The 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...
Read MoreThe Way Has to Flow Without Obstruction— a talk by Leland Shields (September 19, 2025)
Listen to the talk …The Way has to flow without obstruction. Why would you block it? The Way flows freely when the mind doesn’t dwell on anything. Once it dwells on something, it is imprisoned… Pine, Red. Three Zen Sutras: The Heart, The Diamond, and The Platform Sutras (Counterpoints Book 7) (pp. 81-82). Catapult. Kindle Edition. This passage was taken from a paragraph in Huineng’s Platform Sutra. It’s the first sentences that draw me in and stop me in my tracks. …The Way has to flow without obstruction. Why would you block it? The Way flows freely when the mind doesn’t dwell on anything…...
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