Left to right, Madelon, Lee
Sesshin, 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...
read moreThe Moon Brings Forth Two — Leland Shields — Intensive Day 6, April 15, 2022
In Dharma Hall Discourse 168, Dogen wrote this: The moon brings forth one, we pick up a brush and record it as good fortune. The moon brings forth two, the clear intention of the ancestral teachers. The moon brings forth three; a thousand ancient ones submit to Gautama. Although this is the case, is there a dragon or elephant here who can come forth and meet with Daibutsu’s staff? After a pause Dogen said, [Although the same fruit] it is called an orange in Huabei [north of the Huai River], and called a tangerine in Huainan [south of the Huai...
read moreAttention to Myriad Dharmas — Leland Shields, Intensive Day 5, April 14, 2022
Earlier in the retreat I presented Dogen’s often-repeated words from Actualizing the Fundamental Point: To study the Buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the myriad dharmas. To be enlightened by the myriad dharmas is to bring about the dropping away of body and mind of both oneself and others. Yasutani, Hakuun; (translation) Jaffe, Paul, Flowers Fall: A Commentary on Dogen’s Genjokoan, 1996. Now on the 5th day, please join me in forgetting the self, which is to...
read moreMadelon Bolling, No Self – Resistance and the Mind of War – Madelon Bolling, Intensive Day 4, April 13, 2022
In the opening of Fukanzazengi, Dogen wrote: Fundamentally speaking, the basis of the Way is perfectly pervasive . . . Surely the whole being is far beyond defilement . . . It is never apart from this very place . . . And yet, with just a hair’s breadth of distinction, the gap is like that between heaven and earth. Once the slightest like or dislike arises, all is confused and the mind is lost. Do you feel a squirmy sense of discomfort these days, a sense that I have to do something and I don’t know what to do? Maybe we chose to...
read moreNo Self – Embodied Self – Leland Shields, Intensive Day 3, April 12, 2022
Today I’d like to share some passages from Dogen’s Keisei Sanshoku “The Sounds of the Valley Streams, the forms of the Mountains.” Now with regard to your practice and vows, whether or not you have aroused the thought of enlightenment, whether or not you are practicing, do not let others know about it. Practice in such a way that it is not known. Never speak of it yourself. Dogen, Eihei; (translation) Cook, Francis Dojun. How to Raise an Ox: Zen Practice as Taught in Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo (p. 75). Wisdom Publications. Kindle...
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