“Even prior to heaven and earth”
By Madelon Bolling This piece was originally given by Madelon as a dharma talk at the Three Treasures Sangha zazenkai on June 8, 2014. [Note: Daio Kokushi is a dharma name. Daio means “great Yes,” “great affirmation,” or “great response.” Kokushi is the Japanese version of a Chinese term meaning “national teacher,” pronounced like the English “coke-she.” The middle “u” is silent.] In his verse, “On Zen,” Daio Kokushi (1235-1309) wrote, “There is a reality even prior to heaven and earth.” We often recite this fairly automatically, so today I’d like to consider it with more respect. “Respect”...
Read MoreUndoing the Usual – Zenkai Talk by Madelon Bolling (Feb 9-10, 2014)
How can we extend the experience of sesshin and bring that settled focus into our workaday life? Right after sesshin, things often seem to go smoothly for awhile. For a few days as we recover from exhaustion and notice the strangeness of our surroundings, meal gathas echo quietly in our minds when we look around the lunchroom at work. Dōgen’s words about practice and enlightenment gentle us into the same directness we had as Cook, Chopper, Dishwasher or Bathroom Cleaner during sesshin. That experience enfolds us as we cook, chop, wash dishes and clean bathrooms at home and as we perform...
Read MoreJewels in Our Sutras – Talk by Lee Shields
In recent months I’ve found myself particularly struck by passages in the sutras we chant. So for the talk today, I decided to do something different. Rather than starting with a single koan, or a single sutra, I will talk today about a few key perspectives that run through the sutras. My hope is that we can deepen our consideration by looking at the same perspective expressed by different ancestors. As if we were looking at the same jewel through different facets. Over the course of the talk I want to recognize three different jewels. One, that we are already Buddha, two, if so, why do we...
Read MoreOn The Middle Way — Talk by Madelon Bolling
Something caught my attention that has intrigued me for a long time. Maybe it intrigues you too, and we can start walking through it here. In the Coincidence of Opposites we recite: In the very midst of light, there is darkness; don’t meet another in the darkness. In the very midst of darkness, there is light; don’t observe another in the light. This doesn’t mean that we should all become hermits so we won’t see other people. Rather, our way of seeing and being in the world needs a slightly radical tune-up. In writing on Buddha-nature in the Shōbōgenzō, Dōgen...
Read MoreIntroduction to Zen Meditation
Talk given by Lee Shields – May 12, 2013 Welcome to those of you new to Three Treasures (TTS), to Zen, and welcome to all my old friends in the dharma, joining again for a day of Zazen – Zen meditation. In my talk today I wanted to specifically offer an introduction to this practice of Zen that has meant much to me in my life. While my remarks are intended for people new to our group or new to Zen, I will leave it to old friends to see if you can find anything of use to you as well. I think there is some value to sometimes reflect on things we’ve done for a long time to note the...
Read MoreBlue Cliff Record Case 6: Yun-Men’s Good Day
Talk given by Scott Ruplin Zenkai, Dec. 3-4, 2011 Blue Cliff Record Case 6: Yun-Men taught by saying, “I do not ask you about before the 15th of the month. Come, give a phrase about after the 15th:” He himself responded, “Every day is a good day” First let’s say some words about the life and teaching of Master Yun-Men Wen Yen, who is called Ummon in Japan. Most of this information comes from The Roaring Stream, bu Foster and Shoemaker, and Zen Dust, and the book Master Yun-Men by Urs App. There’s also a pretty extensive Wikipedia entry about him. His name, and the name of the mountain where...
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