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 the Aboriginal people in the Daly River region in NT. Aboriginal elder Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann describes Dadirri as inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness.  How do we apply this practice?  When you sit, open your whole being to just hearing. Just hearing resolves the dualistic gap between the hearer and the heard.

This Dharma talk was given by Subhana Barzaghi on the first day at Autumn sesshin 2021 at Kodoji.