Be Yourself, a talk by Madelon Bolling (September 16, 2023)
Nanyue Polishes a Tile Nanyue Huairang asked Mazu Daoyi, “Worthy monk, why do you sit in meditation?” Mazu replied, “I wish to become a buddha.” Huairang picked up a tile and started to rub it against a stone in front of Mazu’s hermitage. Finally Mazu asked him what he was doing. Huairang replied, “Polishing it to make a mirror.” “How can you make a tile into a mirror by polishing it?’ asked Mazu. “How can you become a buddha by sitting in meditation?” responded Huairang. [Case 139 in Entangling Vines] [PSC] As a...
Read MoreTalks from 7-Day Intensive (September 9-16, 2023)
Beginning Anew A talk be Lee Shields The permeability of our skin – the whole of our training is for the development of compassion talk by Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com) The koan of groups – Don’t think good don’t think evil A talk be Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com) Be yourself A talk by Madelon Bolling...
Read MoreSesshin with Lee Shields, In Person and Zoom, September 9-16, 2023
Three Treasures Sangha typically holds two, seven-day sesshin each year. Non-Residential Sesshin with Lee Shields, In Person and Zoom, September 9-16, 2023 These retreats are rigorous and quite demanding, consisting of about 10 hours of zazen (sitting meditation) per day. They are silent except for the teacher’s daily teisho (dharma talk), and for dokusan (practice-related interview with the teacher). Part time attendance is welcome. To learn more about the retreat, visit the Sesshin page.
Read MoreOn Dealing With “Self” When There Is No Such Thing – A Talk by Madelon Bolling (June 11, 2023)
A monk asked, “How should one act during every hour of the day such that the ancestors are not betrayed?” Yunmen said, “Give up your effort.” The monk said, “How should I give up my effort?” Yunmen said, “Give up the words you just uttered.” (Ferguson, p. 287) Today I want to explore a little more about living and working with thoughts. Thinking is a defining feature of our life, and one that’s often experienced by Zen students as the bane of our existence. In the presence of these thoughts, then, “How should one act during...
Read More(Trust) – a Talk by Madelon Bolling
Raven took his perch on the Assembly Oak and addressed a special meeting of the Tallspruce community, saying, “It’s time for me to be to moving on.” [snip] A hush fell over the circle. Grouse could be heard sniffling. At last, Porcupine asked, “Do you have any last words for us?” Raven said, “Trust.” (Aitken, Zen Master Raven. p.201) How is it that trust would be the last word, the encompassing summary of Zen master Raven’s life work, his legacy to the sangha? Life is puzzling: unsatisfactory, painful. Sometimes we glimpse something just out of sight—a notion comes up that there is more to...
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