According to Dogen, all are Dharmas of reality, and distortion is distortion as it is, the realty of distortion as it is. It s something like saying that sages are Buddha while ordinary, deluded beings are also Buddha. Of course, only the sages realize so and act like so. Another image is that a pile… Continue reading Awakened Mind – Delusion Mind – Jundo Cohen Roshi
Category: How to Practice
Let Go of Fire – Ajahn Sumedho
https://buddhismnow.com/2010/04/14/let-go-of-fire/ The Buddha’s teaching is all about understanding suffering – its origin, its cessation, and the path to its cessation. When we contemplate suffering, we find we are contemplating desire, because desire and suffering are the same thing. Desire can be compared to fire. If we grasp fire, what happens? Does it lead to happiness?… Continue reading Let Go of Fire – Ajahn Sumedho
The Five Hindrances – Ajahn Brahm
The Buddha explained that it is the Five Hindrances that distort perception and corrupt our thinking. He called the Five Hindrances the nutriment that feeds delusion (AN 10.61). The first hindrance, Sensual Desire, selects what we want to see, hear, sense and cognize. It often embellishes the truth. It presents to our consciousness the product… Continue reading The Five Hindrances – Ajahn Brahm
Maslow – “Plateau” experience
https://medium.com/@jaidasimone/plateau-experience-hack-consciosness-1149db103481 Maslow seems to bring another perspective on the link into bringing our zazen practice to life 24/7. We have been discussing "effortlessness" on the Soto Zen Buddhism website. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Would also like to add the question of Maslow's concept of "plateau experience", as it is talking about the ongoing experience as opposed to something… Continue reading Maslow – “Plateau” experience
Stop…Focus on your Breath… Watch
Investigating our own feelings is difficult..... Many folks go to a psychotherapist to try to unravel their feelings, and the roots behind them... The more i have learned to treat my life as a scientific research project, the more my life has begun to open up to me. Research doesn't begin with a bunch of… Continue reading Stop…Focus on your Breath… Watch
Self – Inquiry & Tension Knots – Dealing with the Roots of Tension and Hypertension
Dealing with the Roots of Tension and Hypertension This is a suggested method of untangling the body feelings and pent up emotions that sometimes form “tension knots” somewhere in the body. When these "tension knots" build up or pile up, IMHO , they can morph into hypertension . ....... This is in no way meant… Continue reading Self – Inquiry & Tension Knots – Dealing with the Roots of Tension and Hypertension
Shikantaza – The Still Center – Jundo Cohen
Shikantaza Zazen is not meditation, is not development, and thus creates no Karma. Zazen is the polishing of the Jewel that Shines brilliantly whether seen or unseen, and thus can't be polished. This Zazen "develops" what can be developed only when we drop all need for development and change, sitting in the Wholeness of that… Continue reading Shikantaza – The Still Center – Jundo Cohen
Dongshan’s Heat and Cold – Shobogenzo
http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/C%20-%20Zen/Modern%20Teachers/John%20Daido%20Loori%20-%20Dharma%20Talks/DISCOURSE%20Dongshan%92s%20Heat%20and%20Cold.htm Dongshan’s Heat and Cold Dharma Discourse by Abbot John Daido Loori Master Dogen's 300 Koan Shobogenzo,* Case 225 Featured in Mountain Record 17.4, Summer 1999 The Main Case A monk asked Master Dongshan, “Cold and heat descend upon us. How can we avoid them?”1Dongshan answered, “Why don’t you go to the place where there… Continue reading Dongshan’s Heat and Cold – Shobogenzo
Dealing with Resentment in the Zendo
James Kenney posted this on the Soto Zen Buddhism facebook pages, and i think it expresses this view very eloquently. Regarding taking offense of folks and the resentment that can build up, and the resolution of that by "walking it thru to the other side"..... James Kenney said: You are your practice. They are their… Continue reading Dealing with Resentment in the Zendo
Infinity – and why zazen
What does Infinity mean? It means that nothing exists in the physical world that does not exist in Infinity. Infinity is another name for yin yang. Infinity is one, as yin yang is one. it can also be seen as "Not Two"..... In the physical world, yin and yang are pulled apart to a discreet… Continue reading Infinity – and why zazen
Reality is Dharma 