’t (and can’t) know what is going to happen next. “I don’t know” opens the door to powerful field of
What ailment does the Buddha Dharma address? What is it to be healed? Yunmen shares the good news. You might say that the cosmic, blue Medicine Buddha is constantly dispensing spiritual remedy! This talk was given by Maggie Gluek at a zazenkai in February, 2020, when Covid 19 was a vaguely alarming threat but before the virus became a global pandemic
In these Covid times Jane Andino reflects on what is a virus and what is a cure. She delves into Yumen’s words about medicine and sickness mutually corresponding with one another…. ‘the whole universe is medicine, what is the self?’ This talk, based on Case 87 from the Blue Cliff Record, was given at Rohatsu sesshin in December 2020
Peter Bursky explores the Buddha’s experience of seeing the Morning Star when he was sitting under the Bodhi tree. Yamada Roshi once said, “the basis and central focus of Buddhism is the enlightenment experience of Shakyamuni Buddha.” Rohatsu (8 December) is normally the day on which we, together with Zen communities throughout the world,celebrate the Buddha’s realisation. This talk –
Paul Maloney, roshi discusses the image of self we cultivate and cling to and how it relates to the Buddha’s teachings on impermanence and interconnectedness. The Second Mark of Existence – Anattā The Buddha tells us, “When you develop the perception of impermanence, then the conceit of ‘I AM’ will be abandoned.” The conceit “I am” (asmi māna) is found
Jane Andino explores ‘Not-knowing’ and looks at how to embrace that mind of attentive openness and wonder. This talk was given on day 2 of Winter sesshin 2020 and refers to Case 20 in the Book of Serenity.
Paul Maloney, roshi explores our desire to have stability and security in the face of the Buddha’s teachings on impermanence, and the reality of a dynamic ever changing world. In the words of the poet, The times are a changing. But when were they not changing? The first of the three marks of existence that the Buddha taught was Anicca,
