Teachings
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Dharmatalk: Case 99, Book of Equanimity: Unmon’s “Bowl and Pail”
April 28, 20201 min read
"You can’t see the Way; you can discover that you are the Way" Description: In Case 99, a monk asks Master Unmon, “What is the dust-dust samadhi?” This term, also translated as moment-by-moment samadhi, is explored at various levels in this talk. Unmon’s response to the monk is simple and beautiful, conveying a world where there is no separation. Post & Featured image: Natural green background with selective focus by Krivosheevv, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on...
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Sharing One Breath
April 25, 20201 min read
Kono iki ya Ah this breath Mae wa dare no ka Whose breath was it before? Hitotsu no ki One Spirit. Text and photo by Rosa Bellino
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Dharmatalk: Spreading the Love
April 21, 20201 min read
"... The Way is always waiting to show itself in every single moment ..." [caption id="attachment_18780" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Great Wall of China in Jinshanling, Hebei Province, China[/caption] Description: Beginning with some reflections on the book American Veda, this talk unfolds into a discussion of the Zen poem “Shin Jin Mei,” written by Sosan. The first line reads “The Great Way is not difficult for those who do not pick and choose.” Practice allows us to become aware...
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Dharmatalk (Guest): Ruben Habito: Zen Eye on Good Friday
April 14, 20201 min read
"... And suddenly the darkness turned into a bright and luminous light ..." Description: In this brief Zen talk on Easter weekend 2020, Ruben Roshi walks us through a famous Zen koan from the "Gateless Gate", transposing the characters to the Montepulciano region of Italy, and brings us to the wordless "wine of astonishment" that awakening allows us all to drink. Listen and be inspired! Post & Featured image: Bright lights in darkness — Photo by I_g0rZh, purchased from depositphotos, for...
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Dharmatalk: One Infinite Gratitude
April 2, 20201 min read
"... Zen practice offers stillness and silence ..." "…dissolving the great Gordian knot of self ..." Description: Gratitude for Buddha, Dharma and Sangha unites all the divergent streams of Buddhism. This talk touches on Transcendental Meditation and The Beatles, Emerson and Thoreau, and Swami Vivekananda. Zen practice offers stillness and silence and the potential for truly discovering the core fact of our existence, here and now. Post & Featured image: Beautiful Sunrise Ship morning background by Deerphoto, purchased from depositphotos,...
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Dharmatalk: Case 98, Book of Equanimity: Tozan’s “Intimate with It” (Part 2 of 2)
March 26, 20201 min read
"Zen is a template for letting go ..." Description: This talk revisits the three bodies of Buddha and maps them onto the various approaches to Zen practice, including mindfulness. The Dharma-body is the subject of every koan; each one communicates the true fact of existence. Tôzan’s answer to the monk’s question in Case 98 does just this. Post & Featured image: Silhouette of bird flying and broken chains at sunset sky background by choat, purchased from depositphotos, for...
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