The Daily Zen Teisho

West Mountain Evening Talk – Part 2

Muso’s story of his experience is an honest account of the many starts and turns into blind alleys that sound familiar. Who hasn’t been lost at times in the study of Budd

Bloodstream Sermon – Part 4

Bodhidharma is considered the founder of Zen, bringing the teaching to China from India in 520 AD. The story of his life and teachings is almost mythological in that most

Avoiding Foxes and Dogs

Occasionally, readers write that they have difficulty understanding some of the journals and seem a bit perplexed about what to do when they hit something they don’t imme

“Do not grasp another’s bow”

Whenever we are reading part of a letter to a practitioner written hundreds of years ago, we are attempting to bridge time and cultural barriers. Because we all share the

The Living Method of Turning the Light Around

While this method of “turning the light around” seems very simple and direct, there is still some room for further translation.  All the various approaches to meditation

Letter to Masanori Yuno, February 1977

Yokoyama was one of the most unusual Soto Zen monks whose life reminds one of another ordained monk, Ryokan, who is best known for his poetry and love of playing with chi

The Wise Ones of Old

To say too much about Taoism can interfere with another’s own direct experience of intuitive understanding. Having read this piece many times in the past, I see how often

Five Points in Buddhist Practice

Shosan was born into a warrior family in 1579 and lived through one of the most war-torn times of Japanese history. At age 12, he was adopted by a member of a seventy-man

The World of Intensive Practice

Reading this piece reminds me of listening to a piece of classical music. Each movement transitions so skillfully into the next that we are barely aware that we have just

Sermons – Part 2

Some pieces are overwhelming as we try to absorb the depth communicated. Ma-tsu is delivering a sermon to monks who, just like us, have been practicing for various number

Sermons – Part 2

There are numerous sutras, teachings of the Masters, and enlightenment stories in the history of Buddhism and Zen. There are times when we read these writings and feel a

The Wayseeker

Dropping gaining mind in practice is a huge step; in the beginning, we are all awonder at these marvelous “results” of meditation and when they might appear. Read the J

Readings from Sun Face Buddha

I’ve built a grass hut where there’s nothing of value. After eating, I relax and enjoy a nap. When the hut was completed, fresh weeds appeared. Now it’s been lived in-cov

The Ryumon-ji Sermons – The Unborn Part 3

For those of us who have read the stories of Zen masters’ lives, Bankei’s enlightenment story is among the more powerful ones. His dedication is inspiring, and his insigh

The Fundamental Expedient Teachings

This translation comes from the Tun-huang documents discovered in Cave 17 sometime around 1900. While we don’t usually explore where these translations actually come from

Illusion = Satori

At times we feel like we are “successfully” walking with a foot in both worlds where illusion and reality seem balanced. Similar to walking a balance beam, we adjust our

King of Samadhis

Most of what we have read or heard about sitting meditation has come from contemporary vehicles for Buddhism. This lovely piece, King of Samadhis, helps communicate the d

The Platform Sutra

Many of us are familiar with the first part of the Platform Sutra, recounting the story of Huineng’s life and how he obtained the robe and bowl after arriving at the mona

To Live is Just to Live

All of us have been known to complicate our lives and our practice at times. We overthink problems, over-dwell on emotional states from time to time, and try to quantify

Shikantaza

Time to return to the beginning with Spring/Fall around the corner.  Many of you have asked for more instruction on beginning meditation. Read the Journal while listenin