Teachings
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Dharmatalk (Guest): Ruben Habito: Zen Tribute to Mary Oliver (Part 2 of 2)
February 28, 20191 min read
"... all my life I was a bride married to amazement ..." ~Mary Oliver Description: This is the second part of a talk given by Ruben Habito, founding teacher of Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas, TX. It is an appreciation of the poet, Mary Oliver, who died on January 17, 2019. Ruben Roshi elaborates on her invitation to pay attention and how this allows our life to unfold in joy and ease and in natural service...
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Dharmatalk (Guest): Ruben Habito: Zen Tribute to Mary Oliver (Part 1 of 2)
February 21, 20191 min read
"My work is loving the world." ~Mary Oliver Description: This talk was given by Ruben Habito, founding teacher of Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas, TX. It is an appreciation of the poet, Mary Oliver, who died on January 17, 2019. Her words have a deep resonance with the world that we experience when practicing Zen. Ruben Roshi beautifully relates them to the three fruits of Zen—pay attention, be astonished and love the world. NOTE: The original recording...
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Dharmatalk: Case 79, Book of Equanimity: Chôsa Takes a Step (Part 2)
February 14, 20191 min read
"... To awaken is not enough; we have to get down from the pole to be acting as servants of the Dharma, out of love and service for all beings ..." Description: What would it be to have no story? The great masters lived detached from all stories, and the koans share the freedom this gave them. This talk continues the discussion of Case 79 from last week, and introduces the poetic verse that accompanies the Case. What...
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Dharmatalk: Case 79, Book of Equanimity: Chôsa Takes a Step (Part 1)
February 7, 20191 min read
"... A sweetly sorrowful joy is a hallmark of our practice deepening ..." Description: This talk begins with a bit of the history of the evolution of meditation practice in the West. This unfolds into an exploration of Case 79, where Master Chôsa comments on Master E. Master E has not fully broken through and manifested his body throughout the ten directions -- in other words, discovered his true identity as one, empty, infinite reality, showing up...
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Sangha Meeting Minutes: January 26, 2019
February 1, 201914 min read
Thank you to all who attended our January 26 sangha meeting. Attendees are listed at the end of this report. We have three sangha meetings per year. Minutes are published on our website and will continue to be posted on our bulletin board. Brief Meditation: Led by Henry Approval October sangha meeting minutes: Moved and approved by attending members. Ratification of 2019 Board and Recognition of out-going board members Two outgoing board members, Kathryn and Abigail were acknowledged and...
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Dharmatalk: Case 78, Book of Equanimity: Unmon’s “Rice Cake”
January 31, 20191 min read
"... Everything is a treasure ..." Description: Koans are anecdotes from the lives of enlightened masters. The focus of this talk is a koan that conveys the mind of Master Unmon. In Case 78, a monk asks Unmon what it means to “go beyond Buddha and the ancestors” -- a quote that the monk has read. Unmon responds simply: “Rice cake.” The talk explores the meaning of the monk’s question, and the dynamic power of Unmon’s curt...
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Dharmatalk: Case 77, Book of Equanimity: Kyozan: As His Profession Requires
January 24, 20191 min read
"... Infinite love is the whole story ..." Description: What is a koan? This talk begins by addressing this question. Koans aid us in the investigation of what it is to be alive. This unfolds into a discussion of Case 77 and what it offers to us. There is a dance happening between Kyôzan and the monk and they are both aware that it is all empty. Post & Featured image: Love by johnhain, Pixabay License.
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Dharmatalk: Case 76, Book of Equanimity: Shuzan’s Three Verses
January 17, 20191 min read
"... Your you-ness is what is utterly beloved, from beginningless beginning ..." Description: This talk begins with a discussion of the five hindrances: desire; aversion; sloth and torpor; restlessness and worry; doubt. It goes on to explain how our task is not so much to get rid of them as to be aware of them. This leads into an examination of Case 76, where Master Shuzan is telling it like it is—practice has nothing to do with...
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