This phrase, “Snow in a silver bowl”, comes down to us via an interesting succession of teachings that begins with a most likely mythical Zen lineage history. Once a monk asked Ba-ling, “What is the Deva sect?” Ba-ling said, “Snow in a silver bowl”. Peter explores this short but nevertheless deep koan through many of the Zen characters that helped bring it to life.
Blue Cliff Record Case 13, “Ba-ling’s Silver bowl”

This talk by apprentice teacher, Peter Bursky was given at Winter sesshin 2022