What is the difference between gone beyond personal identity and gone beyond individualized consciousness? Personal identity has to do with our psychological responses to life based on our desire system … Continue reading Gone Beyond Individualized Consciousness #6
Blog posts
Awakened Awareness gone beyond individualized consciousness #5
What does it mean to be awake? To truly be in the present moment where the truth happening place resides? Awareness is to be present in each moment and to … Continue reading Awakened Awareness gone beyond individualized consciousness #5
Beyond Constructions of Time #4
This blog is about the section in the Gate, Gate, mantra which says: going beyond constructions of time. In the past few years, I have practiced a lot on breaking … Continue reading Beyond Constructions of Time #4
Beyond Personal Identity #3
Continuing my series on gate, gate, paragate mantra. If you are new to this series, look at the two previous blogs for the overall translation into English of this mantra. … Continue reading Beyond Personal Identity #3
Beyond thought.#2
During rohatsu sesshin, I worked with the gate gate mantra. I got this explanation from Dan Brown who is a Tibetan teacher and i have really enjoyed contemplating it: … Continue reading Beyond thought.#2
“Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate” #1
I received this translation of the “gate” mantra from Dan Brown who is a Tibetan Teacher: From the end of the Heart Sutra: Gate, gate – beyond thought Paragate – … Continue reading “Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate” #1
The healing heart of at-home rituals
I went to the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA) conference this past October and the keynote speaker was Paula Arai. She is the author of several books – Women Living … Continue reading The healing heart of at-home rituals
The Authentic Tea Bowl Before Birth
There is a new Women in Buddhism book out now called, “Seeds of Virtue, Seeds of Change, a collection of Zen Teachings” edited by Jikyo Cheryl Wolfer. I think there … Continue reading The Authentic Tea Bowl Before Birth
How to turn a cheese sandwich on the grill.
My family has really enjoyed the movie “Chef.” Yesterday in my car, I was listening to one of Linda Ruth Cutts’s lectures from SFZC and she used examples from that … Continue reading How to turn a cheese sandwich on the grill.
With which mind do you eat these dumplings?
I gave a talk at Clouds on sunday about Work practice, Sangha and practice period. Something I said has been lingering in my mind. I said, “Zen is not a … Continue reading With which mind do you eat these dumplings?
Ireland, Sept 2014
I am in Ireland on vacation with my family. I have been taking what I call a well-deserved vacation. I have been busy with other aspects of my life since … Continue reading Ireland, Sept 2014
Wherever you are, enlightenment is there
Hashimoto Roshi, one of Katagiri Roshi’s teachers, said: The way we (Japanese) cook is to prepare each ingredient separately. Rice is here and pickles are over there. But when you … Continue reading Wherever you are, enlightenment is there
Right Thought II
There are two types of thought in Buddhism: Initial thought – first thought Developed thought – elaboration on first thought, which leads us into fantasy and belief in our constructed … Continue reading Right Thought II
Right Thought
In my last Sunday talk, I worked with the 8-fold path and the limb of Right Thought. The Buddha had many suggestions about how to work with our thoughts. One … Continue reading Right Thought
Karen Maezen Miller’s “Weeds”
I am just going to quote what I found in Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly, in the summer 2014 issue. This is from Karen Maezen Miller’s book: Paradise in Plain Sight … Continue reading Karen Maezen Miller’s “Weeds”
Vital Creativity
“Karma” has been a word that has been usurped by our society. Everyone uses that word, Buddhist and non-buddhist alike, but how terribly misunderstood that word is. We have just … Continue reading Vital Creativity
Oryoki at McDonalds
I’m in 7-day sesshin at Hokyoji Zen Community in southwest Minnesota. I have come here for almost 40 years now and have a profound appreciation for the deep core of Zen … Continue reading Oryoki at McDonalds
Hurry corrodes Meaning
I have a teaching story or Koan from Tomoe Katagiri who is a teacher for many of us in her quiet way. She is Katagiri-roshi’s widow. Thursday, Sosan and I … Continue reading Hurry corrodes Meaning
Sorrow and Loss
It seems that a combination of things has caused me to think about aging and death a lot lately; having an empty nest, turning 63, some of my friends getting … Continue reading Sorrow and Loss
me, my, mine
I have been working with a mindfulness slogan to remind me that the whole world doesn’t revolve around me and my life. In fact, there is no centralized self! “I” … Continue reading me, my, mine