Left to right, Madelon, Lee
The 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. ...
read moreThe Zen of One Flavor, a talk by Leland Shields (September 16, 2023)
A monk was taking his leave. Kuei-tsung asked, “Where are you going?” The monk said, “I’m going here and there to study the Zen of the Five flavors.” Kuei-tsung said, “Other places may teach the Zen of the Five flavors; here I have only the Zen of one flavor.” “And what is the Zen of one flavor?” said the monk. Kuei-tsung hit him. “I understand, I understand.” “Then tell me, tell me.” Just as the monk opened his mouth, Kuei-tsung hit him again. Ikkyū and the Crazy Cloud Anthology, “From Wu Teng Hui Yuan,” p. 100. I have some admiration...
read moreBe Yourself, a talk by Madelon Bolling (September 16, 2023)
Nanyue Polishes a Tile Nanyue Huairang asked Mazu Daoyi, “Worthy monk, why do you sit in meditation?” Mazu replied, “I wish to become a buddha.” Huairang picked up a tile and started to rub it against a stone in front of Mazu’s hermitage. Finally Mazu asked him what he was doing. Huairang replied, “Polishing it to make a mirror.” “How can you make a tile into a mirror by polishing it?’ asked Mazu. “How can you become a buddha by sitting in meditation?” responded...
read moreTalks from 7-Day Intensive (September 9-16, 2023)
Beginning Anew A talk be Lee Shields The permeability of our skin – the whole of our training is for the development of compassion talk by Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com) The koan of groups – Don’t think good don’t think evil A talk be Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to...
read moreFailure is a Friend — A talk by Madelon Bolling (July 9, 2023)
Hakuin Zenji said, “They translated prajna as wisdom. All people have it. No one’s excepted. It’s faultlessly perfect in each one of us…” [Dokugyo Shingyo: Acid comments on the Heart Sutra] We go to extraordinary lengths to arrange our lives around this practice. We come to the zendo and sit, hear the Dharma as recorded and passed down for centuries. But it all comes down to this: this inexplicable thing we are looking for – It… is… here. Not just in this building or this room or in the presence of this group,...
read moreTalks from 3-Day Zenkai (July 7-9, 2023)
Practicing together with suffering – the cold kills you A talk be Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com) Failure is a Friend: A talk by Madelon Bolling Read talk
read moreOn Dealing With “Self” When There Is No Such Thing – A Talk by Madelon Bolling (June 11, 2023)
A monk asked, “How should one act during every hour of the day such that the ancestors are not betrayed?” Yunmen said, “Give up your effort.” The monk said, “How should I give up my effort?” Yunmen said, “Give up the words you just uttered.” (Ferguson, p. 287) Today I want to explore a little more about living and working with thoughts. Thinking is a defining feature of our life, and one that’s often experienced by Zen students as the bane of our existence. In the presence of these...
read moreLoneliness without separation – bare mountains and fallen leaves (A talk by Lee Shields)
Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com).
read moreTalks from 7-Day Retreat (April, 2023)
Everyone we meet is our teacher – True World imposes on us A talk be Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com) The form of Zen in relationship – attention, attention, attention A talk be Lee Shields (Text available to members and participants by email request to ttssangha@gmail.com) Sesshin, Distractions, and Turning...
read more