It’s snowing in White Bear. Around 8 inches expected by morning. The blog dog (as one student called Bodhi) and I just got in from walking and (almost) daily photo shoot. Today’s surprise was how difficult it is to capture snow. The above shot was much better than the other half dozen shots. Got me reflecting on the breath and zazen. Lots of Soto Zen teachers encourage the practice of following the breath, some even say that following the breath... Read more
I stumbled on this edited snippet of a Katagiri Roshi talk the other night while looking for something else. Seems like it might be good grounding advice for those of you reading this blog and the Zen Forum International discussion about shikantaza and koans. One person not steeped in Soto Zen said to me the other day, “I read what’s being said, but don’t understand a word.” I hope this is different. Btw, Roshi refers to a “Zen master” and... Read more
After the exchange the other day with Jundo about shikantaza and koan introspection, I pulled out Hee-Jin Kim’s Dogen on Meditation and Thinking and the passage that I offer at the bottom of this post struck me as particularly on point, expressing Dogen’s teaching very well, although in rather difficult language. I wished that Katagiri Roshi were still alive so that he could see this and we could schmooze it around. I think what we’re talking about is integrated practice... Read more
Buddha was born in Kapilavastu Enlightened in Magadha Taught in Varanasi Entered nirvana in Kushinagara Now we set out Buddha’s bowls; May we with all living beings, Realize the emptiness of the three wheels: Giver, receiver and gift. We had our Saturday Practice Morning yesterday and ate, as usual, with oryoki (pictured above), as we also eat during sesshin. A loose tranlation of “oryoki” is “bowls that hold just enough.” Click here for the “rules from headquarters” for this way... Read more
Same spot in the path as a few days ago, today with clear skies and fresh snow. I’m a Soto Zen history buff because I find so much in that field that invigorates practice. For starters, the research that I most enjoy is like a thick mystery novel. I get a vicarious thrill as the historians, like detectives following the who-done-it? clues, try to connect the dots and make fresh sense of the past. What I enjoy most of all... Read more
Just after I posted the announcement of the second 100-day training on-line practice focusing on the Genjokoan beginning March 5, I received a notice that Tricycle was going to offer a 90-day practice period focusing on the Genjokoan, beginning February 23. Kinda funny, no? Some suspect that imitation, the highest form of flattery, is at work. Anyway, as a friend once said, “We all work for Buddha Incarnated., so no problem.” What I’m doing is a bit different from the... Read more
The photo is obviously not a dragon but a wild turkey. I try to use photos from where I live (that really cute fox from a couple days ago was an exception) and this is as close as I could come to a dragon. Anyway… Dharma study is mostly about studying our formations – the latent meaning-makers in the mind that emerge when encountering phenomena. One of the difficulties in dharma study, especially for the first ten years or so,... Read more
Today we commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s parinirvana, his thoroughgoing death. It is a good time to reflect on our own life and death, perched as we are between winter and spring, past and future. What follows is a rich selection from Dogen’s Extensive Record. This one is much like eating double mocha cheesecake, so you would do well to chew it slowly. What taste is most striking for you in this moment? 147. Dharma Hall Discourse [Parinirvana Day, 1246]Now our original... Read more
Wild Fox Zen
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