Life and Death Is a Great Matter — a talk by Leland Shields (March, 2026)
Life and Death Is a Great Matter Leland Shields, March 2026 I beg to urge you everyone Life and death is a great matter All things pass quickly away… Each of you must be completely alert Never neglectful, never indulgent. This is the encouragement that ends our retreat day, and I’ve been moved and encouraged by it for these many years. It is encouraging when the day ends with fatigue, and still so when the day ends with openness. But it is encouragement to what? In the phrase, “life and death is a great matter,” “life and death” opens the aperture of our attention to include the four...
Read MoreThe Crow called, “Ikkyū, Ikkyū, Ikkyū” — a talk by Leland Shields (January 11 and March 12, 2026)
The Crow called, “Ikkyū, Ikkyū, Ikkyū” Leland Shields, January and March 2026 Ten dumb years I wanted things to be different furious proud I still feel it One summer midnight on my little boat on Lake Biwa Caaaawwwweee Father when I was a boy you left us now I forgive you Ikkyū, translation by Stephen Berg Crow With No Mouth, (p. 26) This is one of several poems identified as the one Ikkyū wrote after his enlightenment when he was twenty-six years old, in 1420 Japan. From accounts of his life – or I could say the accounts of his “antics”– he was passionate, irreverent, unpretentious,...
Read MoreDon’t try to seek yourself. Just this is it: A Talk by Madelon Bolling (February 8, 2026)
Don’t try to seek yourself. Just this is it. A Talk by Madelon Bolling (February 8, 2026) When leaving Yunyan’s memorial event Tozan recalled asking Yunyan, “After your death if someone asks me if I can describe your reality, how shall I reply?” After awhile Yunyan said, “Just this is it.” Tozan left without saying anything more; later as he was crossing a river, he saw his reflection . . . and was thoroughly enlightened. After seeing his reflection in the water, Tozan Zenji wrote: Don’t try to seek yourself. Don’t try to figure out who you are. The “you” found...
Read MoreBeyond Words — a talk by Leland Shields (November 9, 2025)
Beyond Words Leland Shields, November 9, 2025 I’ll begin with the first part of verse 14 of the Taoteching, translated by Red Pine. We look but don’t see it and call it indistinct we listen but don’t hear it and call [it] faint we reach but don’t grasp it and call it ethereal three failed means to knowledge I weave into one … Lao Tzu. Lao-tzu’s Taoteching: With Selected Commentaries from the Past 2,000 Years (p. 28). Copper Canyon Press. Kindle Edition. There is an inherent challenge in a Zen talk for the writer, the presenter and the listener. The words are what’s most apparent...
Read MoreThe Dragon King’s Daughter Pays Homage to the Buddha – a Talk by Carlos Abusaid Elias (October 12, 2025)
The master instructed the assembly saying, “The Dragon King’s daughter paid her personal homage to the Buddha from her heart. It was a completely natural act.” A monk asked, “If it was natural, why was there any ‘paying homage’?” The master said, “If there was no paying homage, how could it be natural?” Note: The full text transcript will be posted soon Listen to the talk
Read MoreTalks from the September, 2025 Sesshin
Talk 1 – “No Body” Breaks a Toe – by Leland Shields Read the transcript Listen to the talk Talk 2 – Buddha-nature – by Madelon Bolling Read the transcript Talk 3 – Nothing in The World – by Leland Shields Read the transcript Listen to the talk Talk 4 – How is Buddhism Being Maintained Here? – by Leland Shields Read the transcript Listen to the Talk Talk 5 – Roaming the Mountains, Blue Cliff Record 36 – by Leland Shields Read the transcript Listen to the talk Talk 6 – The Way...
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