Autumn appeal
“We have to seek God in error and forgetfulness and foolishness.” — Meister Eckhart I remember attending my first sesshin with Aitken Roshi in Hawaii as a younger man. I was drawn to be there because, well, it was Hawaii, but mostly because of Aitken’s encouragement, and my own deep questions about violence, injustice and suffering. However, after a few days I was sure I had made a great error. The rituals and chants were alien to me. The long hours of sitting wracked my body. The daily Dharma talks were incomprehensible. I had to forget everything I thought I knew about religion...
Read MoreLay Practice: A Dharma Talk
By Lee Shields We are together involved in a great movement that is very personal to each of us, and is also playing out in countries around the world as we speak. Each of us is experimenting with the adaptation of an ancient monastic tradition to our busy lay lives. Even those of us who live or have lived in retreat settings for periods of time I suspect adapt in the interface with our modern world. Speaking for myself, I have no doubt already that this practice of silent meditation, whether done formally on a cushion here together, at home alone or with family, or in the act of doing my...
Read MoreZazenkai, November 9, Engaging Lay Practice
This Sunday, at Dharma Gate, please join Three Treasures Sangha for a zazenkai, day of sitting & a dharma talk. The schedule will be: 9:00 Opening, Five Remembrances, Zazen 9:35 Zazen: Offering of selected lines of a reading from Dogen 10:30 Introductory words by Lee and/or Madelon, and discussion, Kinhin 11:30 Zazen 12:30 Informal lunch (Soup, bread & cheese provided. Please bring sandwich fixings or other food to share.) 1:30 Sutras 2:00 Zazen, Interviews 2:50 Closing, Great Vows
Read MoreBuddha Twirls a Flower: Or, Buddha Albert Einstein, and George Carlin walk into a bar
By Lee Shields The Gateless Barrier, Case 6: Once, in ancient times, when the World-Honored One was at Mount Grdbrakuta, s/he twirled a flower before her assembled disciples. All were silent. Only Mahakasyapa broke into a smile. The World-Honored One said, “I have the eye treasury of right Dharma, the subtle mind of nirvana, the true form of no-form, and the flawless gate of the teaching. It is not established upon words and phrases. It is special transmission outside tradition. I now entrust this to Mahakasyapa. This is an utterly simple story; in another context we could weave many...
Read MoreRegister now for Broken Raven sesshin, September 20-27
On September 20 we begin our 7-day sesshin – an intensive meditation retreat with Jack Duffy Roshi. Sesshin is a wonderful opportunity to deepen practice with seven days of silent meditation, teishos and dokusan (talks and individual meetings) with Jack. In sesshin, we pick up practice early in the morning, and carry it with us in formal sitting, chanting, eating, and rest periods through the day. The ritual is all designed to support practice in all activities without distraction. If you haven’t done sesshin with TTS before and want more information, feel free to send me an email or give me...
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