Why Does It Come to That? – A Talk by Madelon Bolling
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.” (Record of Tung-shan, case 98) As descendants of generations of colonizers here in this country, we are slowly coming to terms with our deep, personal, and inextricable connections with the natural world. The quality of life we have, the luxury of our...
Read MoreHermits and householders in the mud (a talk by Leland Shields, February 12, 2023
In the end of the third century CE, historical sources documented the prominent place of Buddhist and mostly Taoist hermits in the culture of China. Though it appears hermits long preceded this period, a book on the history of the later Han Dynasty summarized the way of hermits like this: Some retired to achieve their ideals; some bowed out to maintain their principles; some chose quiet to still their passions; some chose escape to preserve their lives; some to shame others into changing their ways; some to cleanse themselves. Pine, Red. Road to Heaven (p. 24). Catapult. Kindle Edition....
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...
Read MoreTalks from 7-day meditation retreat
Every Moment Zen A talk by Lee Shields Sesshin, Distractions, and Turning Away A talk by Lee Shields Beyond Intention A talk by Lee Shields Distractions: Meeting With Mara A talk by Madelon Bolling Touch the Mind A talk by Lee Shields Until Only the Mountain Remains A talk by Lee Shields
Read MoreUntil Only the Mountain Remains – A Talk by Leland Shields
Until Only the Mountain Remains Leland Shields, September 16, 2022 The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains. Translated by Sam Hamill, Poetry Foundation article 178390 I’ve brought this 8th century poem by Li Po to several talks recently. Apparently I can’t get enough of it. It carries a patient persistence that is essential for a retreat. Over the hours, zazen can be dynamic, motivated, boring, dozey…all are zazen. All support the quiet attention without theory or strategy. No strategy is...
Read MoreTouch the Mind – A Talk by Leland Shields
Touch the Mind Leland Shields – September 15,2022 There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth and every common sight, To me did seem Appareled in celestial light, The Glory and the freshness of a dream, It is not now as it hath been of yore; – Turn wheresoe’er I may, By night or day. The things which I have seen I now can see no more Wordsworth; https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45536/ode-intimations-of-immortality-from-recollections-of-early-childhood I begin the talk today not with words of our ancestors from the east, but with an early 19th century poem by...
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