In this teisho Gilly explores death – three months had passed since my life partner, Tony, died. I was grieving deeply and Thich Nhat Hanh’s ocean metaphor helped ease the burden. He begins: ‘When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can
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
Subhana explores the deep and profound teachings of ‘emptiness’ the selfless dimension or the self-forgotten and its misunderstandings. What does it mean to cultivate that which is already our inherent true nature, which cannot be cultivated, yet it can be realised. This Dharma talk inquires into the aspects of the liberated nature
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
This concert features the talented musicians and performers of the Sydney Zen Centre, in the beautiful Upstairs Hall of the Annandale Community Centre. It was a fabulous night, on October 2022, of instrumental music, poetry, storytelling and song. Irish duo “A ‘N B” (Aeveen Kirby & Brian Gutkin) delight us
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
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
Gillian Coote, roshi explores what we might have to do to practise as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kuan Yin. Whether we’re sitting on our cushions in meditation or are functioning in the day to day world, many challenges are sure to emerge. This teisho was given at Spring sesshin in
Chao Chou’s “Oak Tree in the Garden” is, like MU, a primary koan, a door that focusses into the world of Zen practice. It emerges as a response to perennial questions: “What is Zen?” “What is the one mind?” It would seem that all the richness of life is right here,
