Left to right, Madelon, Lee
Zen Talks from the 2024 Spring Sesshin
Relinquish Yourself, a talk be Lee Shields Not Wind, Not Flag, a talk be Lee Shields Wanderring Among the Poor, a talk be Lee Shields Voice of the Bird, a talk by Madelon Bolling The Zazen of the Mahayana, a talk be Lee Shields Blinded by Gold Dust, a talk be Lee Shields
read moreBlinded by Gold Dust – A Talk by Leland Shields (April 5, 2024)
One day the Counselor Wang visited…Master [Lin-chi]. When he met the Master in front of the Monk’s Hall, he asked: “do the monks of this monastery read the sutras?” “No, they don’t read sutras,” said the Master. “Then do they learn meditation?” asked the Counselor. “No, they don’t learn meditation,” answered the Master. “If they neither read sutras nor learn meditation, what in the world are they doing?” asked the Counselor. “All I do is make them become buddhas and patriarchs,” said the Master. The Counselor said: “Though gold dust is...
read moreThe Zazen of the Mahayana – A Talk by Leland Shields (April 6, 2024) – Sesshin Day 5
For all of us children of wealthy homes wandering among the poor, let’s return to Hakuin’s, “Song of Zazen,” Tuesday we left off on this verse: Lost on dark paths of ignorance, we wander through the Six Worlds; from dark path to dark path we wander — when shall we be freed from birth and death? Hakuin then changes course without answering when or if we will be freed– he turns instead to zazen. Oh, the zazen of the Mahayana! To this the highest praise! Devotion, repentance, training, The many Paramitas — all have their source in...
read moreVoice of the Bird, A Talk by Madelon Bolling (April 4, 2024)
Voice of the Bird for sesshin, April 2024. Asan of Shinano lived in Japan in the eighteenth century. She was a sincere student who meditated assiduously. One morning, drifting in and out of sleep and struggling to stay present to her koan, she heard a rooster crow. Her mind suddenly opened, and she exclaimed: The fields, the mountains, the flowers, and my body, too, are the voice of the bird. What is left that could be said to hear? [From Dongshan’s Five Ranks (Bolleter), p.101.] PSC Chinese Zen master Seng-Tsan noted in the...
read moreA Rich Man Wandering Among the Poor, A Talk by Leland Shields (April 3, 2024)
All beings by nature are Buddha, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddha. How sad that people ignore the near and search for truth afar: like someone in the midst of water crying out in thirst; like a child of a wealthy home wandering among the poor. (Hakuin, “Song of Zazen”) Hakuin begins “The Song of Zazen” with a clear statement: all beings are Buddha. As clear as it is, when in doubt we can still equivocate – who or what is Buddha after all? Aren’t we supposed to slay any...
read moreNot the Wind, Not the Flag, A Talk by Leland Shields (April 2, 2024)
Case 29 of the Gateless Barrier: Hui-neng: “Not the Wind; Not the Flag” Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind. One said, “The flag moves.” The other said, “The wind moves.” They argued back and forth but could not agree. The Sixth Ancestor said, “Gentlemen! It is not the wind that moves; it is not the flag that moves; it is your mind that moves.” The two monks were struck with awe. Aitken, Robert. The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) (p. 228). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Kindle Edition. Step back. Watch...
read moreRelinquish Yourself – A Talk by Leland Shields (April 1, 2024)
Daito Kokushi’s Admonition Oh you [monastics] who are in this mountain monastery, remember you are gathered here for the sake of religion, and not for the sake of clothes and food. As long as you have shoulders you will have clothes to wear. As long as you have a mouth you will have food to eat. Be ever mindful throughout the [twenty-four] hours of the day, to apply yourself to the Unthinkable. Time passes like an arrow, never let your mind be disturbed by worldly cares. Ever, ever be on the look out…Oh [monastics], be diligent, be diligent....
read moreNothing extra, nothing left out – a talk by Leland Shields
Blue Cliff Record, Case 12: Tung Shan’s Three Pounds of Hemp A monk asked Tung-Shan, “What is Buddha?” Tung Shan said, “Three pounds of hemp.” Thomas Cleary, BCR 12 Blue Cliff Record, case 19: Chu Ti’s One Finger Ch’an Whenever anything was asked, Master Chu Ti would just raise one finger. Thomas Cleary, BCR 19 Blue Cliff Record case 27: Yun Men’s The Body Exposed, The Golden Wind A monk asked Yun Men, “How is it when the tree withers and the leaves fall?” Yun Men said, “Body exposed in the golden wind.” Thomas Cleary, BCR 27 On most retreat...
read moreThe Teachings of a Whole Lifetime – A Talk by Madelon Bolling (February 11, 2024)
A monk asked Yun Men, “What are the teachings of a whole lifetime?” Yun Men said, “An appropriate statement.” (Blue Cliff Record, Case 14) * * * There is a reality even prior to Heaven and Earth. Indeed it has no form, much less a name . Eyes fail to see it: it has no voice for ears to detect. . . . It is Dharma, truly beyond form and sound. It is Tao, having nothing to do with words. (Dai-O Kokushi: On Zen) * * * None of us can fix this world....
read moreLiving or Dead — a talk by Leland Shields (November 12, 2023)
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, Jianyuan said, “Heshang, 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. ...
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