I was meditating in my big stuffy purple chair in front of my altar the other day and i noticed an index card on the table next to me. An index card amidst my piles of books, stray papers, nail files and binoculars for the birdfeeders, etc. When I turned it over, it was a … Continue reading Straightforward Presence
Blog posts
Three dharma seals interpretation
Just a very short interesting translation I just discovered on the Three Dharma seals. I have been listening to Ruth King’s guided meditations on Insight Timer App and here is her twist on the three dharma seals. The traditional translation is: impermanence non-self or no centralized self samsara – suffering of the human world Her … Continue reading Three dharma seals interpretation
Curiosity and Concentration
I have taught concentration and the instructions to focus your mind for many, many years. I have taught this to myself and others. These instructions of course were coming from my point of view. In self-reflection and in hindsight, I see that I have taught concentration and changing habits with a lot of will-power or … Continue reading Curiosity and Concentration
The “N” of RAIN – Non-identification, Noting or Nurture
All the previous steps create the conditions to naturally turn towards our experience rather than turning away from it. We set up ease so that we begin to note or become the witness or neutral observer of our experience. What I like about this is that it is natural or effortless or unforced. So much … Continue reading The “N” of RAIN – Non-identification, Noting or Nurture
The “I” of RAIN – Investigation
There are habituated patterns that I would like still like to release. As I observe these patterns, I’ve noticed the result is often in the category of numbing out or avoidance. If I overeat, for example, I don’t really know what I’m feeling – I avoid what I’m feeling. This actually leaves a very unsettled … Continue reading The “I” of RAIN – Investigation
The “A” of “RAIN” – Accept or Allow
What is the difference between resisting our karma and accepting it? By acceptance, I don’t mean passivity or ignoring. There is a way to receive what is happening, or karma, in the present moment, with softness and gentleness, rather than ignoring or pushing the “bad stuff” away. We can allow or accept what is happening … Continue reading The “A” of “RAIN” – Accept or Allow
the “R” of “RAIN” – Recognize
Curiously for me, my practice has been returning to the basic question, “What’s happening right now?” I am using this question as my basis for my mindfulness investigation. I am on sabbatical from Clouds in Water. I have dropped the form and the structure of a Zen Community for the time being, and I am … Continue reading the “R” of “RAIN” – Recognize
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
My husband and I were glued to the screen while watching the intriguing HBO documentary The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, directed by Judd Apatow. We both belly laughed and cried. I found this documentary very provocative and moving because I too am dealing with the intersection of being a Jew and a Buddhist. One section got … Continue reading The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Dogen’s Anger #21 of 21
In many instances, Dogen expresses deep criticism with other teachers. He often expresses his anger about this and even, might go so low as to call teachers names. When I first read these paragraphs, I was really astounded. How could a Zen Teacher share publicly such criticism. Isn’t that breaking many of the precepts? My … Continue reading Dogen’s Anger #21 of 21
Great Sky and White Clouds #20 of 21
The answer to the last question in Shitou’s koan is extremely poignant and beautiful to me. Daowu asked again, “Can you say anything further?” Shitou answered, “The expansive sky does not obstruct the floating white clouds.” The white clouds are the five skandhas and the form world which appears, changes shape and then dies. The … Continue reading Great Sky and White Clouds #20 of 21
The Pivotal Point #19 of 21
The pivotal point is the second part of the koan of Shitou’s. Daowu said, “Going beyond, is there a further pivotal expression?” Dogen answers: “This means that when a pivotal expression is actualized, ‘going-beyond’ is actualized. A pivotal expression refers to skillful means; skillful means refers to all buddhas and ancestors. In expressing this, it … Continue reading The Pivotal Point #19 of 21
Not gaining, Not knowing #18 of 21
The last three blogs on the fascicle “Going Beyond Buddha” will be working with this koan from Great Teacher Shitou: In the assembly of Great Master Shitou Wuji, Zen Master Daowu of Tianhuang temple asked: Daowu – “What is the essential meaning of the Buddha Dharma?” Shitou said – ”Not-gaining, not knowing.” Daowu said, “Going … Continue reading Not gaining, Not knowing #18 of 21
The Sun and Moon #17 of 21
Dogen writes in the fascicle “Going Beyond Buddha”: Zen Master Panshan Baoji said, “The single path of ‘going beyond’ is never transmitted by any one of the thousands of ancestors.” This expression ‘the single path of going beyond’ is coined only by Panshan. He did not say ‘the matter of going beyond,’ or ‘the person … Continue reading The Sun and Moon #17 of 21
What Is Your Name? #16 of 21
The next section in the text is about naming. What happens when we name something? What happens when language tries to describe experience? Is the name the thing? Most of us understand intellectually that experience is something much broader and deeper then the naming of the experience. But does this knowing of the limitations of … Continue reading What Is Your Name? #16 of 21
A Bubble in a Stream #15 of 21
Monks should be like this child whose 7th consciousness or Manas consciousness doesn’t fully function. Monks should be interrupting at every moment the instinctual tendency to circulate experience around a solid “I” which in Buddhism, doesn’t exist. This “I” which is the “Manas consciousness” or the 7th consciousness, twists everything around itself and makes all … Continue reading A Bubble in a Stream #15 of 21
Eyeballs, Nostrils, Skull Replacements #14 of 21
“‘This child is not fully endowed with the six-sense organs’ means that her eyeballs have been replaced with soapberries by someone, her nostrils have been replaced with bamboo tubes, and her skull has been borrowed and made into a ladle-scoop for human waste. What is the principle of this replacement?” What unusual images of interrupting … Continue reading Eyeballs, Nostrils, Skull Replacements #14 of 21
A Child of a Certain Family #13 of 21
“Zen Master Jingyin Kumu in Dongjing, who is a Dharma heir of Furong, and whose Dharma name was Facheng, said to his assembly, “If you know the matter of going beyond Buddha, you must have the ability to talk about it. Zen worthies, tell me! What is the matter of going beyond Buddha and ancestors? … Continue reading A Child of a Certain Family #13 of 21
In and Out, Talking and Listening #12 of 21
I wanted to share an experience I had that helped me understand the simultaneity of inside and outside or in and out or talking and listening. Unfortunately I have to bring up a heavy topic which is the concentration camps of WWII. I went to the concentration camps of Auschwitz/Birkenau in 1998 on a retreat … Continue reading In and Out, Talking and Listening #12 of 21
Twining Vines #11 of 21
The entire network of co-origination is talking and listening all the time. Lately, when I am giving a lecture, I don’t feel like “I’m” giving the lecture. I feel like my 5 skandhas and my sense gates are the vehicle for the teaching to come through in this present moment, in this lecture hall, and … Continue reading Twining Vines #11 of 21
Cause and Effect Arise Together #10 of 21
Dogen writes in “Going beyond Buddha”: We should know the ‘the matter of going beyond Buddha’ is neither being immersed in the cause nor in the ripening (attainment) of the fruit. However, we can fully attain it and thoroughly penetrate ‘not-hearing’ at ‘the time of talking’. Our usual understanding is that ‘this causes that’. Our … Continue reading Cause and Effect Arise Together #10 of 21