This Midsummer Retreat — a talk by Madelon Bolling (September 16, 2026)
This Midsummer Retreat Madelon Bolling – September 16, 2026 We used to do a midsummer retreat called “Ancient Bones.” They say it was discontinued because fewer and fewer people could attend at all. Even with allowances for our limitations, it had become too arduous for those of us with ancient bones. I bought pre-paid cremation services for my dad about five years ago and we scattered my brother-in-law’s ashes on the Fourth of July that year. We’re all of us facing death from the instant we are born. We can’t face away from it since it is part of life itself. Death is seen...
Read MoreSeek Without Being Attached to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha — a talk by Leland Shields (September 15, 2026)
Seek Without Being Attached to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha Leland Shields – September 15, 2026 When Huangbo went to the buddha hall and made prostrations to the Buddha, [Xuan] the [novice] secretary joined him and said, “Seek without being attached to the buddha. Seek without being attached to the dharma. Seek without being attached to the sangha. Elder, why are you making prostrations?” In response, Huangbo slapped the novice secretary and said, “Seek without being attached to the buddha. Seek without being attached to the dharma. Seek without being attached to the sangha. Therefore, we make...
Read MoreThe Dharma Gate of Ease and Joy — a talk by Leland Shields (September 14, 2026)
The Dharma Gate of Ease and Joy Leland Shields – September 14, 2026 Zazen is not the practice of dhyāna: it is simply the dharma gate of ease and joy. It is the practice and verification of ultimate bodhi Dogen, “Zazen Universally Recommended,” TTS sutra books What I just read is from Dogen’s essay, “Zazen, Universally Recommended,” in our sutra books. My intention this talk is to give you nothing to figure out and nothing to think about, so we can all breathe, walk, mu, chant, eat, wash… The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism tells us that the Sanskrit word “dhyana” was transcribed in Chinese...
Read MoreNot knowing — a talk by Leland Shields (September 13, 2026)
Not knowing Leland Shields – September 13, 2026 I’d like to start with a poem of Ryokan’s: Who calls my poems poems? My poems are not poems. Only when you know my poems are not poems can we together speak about poems. Translation Kazuaki Tanahashi, Sky Above, Great Wind; The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan, p. 20. Let’s put that together with Gateless Barrier case 40, “Guishan Kicks Over the Water Bottle.” When Guishan was with Baizhang’s assembly, he was cook of the monastery. Baizhang wanted to choose a founding teacher for Mount Dagui. He invited all his monks to make a...
Read MoreImpermanence is Buddha-nature: A Talk by Madelon Bolling (August 9, 2026)
Impermanence is Buddha-nature Madelon Bolling, August 9, 2026 They never told us . . . “Impermanence is Buddha-nature.” Dogen “Death is like the moon in the sky. It doesn’t disappear. It only changes form.” Ryokan Case 55: Daowu’s Condolence Daowu and Jianyuan went to a house to pay condolences. Yuan tapped on the coffin and asked, “Living or Dead?” Daowu said, “Living I won’t say. Dead I won’t say.” Jianyuan said, “Why won’t you say? Daowu said, “Won’t say! Won’t say!” During their return trip,...
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