You are probably familiar with the quote: ‘There is no way to peace; peace is the way.’ I guess after seeing that on so many SZC T-shirts, I had assumed it was a Buddhist quote; but no. The author of that line is A.J. Muste, a Dutch-born U.S. clergyman of the 1920’s who eventually became a Quaker, a pacifist and
One quiet day, Yunyan was sweeping the temple grounds, his broom a silent dance. Daowu said, “You’re working hard sir!” Yunyan smiled softly, “There is one who does not work hard.” Daowu pressed, “And so there is a second moon?” Yunyan lifted his broom, “What number of moons is this?” he asked. Daowu remained silent. Later on, Xuansha said, “That
It’s Anzac Day today as I write, a day set aside to remember those who have fought and died in wars, wars engendered by the three poisonous human delusions of greed, hatred and ignorance, wars that perpetuate suffering. Throughout history conflict has arisen out of desire for possession of territory and power, out of aversion towards the “other” who does
In the koan, Case 48 of the Wumen-kuan collection of koans, a monk asks Kan-feng, “the exalted saints of the ten directions have one straight road to nirvana: I wonder where that road is.” Kan- feng lifted up his staff and drew a line in the air and said, “here it is”. The koan continues from here, however this initial
Beginnings and endings herald in the New Year. It’s already the 4th of January, as I write this, and summer rolls on into heatwaves, punctuated with relief from evening storms. How do we meet beginnings and endings – birth and death, renewal and decline, cycles that are never ending? Transience is stamped and woven into the very cellular fabric of
Waking at daybreak, my sisters and I, dancing with delight, would run to the Christmas tree and tear open our presents. It was the pinnacle of our year – the tinsel and the fake holly – the nativity play at school, the Christmas carols we sang to our neighbours with all those words about joy, goodwill, peace and generosity. The
On my office wall hangs a scroll which inspires me each day, and which was given to me by my teacher Paul. The calligraphy says, ‘Every day is a good day’, a famous phrase of Yun-men. There is an enso below the calligraphy. This could be the fullness of the sun of every day; it could be the completeness of
The Buddha’s Way is unsurpassed, I vow to embody it fully. Indeed, the Buddha’s Way is only realised, made real, in and as this human body. Some of our sutras reference the four classic meditation postures. In the Metta Sutta:Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down – free from drowsiness, one should sustain this recollection(that is, of loving kindness).
As students of the way, if we are serious about awakening to our true nature, or Buddha nature, we need to believe that from the beginning we are Buddhas and the realisation of our true nature is our birth right. The following is a koan called ‘Nan-chuan’s Stone Buddha’, and it is case 3 from the Iron Flute collection of
On the great road of Buddha ancestors there is always unsurpassable practice, continuous and sustained. It forms the circle of the way and is never cut off. Between aspiration, practice-enlightenment, and nirvana, there is not a moment’s gap. Continuous practice is the circle of the way. —Eihei Dogen As we herald in the New Year, we kick start our practice