One Bright Jewel, or sometimes translated “One Bright Pearl” is a short but important fascicle of Dogen’s Shobogenzo – a thirteenth century manuscript. Dogen had a 5 year break from writing on the Shobogenzo which, when completed had 95 independent essays. This break from 1233-1238 took place when Dogen was starting his monastery, Kosho-ji, and … Continue reading The Mani Jewel #1 of 15
Blog posts
Ryonen Scars Her Face, 17th century
As a young women, Ryonen Genso was an attendant to the empress and was known for her beauty and intelligence. When the empress died, she felt the impermanence of life, and she decided to become a nun. Ryonen traveled to the city of Edo in search of a Zen teacher. The first teacher refused her … Continue reading Ryonen Scars Her Face, 17th century
Miazong’s Dharma Interview
Miazong’s Dharma Interview, 12 century From “The Hidden Lamp” Before Miaozong became a nun, she used to visit Master Dahui Zonggao’s monastery to study with him, and he gave her a room in the abbot’s quarters. The senior monk, Wanan, did not approve. Dahui said to him, “Although she’s a woman, she has outstanding merits.” … Continue reading Miazong’s Dharma Interview
Ohashi awakens in a Brothel
Ohashi Awakens in a Brothel – 18th century Ohashi sold herself to a brothel to support her impoverished family after her samurai father lost his position. She served diligently and became a poet and calligrapher, but she was plagued by sadness for her former life. Later she met Hakuin, who advised her that enlightenment was … Continue reading Ohashi awakens in a Brothel
The Withered Tree Koan or the Old Women Burns Down the Hermitage
An old woman built a hermitage for a monk and supported him for twenty years. One day, to test the extent of the monk’s enlightenment and understanding, she sent a young, beautiful, girl to the hut with orders to embrace him. When the girl embraced the monk and asked, “How is this?” He replied stiffly, … Continue reading The Withered Tree Koan or the Old Women Burns Down the Hermitage
The Red Thread of Passion
Koan by Chinese master Sung-yuan (Shogen, d. 1202) In order to know the Way in perfect clarity, there is one essential point you must penetrate and not avoid. The Red thread of passion between our legs that cannot be severed. Few face up to the problem, since it is not at all easy to … Continue reading The Red Thread of Passion
The Paradoxes of the married Zen Priest
“What is healthy sexuality? This question I’m investigating with my group of High School age teenagers in Clouds in Water Zen Center’s T.R.U.S.T. program. Even at my old age, it’s still a ripe question. Buddha thought enough about it to include sexuality as one of our precepts – Do not misuse sexuality. As I delve … Continue reading The Paradoxes of the married Zen Priest
Do not misuse Sexuality
This is one of Buddhism grave precepts. It’s really quite an important one because of the enormous power and drive of our sexual urges. This power is what makes sex fantastic and also what can make it hurtful or damaging. It’s powerful. If there is a misuse of this power, we can hurt ourselves and … Continue reading Do not misuse Sexuality
Entering Mindfulness of Feelings
Liberation through Feelings These are notes from Chapter 11 in Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness. The purpose of these teaching is freeing the mind from suffering. It is about liberation not just: Getting more comfortable in our lives Or sorting out our personal histories These might be helpful But this exploration is about the larger questions … Continue reading Entering Mindfulness of Feelings
The Corpse in Decay
These are notes on the end of Chapter 10, mindfulness of physical characteristics, in Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness. The last section of mindfulness of the body is the contemplation of corpses in various states of decay. Buddha’s contemplation in the sutta is: Again, monks, as though he were to see a corpse thrown aside in … Continue reading The Corpse in Decay
Mindfulness of “I am”
Continuing to study Mindfulness by Joseph Goldstein. These are notes on the middle part of Chapter 10, “Mindfulness of physical characteristics” “Conceit” in its Buddhist usage, refers to the deeply rooted sense of “I am”, “I was”, or “I will be.” This is the last of the veils of ignorance that needs to be removed … Continue reading Mindfulness of “I am”
Post Election Practices #2
I have been studying and writing again about Jizo Bodhisattva. Again and again, this archetypal energy inspires me. I found it particularly inspiring in helping me practice during the current political climate. If you are in my tribe of politics, the situation right now is disappointing, paralyzing, depressing or worse, as each of us reacts … Continue reading Post Election Practices #2
Mindfulness of the elements
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, the second half of Chapter 9, Mindfulness of activities. The elements Again, monks, one reviews this same body, however it is placed, however disposed, as consisting of elements thus: ‘in this body there are the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the air element.’ … Continue reading Mindfulness of the elements
Mindfulness of Physical Characteristics
These are notes taken from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness. These are the first section from Chapter 10, Mindfulness of physical Characteristics. We study the body to take us beyond the concept of “body” as “self.” This chapter studies the body in Anatomical parts The elements And the body’s nature of impermanence, to decay and then … Continue reading Mindfulness of Physical Characteristics
Mindfulness of Activities
This is a continuation of notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, Chapter 9: Mindfulness of activities: Again, monks, when going forward and returning one acts clearly knowing; when looking ahead and looking away one acts clearly knowing; when flexing and extending one’s limbs one acts clearly knowing . . . when eating, drinking, consuming food, … Continue reading Mindfulness of Activities
Mindfulness of body postures #2 – selflessness
Continuing the study and notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, Chapter 8, the second half. Mindfulness of postures can support the understanding of the three characteristics. Impermanence, anicca Dukkha, suffering Selflessness, anatta Under selflessness Who is walking? Who is lying down? We can begin to explore the impersonal nature of existence An important stage of … Continue reading Mindfulness of body postures #2 – selflessness
Mindfulness of body postures – Working with fear and dread
These are notes taken from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, Chapter 8: Mindfulness of Postures Again, monks, when walking, one knows “I am walking”; when standing, one knows “I am standing”; when sitting, one knows “I am sitting.”; when lying down, one knows “I am lying down”; or one knows accordingly however one’s body is disposed. … Continue reading Mindfulness of body postures – Working with fear and dread
Post Election Practices
Someone from the sangha asked me how to do tonglen in the circumstances that we are presently facing. To practice tonglen in a crisis is quite radical and hard to do. But who said Buddhist practice was easy? How can we react without pouring more kerosene on the huge bonfire of hatred and aversion that … Continue reading Post Election Practices
Mindfulness of Breathing #2
These are my notes from studying the end of Chapter 7 in Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness.” They are the second half of Mindfulness of Breathing. In the Satipatthana sutta, there is a series of progressive instructions regarding the breath, which is the first of the contemplations on the body. Why mindfulness of breathing is so … Continue reading Mindfulness of Breathing #2
Mindfulness of Breathing #1
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness.” This is the first part of Chapter 7 – Mindfulness of Breathing. This sutra has many avenues to take that will lead to awareness. Buddha had a great range of skillful means, tailoring his teaching to the particular audience or person he was addressing. It is helpful … Continue reading Mindfulness of Breathing #1