Posted inDharma, Koans/Poems, Videos

The monk who sat for many years without awakening, Henry Shukman (Video)

December 12, 2021

Has civilization institutionalized the three poisons – greed, hatred, and delusion? The extent to which we see life through our many delusions, we are contributing to ongoing suffering. We come to a practice like Zen to sit still, reflect, and seek wisdom. The basic point, since the beginning of Buddhism, is to end suffering.

Henry reflects on how koan practice addresses suffering and presents a koan in which a student sits for many, many kalpas (nearly unlimited amount of time) without awakening. How can this be?

Photo by S Migaj on Unsplash
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