Buddhism took about 500 years to peregrinate to China and another 500 or so to evolve towards Ch’an via Taoism. One of my heroes is Xuanzang, whose epic twenty-year journey from China to India and back in the 600’s was impelled by his goal to bring back sutras and translate them, a journey that later became a 15th century Chinese
Who is the one not sick? Who is the one sick? Jane Andino reflects on these questions related to two cases of the Book of Serenity, Cases 83 and 94. She also talks about deepening our practice in this time of lockdown, and touches on Zen and the Art of Listening. This dharma talk was given at the August zazenkai
The Bodhisattva of Compassion is a salient figure in the Mahayana tradition and in our Zen sutra service. She (he!) manifests in different genders and forms which speak to us in slightly different ways. But her means are always generous, whether in pronouncing the deepest wisdom, portraying great action, modelling how to be embodied, showing the way of non-separation. In
“Where is the one straight road to nirvana?” Jane Andino considers in detail this question posed by a travelling monk, and how we today can be everyday pilgrims walking along Kan-Feng’s One Road. This story comes from Case 48 of the Wu-men Kuan. This teisho was given on day 4 of the online Winter sesshin 2021.
Zen practice is not a static affair. Realisation is useless unless it is carried forward and shared. Maggie Gluek, roshi explores the way in which practice can only ever be relational. Like the Hermit of Lotus Flower Peak, we must step out into the world, as the world. And engage in “compassionate conversation” with whatever presents itself. This teisho was
Daily routines don’t always follow a predictable schedule. Though if we can stick to some sort of schedule where we can fit in our daily practice it certainly makes it easier. I’ve been contemplating how to integrate practice into daily life when there is no routine or schedule. Plenty of Zen practitioners encounter this aspect of how to practise when
Jane Andino delves into the inner layers of a story where a monk encounters a nun Shih-chi or True World. Jane unpacks the exchange between these two people and looks at what the word ‘true’ might mean for us. She also comments on the paramita of aspiration. This story is told in Case 3 of the Wu-men Kuan. This teisho
Jane Andino examines the question of how we, as Zen lay practitioners, can be in the world and also in our True Home. How do we find freedom of action and ease in our home, the world? ‘At Home in the World’ is the title of a chapter in a book by Steve Hagen of the Minnesota Zen Centre. This
There are three primary practices in Zen training – Mindfulness of breathing, Koan practice which is working with an existential question and silent illumination practice.Silent illumination is both a practice method and realisation of mind. We need to make a distinction between silent illumination which is the direct realisation of mind and silent illumination that entails a practical practice. What
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
