Buddha Twirls a Flower: Or, Buddha Albert Einstein, and George Carlin walk into a bar
By Lee Shields The Gateless Barrier, Case 6: Once, in ancient times, when the World-Honored One was at Mount Grdbrakuta, s/he twirled a flower before her assembled disciples. All were silent. Only Mahakasyapa broke into a smile. The World-Honored One said, “I have the eye treasury of right Dharma, the subtle mind of nirvana, the true form of no-form, and the flawless gate of the teaching. It is not established upon words and phrases. It is special transmission outside tradition. I now entrust this to Mahakasyapa. This is an utterly simple story; in another context we could weave many...
Read MoreParticipate in Online Discussion on Zen Master Keizan’s Transmitting the Light
You can read Jack’s comments or post a comment at: rocksandstreams.palousezen.org Book currently under discussion: Transmitting the Light: Zen Master Keizan’s Denkoroku with translations by both Francis Cook and Thomas Cleary Schedule of Postings: 10/19: Nagarjuna, 14th Ancestor 10/26: Rahulata, 16th Ancestor 11/2: Gayasata, 18th Ancestor 11/9: Shih-t’ou, 36th Ancestor (Coincidence of Opposites’ Grass-Roof Hermitage) 11/14-17: Retreat at Kairos; Spokane (Please join us) 11/23: T’ung-an Kuan-chih 11/29: L’ang-shan Yuan-kuan 11/29-12/7: Winter Bones Rohatsu...
Read MoreBranching Moon Sesshin Haiku
Amidst the downpour, Sitting drenched and solitary– The red umbrella –written by Larry Keil, 2013
Read MoreFailure is a Friend by Madelon Bolling
Hakuin Zenji said, “They translated prajna as wisdom. All people have it. No one’s excepted. It’s faultlessly perfect in each one of us…” [Dokugyo Shingyo: Acid comments on the Heart Sutra] We go to extraordinary lengths to arrange our lives around this practice. We come to the zendo and sit, hear the Dharma as recorded and passed down for centuries. But it all comes down to this: this inexplicable thing we are looking for – It… is… here. Not just in this building or this room or in the presence of this group, but wherever you are, at any time of day or night,...
Read More2013 Practice Schedule
Here is the complete listing of the opportunities to practice Zen with Three Treasures Sangha in 2013. Of note: there will be three, more intensive (longer) Zazenkai’s with Jack Duffy Roshi; and new teachers Lee Shields and Madelon Bolling will be leading monthly zazenkais and be present on one Wednesday evening per month. January 12-13 Zazenkai (Madelon Bolling) Saturday 6:30pm – 8:30pm Sunday 6:00am – 1:30pm January 23 Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30 pm (Lee Shields) February 9-10 Zazenkai (Jack Duffy) Saturday 9:00am – 4:30pm Sunday 6:00am –...
Read MoreBranching Moon Sesshin Teisho’s Available
Jack Duffy’s sesshin teishos are now available on on mountinlamp.org. If folks only have time to listen to one, please start with the talk “On Precepts” Please send comments as I am re-working some of the ideas in there. Warmly, Jack
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