Teachings
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Collective Bubbles of Delusion, by David R Loy, Part 2 of 2
July 4, 20164 min read
...by truly letting-go of one’s sense of self – the ego-self whose well-being is separate from others’ well-being – the self-interest that sustains the bubble is undermined. Click to read Part 1 of Collective Bubbles of Delusion. In place of the Abrahamic duality between good and evil, Buddhism focuses on ignorance and wisdom – the insight that comes with awakening. Delusion (moha) is one of the “three fires” or “three poisons” (the others are greed and ill...
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Teisho: Reflection on Tea and Dharma
June 30, 20161 min read
“As we do our practice, we are also part of much greater processes...One such process is simply: this dharma finding its way to express itself in a new culture” Description: In this short talk, Henry reflects on dharma practice and tea. Henry compares the varying manifestations of tea drinking and ceremony with the differing types of dharma practice throughout the world. He points to English high tea, Chinese simple tea, and to the formal and beautiful Japanese tea...
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Collective Bubbles of Delusion, by David R Loy, Part 1 of 2
June 27, 20163 min read
We are good at finding reasons to justify what we believe, but it is much more difficult to examine critically and sincerely our deepest beliefs. What makes human beings unique is also our Achilles heel – the defect that may yet destroy our species, along with most others. Like other animals, we have instincts, but, thanks to our large neo-cortex, we can gain some degree of freedom from them by choosing how to respond to them. This...
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Unborn and Undying, from Genjokoan
June 24, 20162 min read
Once firewood turns to ash, the ash cannot revert to being firewood. But you should not take the view that it is ashes afterward and firewood before. You should realize that although firewood is at a dharma-stage of firewood, and that this is possessed of before and after, the firewood is at the same time independent, completely cut off from before, completely cut off from after. Ashes are the dharma-stage of ashes, which also has a before and...
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Teisho: Yamada Ryoun Roshi: Joshu’s “Wash Your Bowls,” Case 39, Shoyoroku, Book of Equanimity (Part 4 of 4)
June 23, 20161 min read
Case 39: A monk asked Joshu: “I have just entered this monastery. I beg you, Master, please give me instruction.” Joshu asked, “Have you eaten your rice gruel yet?” The monk answered, “Yes, I have.” Joshu said, “Then wash your bowls.” Description: Yamada Roshi offers his final talk for the 2016 NASZ sesshin on Case 39 from the Shoyoroku, “Joshu’s Wash Your Bowls.” This famous koan is easily misunderstood as either advice for daily living, or as instruction on approaches to...
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Healing Ecology: Discovering Our Collective Place in the World, by David R Loy, Part 3 of 3
June 18, 20165 min read
When we meditate, for example, we are not transforming ourselves. We are being transformed. Quiet, focused concentration enables something else to work in us and through us, something other than one’s usual ego-self. Click to read Part 1 and Part 2 of Discovering our Collective Place in the World. This brings us to the second implication mentioned earlier: our collective response to this collective dukkha is just making things worse. First, let’s remember how things go wrong individually. We...
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Man in a Boat at Sea, from Genjokoan
June 17, 20161 min read
When a man is in a boat at sea and looks back at the shoreline, it may seem to him as though the shore is moving. But when he fixes his gaze closely on the boat, he realizes it is the boat that is moving. In like manner, when a person tries to discern and affirm thoughts with a confused notion of his body and mind, he makes the mistake of thinking his mind, his own...
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Teisho: Yamada Ryoun Roshi: Rinzai’s “True Person,” Case 38, Shoyoroku, Book of Equanimity (Part 3 of 4)
June 16, 20161 min read
Case 38: Rinzai instructed his assembly and said, “There is one true person of no rank, always coming out and going in through the gates of your face. Beginners who have not yet witnessed that, look! look!” Then a monk came out and asked, “What is the one true person of no rank?” Rinzai descended from the rostrum and grabbed him. The monk hesitated. Rinzai pushed him away and said, “The true person of no rank...
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Healing Ecology: Discovering Our Collective Place in the World, by David R Loy, Part 2 of 3
June 12, 20164 min read
For Buddhism the only true solution lies in realizing our nonduality with “others” and understanding that our own well-being cannot be distinguished from their well-being. Click to read Part 1 of Discovering our Collective Place in the World. Does this basic insight about the intimate connection between sense of self and dukkha also apply to the sense of separation between ourselves and others? The issue here is whether “separate self = dukkha” also holds true for our biggest...
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The Buddha Way, from Genjokoan
June 10, 20161 min read
To learn the Buddha Way is to learn one's self. To learn one's self is to forget one's self. To forget one's self is to be confirmed by all the dharmas. To be confirmed by all dharmas is to cast off one's body and mind and the bodies and minds of others as well. All trace of enlightenment disappears, and this tracless enlightenment continues on without end. The moment you begin seeking the Dharma, you move far from...
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