Maggie examines a koan which explores the nature of fear as well as the imperative to walk straight into the heart of fear. Finally, it lands on the matter of taking full responsibility, for everything…..with a bow to the Precepts, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and your own unique self. This teisho was given by Maggie Gluek, roshi on day 4
“Let it go” is almost a mantra in the dojo, where we are encouraged to abandon discursive thinking and return to our single point of practice. It’s instructive to consider the mental and emotional baggage you bring to zazen and thus discover that it is unnecessary. But what if you see the emptiness of phenomena? What if you and I
Not a few of us come to practice to find peace of mind. Just so Huike, the protagonist of this story. Let’s see how determination, faith and surrender help him in his quest and how Bodhidharma turns him upside down. It’s a dramatic tale and one that is foundational to the Zen tradition. This teisho was given by Maggie Gluek,
‘Dropping Ashes on the Buddha’ is a koan that is not normally investigated as part of our tradition. It is a koan by the Korean Zen Master Seung Shan. This teisho was given by apprentice teacher Will Moon at Spring sesshin in 2022
Will explores the koan about Pai-chang’s Fox, focussing on one aspect in particular – the old man’s ‘no falling under the law of cause and effect’. This teisho, Case 2 of the Wumenkuan, was given at Spring sesshin 2022
Senior student, Alladin Jones, gives us instructions about how to sit with a koan. Aitken roshi described them this way: “Koans are tiny doors that open to great vistas inviting us to wander through endless gardens. And they are the folk stories of Zen and like folk stories their expression is presentational rather than discursive. And they are poetic and
Trust the Buddha, trust the practice, trust your intention to realise the Way. Youmade the decisionto come to sesshin. Trust yourself enough to honour that decision and commit anew to your practiceat the start of each period of zazen. Release anything extra in your body, mind and heart. Mu is the first koan in the collection called The Gateless Barrier,
Subhana focuses on the healing capacity to be with, respond and alleviate the pain and suffering in our lives.Rather than turning away from the pain and disavowing the; hurt, shame, fear, anger, grief, we can turn towards these feelings with the healing power of compassion.We take up a wonderful Case 89 in the Blue Cliff Record of Kannon Bodhisattvas many
Emperor Su Tsung asked the National Teacher Hui Chung, “After you die, whatwill you need?” The National Teacher said, “Build a seamless tomb for me”. The Emperorasked, “please tell me master, what does this tomb look like?” The National teacher remained silent for a long time and then asked, “do you understand?” The Emperorsaid, “I dontunderstand”. The dialogue continues. The
It is as though a water buffalois passing through a lattice window.Its head, horns and four legs have all gone through. Why can’t its tail go through? Case 16 Wu’Men Kuan Koans can truly ring like the theatre of the absurd. Their playful logic challenges us. And vast dimensions revealed in practice resolve in the homely and concrete. This teisho
