hands and eyes – a talk by Madelon Bolling
The Blue Cliff Record, case 89: Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva Guanyin use those many hands and eyes?” Daowu answered, “It is like someone in the middle of the night reaching behind her head for the pillow.” Yunyan said, “I understand.” Daowu asked, “How do you understand it?” Yunyan said, “All over the body are hands and eyes.” Daowu said, “That is very well expressed, but it is only eight-tenths of the answer.” Yunyan said, “How would you say it, Elder Brother?” Daowu said, “Throughout the body are hands and eyes.” “How does the Bodhisattva Guanyin use those many hands and...
Read MoreWhy Does it Come to This? / I Vow to Free – A Talk Given by Lee Shields, October 11, 2020
After the sittings on Friday mornings, the koan that has been shared recently is case 98 from The Record of Tung-shan (Dongshan) that goes like this: One time when the Master was washing his bowls, he saw two birds contending over a frog. A monk who also saw this asked, “Why does it come to that?” The Master replied, “It’s only for your benefit, Acarya.” Before sitting on Wednesday evenings, we have taken up the translations of the first of the Four Infinite vows, also known as the Bodhisattva Vows. The Mountain Lamp version is: All beings beyond number, I vow to free. Aitken Roshi’s...
Read MoreZenkai (January 10, 2021) with Madelon Bolling
TTS will hold the January 10, 2021 Zenkai remotely (by Zoom). If you are able, please join all or part of this opportunity for intensive practice with others. 8:15 Samu – cleaning your space or home 8:45 Gathering on Zoom 8:55 Be seated 9:00 (5 Remembrances), Zazen, Kinhin 10:10 (Dai-O Kokushi) Dharma talk (Shiku Seigan Mon)* 10: 45 Zazen, Kinhin (11:15 Interviews available) 12:00 (audio and video on) Break to get food...
Read MoreZenkai By Zoom: Three-Day Zen Retreat with Jack Duffy (August 7-9, 2020)
We will have an intensive retreat with Jack, Madelon, and Lee August 7-9, 2020. The detailed schedule is below. Here is an overall summary of the 3 days: SCHEDULE Specifics to be included soon. Friday — 6:45pm-9:45pm Saturday — 8:15am-12:30pm 2:30-5:00 & 7:00-9:30pm Sunday — 8:15am-12:30pm & 2:30-5 pm The intensive weekend Zoom retreat will begin Friday at 6:45 PM with gathering for a short introduction to the form with Zoom, and zazen at 7:00 PM. The full schedule is included at the bottom of this page. For a zoom link, email: There is no better time for focused practice than this!...
Read MoreThis Moment – A Talk by Madelon Bolling – June 14, 2020
A monk asked, “What is the essential meaning of Buddhism?” Mazu said, “What is the meaning of this moment?” (Ferguson, p. 76) Our world has changed so radically that ordinary routines don’t work any more or are not available. Like any other living thing, when the old ways don’t work, we try to meet our needs in new ways. Deprived of overhead light, an upright tree will begin reaching sideways, growing a new shape. We talk a lot about sudden radical change and unpredictability under the current threats of death, destruction, disease, and disorder. We talk about how this maps on to...
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