The Dharma Gate of Ease and Joy — a talk by Leland Shields (September 14, 2026)
The Dharma Gate of Ease and Joy Leland Shields – September 14, 2026 Zazen is not the practice of dhyāna: it is simply the dharma gate of ease and joy. It is the practice and verification of ultimate bodhi Dogen, “Zazen Universally Recommended,” TTS sutra books What I just read is from Dogen’s essay, “Zazen, Universally Recommended,” in our sutra books. My intention this talk is to give you nothing to figure out and nothing to think about, so we can all breathe, walk, mu, chant, eat, wash… The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism tells us that the Sanskrit word “dhyana” was transcribed in Chinese...
Read MoreNot knowing — a talk by Leland Shields (September 13, 2026)
Not knowing Leland Shields – September 13, 2026 I’d like to start with a poem of Ryokan’s: Who calls my poems poems? My poems are not poems. Only when you know my poems are not poems can we together speak about poems. Translation Kazuaki Tanahashi, Sky Above, Great Wind; The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan, p. 20. Let’s put that together with Gateless Barrier case 40, “Guishan Kicks Over the Water Bottle.” When Guishan was with Baizhang’s assembly, he was cook of the monastery. Baizhang wanted to choose a founding teacher for Mount Dagui. He invited all his monks to make a...
Read MoreImpermanence is Buddha-nature: A Talk by Madelon Bolling (August 9, 2026)
Impermanence is Buddha-nature Madelon Bolling, August 9, 2026 They never told us . . . “Impermanence is Buddha-nature.” Dogen “Death is like the moon in the sky. It doesn’t disappear. It only changes form.” Ryokan 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 say.” Jianyuan said, “Why won’t you say? Daowu said, “Won’t say! Won’t say!” During their return trip,...
Read MoreFour Noble Truths — a talk by Leland Shields (July 11, 2026)
Four Noble Truths Lee Shields, July 11, 2026 As the story goes, Buddha left a comfortable home when realizing the unavoidable fact of old age, sickness and death. He spent years in dedicated practice, alone and with others, at times dangerously denying himself food and water before choosing the middle way. Then taking a seat under the Bodhi tree, he remained, through all manner of delusions doing their best to unseat him. On the morning of the eighth day, the Venus star shattered the world he knew. Rising at last, he sought out his practice community and for the first time expressed what was...
Read MoreAll Beings by Nature are Buddha: A Talk by Madelon Bolling (May 10, 2026)
All beings by nature are Buddha A Talk by Madelon Bolling, May 10, 2026 In the Book of Serenity, Tozan Zenji teaches us: Don’t try to seek yourself. Don’t try to figure out who you are. The “you” found in that way is far from the real you; it is not you anymore. But when I go on my way, wherever I turn, I meet myself. [#49] The Huayan school says, “Inner reality is complete, words are partial; when words are born, inner reality is lost.” [Book of Serenity, #49] One of the first instructions I received from Korean Zen master Seung Sahn was to consider “What am I?” This...
Read MoreHeshan’s Knowing How to Beat the Drum — a talk by Leland Shields (April, 2026)
Blue Cliff Record Case Forty-Four: Heshan Beats the Drum Leland Shields, April 12, 2026 [Heshan] said, “Cultivating study is called listening, ending study is called nearness; going beyond these two is really going beyond.” A [practitioner] came up and asked, “What is real going beyond?” [Heshan] said, “Knowing how to beat a drum.” The [practitioner] then asked, “What is absolute truth?” [Heshan] said, “Knowing how to beat a drum.” [The practitioner] then asked, “I do not question ‘mind itself is Buddha’—what about ‘not mind, not Buddha’?” [Heshan] said, “Knowing how to beat a drum.” Then...
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