Left to right, Madelon, Lee
Until Only the Mountain Remains – A Talk by Leland Shields
Until Only the Mountain Remains Leland Shields, September 16, 2022 The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains. Translated by Sam Hamill, Poetry Foundation article 178390 I’ve brought this 8th century poem by Li Po to several talks recently. Apparently I can’t get enough of it. It carries a patient persistence that is essential for a retreat. Over the hours, zazen can be dynamic, motivated, boring, dozey…all are zazen. All support the quiet...
read moreTouch the Mind – A Talk by Leland Shields
Touch the Mind Leland Shields – September 15,2022 There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth and every common sight, To me did seem Appareled in celestial light, The Glory and the freshness of a dream, It is not now as it hath been of yore; – Turn wheresoe’er I may, By night or day. The things which I have seen I now can see no more Wordsworth; https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45536/ode-intimations-of-immortality-from-recollections-of-early-childhood I begin the talk today not with words of our ancestors from the...
read moreDistractions: Meeting With Mara – a Talk by Madelon Bolling
What ails you? Lack of faith in yourself is what ails you. If you lack faith in yourself, you’ll keep on tumbling along, following in bewilderment after all kinds of circumstances and being taken by them through transformation after transformation without ever attaining freedom. Bring to rest the thoughts of the ceaselessly seeking mind . . . The Record of Lin-chi, (Discourse X) Awareness practices fascinated me when I was quite young, due in part to being very near-sighted and in part to being a natural-born introvert. I say “awareness...
read moreBeyond Intention – a Talk by Leland Shields
Beyond intention Leland Shields, September 13, 2022 Turn around the light to shine within, then just return. The vast inconceivable source can’t be faced or turned away from. Meet the ancestral teachers, be familiar with their instruction, bind grasses to build a hut, and don’t give up. Let go of hundreds of years and relax completely. Open your hands and walk, innocent. Thousands of words, myriad interpretations, are only to free you from obstructions. If you want to know the undying person in the hut, don’t separate from...
read moreSesshin, Distractions, and Turning Away – A Talk by Leland Shields
Sesshin, Distractions, and Turning Away Leland Shields, September 12, 2022 Driven to find how to live in this world of sickness and inescapable loss, Siddhartha spent years searching in all ways available among the teachers and seekers of his time. He remained unsatisfied after years of effort, with great will, and with belief that spiritual sustenance was possible while denying the body to the point of emaciation. He sat until strength failed him. A woman taking milk to market saw Siddhartha and made a compassionate offering of milk....
read moreEvery Moment Zen – A Talk by Leland Shields
Every Moment Zen Leland Shields, Intensive Day 1, September 11, 2022 The sounds of the valley streams are his long, broad tongue; The forms of the mountains are his pure body. At night I heard the myriad sutra verses uttered How can I relate to others what they say? Dogen, Eihei; (translation) Cook, Francis Dojun. How to Raise an Ox: Zen Practice as Taught in Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo (pp. 69-70). Wisdom Publications. Kindle Edition. As we begin a week of retreat, I’d like to emphasize every-moment Zen; reminding us all to attend to...
read moreJewels in the Sutras – a talk by Leland Shields – August 14, 2022
In the May teisho, I talked about using the sutras we chant during practice days such as this, and also carrying them with us as we walk the world. Today I’ll continue with focus on a few key perspectives that run through the sutras. I find it can deepen our consideration by looking at the same perspective expressed by different ancestors, as if we were looking at the same jewel through different facets. First – we are already Buddha; second – if so, why do we practice? And third – how do we practice? I had planned to address each...
read moreThe Most Important Place – A Talk by Madelon Bolling
A monk asked, “How should one act during every moment of every 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.” Here we are, gathered together on this new day, beginning once more to investigate the great matter. Beginning is often an exciting situation with a view to the future: an expectation of growth and accomplishment, a gradual gathering of skill, reputation and knowledge, knowing how, so a person can...
read moreApril 7-day intensive retreat talks
April 7-day intensive retreat talks by Leland Shields and Madelon Bolling on the writings of Dogen: Day 1: Leland Shields, Every Moment Zen Day 2: Leland Shields, No Self – No Separation Day 3: Leland Shields, No Self – Embodied Self Day 4: Madelon Bolling, No Self – Resistance and the Mind of War Day 5: Leland Shields, Attention to the Myriad Dharmas Day 6: Leland Shields, The Moon Brings Forth Two
read moreTending the Flame, Not Worshiping the Ashes — Lee Shields, May 8, 2022
Last week I attended the Diamond Sangha Teachers Circle gathering by Zoom. There were teachers from many countries and time zones, from New Zealand and Australia, to London and Germany. It was my first time participating in this august group of sincere people, dedicated to carrying Zen forward in gratitude. Rather than a talk on koans, I’d like to share some of the discussion that I think will be of interest to our Sangha. Some of the topics discussed included thoughtful innovations to our form and practice, and the inclusion and exclusion of...
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