Observing — A Talk By Madelon Bolling — November 10, 2024
Daowu’s Condolence: Case 55 of the Blue Cliff Record Daowu and Jianyuan went to a house to pay condolences. Yuan rapped 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, Jianyuan said, “Hoshang, please tell me right away. If you don’t, I’ll hit you.” Daowu said, “You may hit me if you like, but I won’t say.” Jianyuan hit him....
Read MoreLiving or Dead – A talk by Lee Shields — October 13, 2024
I gave this talk a year ago or so – it was my way to say something about the contagious, contemptuous divisiveness at that time. Among other divisions, it was soon after Hamas brutally attacked Israelis, and the Israeli government brutally responded. Since last year it seems only easier to do something or say something to engender death threats. Is there another way? 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...
Read MoreTalks from the September, 2024 Sesshin
…Where There’s Nothing of Value, Lee Shields Pilgrimage: Tung-shan’s Sixty Blows, Lee Shields What was the purpose of Bodhidharma coming from the West, Lee Shields Being Human, Madelon Bolling The Iron Grindstone, Lee Shields Xuefengs Turtle Nose Snake, Lee Shields
Read MoreThe Iron Grindstone – a talk by Lee Shields, September 12, 2024
Iron Grindstone [Liu] went to [Guishan]. [Guishan] said, “Old cow, you’ve come!” She said, “Tomorrow there’s a great communal feast on Mount Tai —are you going?” [Guishan]lay down. Iron Grindstone Liu then left. Secrets of the Blue Cliff Record, Case 24, p 74. There is an elegance to the concise koans of our tradition like this one. It may sound enigmatic or mysterious, but that’s not what’s intended. In commentary for this case, Hakuin wrote this: This is a meeting of adepts, in which there are no more views of Buddha or opinions of Dharma. Are you going? They travel together; here there...
Read More…Where There’s Nothing of Value – a talk by Lee Shields, September 8, 2024
I built a grass hut where there’s nothing of value. After eating, I relax and enjoy a nap. When it was completed, fresh weeds appeared. Now it’s been lived in — covered by weeds. Attributed to Shih-T’ou Hsi-ch’ien [Shitou Xiqian], 700-790. Translation and copyright by Taigen Dan Leighton, Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi, 1987) This reading was taken from “Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage” written in eighth century China by Shih-T’ou Hsi-ch’ien. It is applicable to us here at Dharma Gate today as well. Together we have built...
Read MorePilgrimage – Tung-shan’s Sixty Blows – A talk by Lee Shields, September 9, 2024
Gateless Barrier Case 15 Tung-shan’s Sixty Blows Tung-shan came to see Yün-men. Yün-men asked him, “Where were you most recently?” Tung-shan said, “At Ch’a-tu.” Yün-men said, “Where were you during the summer?” Tung-shan said, “At Pao-tzu Monastery in Hu-nan.” Yün-men said, “When did you leave there?” Tung-shan said, “August 25th.” Yün-men said, “I spare you sixty blows.” Next day, Tung-shan came again and said, “Yesterday you said you spared me sixty blows. I don’t know where I was at fault.” Yün-men said, “You rice bag! Do you go about in such a way, now west of the river, now south of the...
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