Talks from Twining Branches Sesshin, March 2025
Crack! Stone on Bamboo Pai-chang’s Fox He Just Acted as He Was
Read MorePai-chang’s Fox — A talk by Leland Shields — March 2025
Case 2 in the Gateless Barrier: Once when Pai-chang gave a series of talks, a certain old man was always there listening together with the monks. When they left, he would leave too. One day, however, he remained behind. Pai-chang asked him, “Who are you, standing here before me?” The old man replied, “I am not a human being. In the far distant past, in the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, I was head priest at this mountain. One day a monk asked me, ‘Does an enlightened person fall under the law of cause and effect or not?’ I replied, ‘Such a person does not fall under the law of cause and effect.’...
Read MoreCrack! Stone on Bamboo — a talk by Leland Shields — March 2025
Xiangyan’s Great Enlightenment Zen master Zhixian of Mount Xiangyan [Xideng] was bright in nature. Being at the assembly of Guishan, he was well learned and had extensive memory. Guishan one day said to Xiangyan, “Everything you say is what you’ve memorized from commentaries. Now I am going to ask you a question. When you were an infant—before you could even distinguish east from west—at that time, how was it?” Xiangyan spoke and presented his understanding, explaining the principle, but could not get approval. He went through the texts he had collected and studied, but he could not find an...
Read MoreHe Just Acted as He Was — a Talk by Leland Shields (January 12, 2025)
One day a monk asked Master [Qingyuan Xingsi ]: “What was Master Bodhidharma’s intention in coming to China from India?” [Qingyuan ] said: “He just acted as he was.” The monk said: “Would you tell me again what you just said right now in words that I can understand?” [Qingyuan ] said: “Come here!” The monk approached his master. [Qingyuan ] said: “Remember this clearly!” Gudo Wafu Nishijima , Master Dogen’s Shinji Shobogenzo; 301 Koan Stories, p. 17. This story is taken from Dogen’s Shinji Shobogenzo; 301 Koan Stories. Dogen compiled this collection without commenting on the stories, and...
Read MoreObserving — 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...
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