Going into the ocean to count the grains of sand is a vain waste of energy; polishing a tile to make a mirror is useless effort. Do you not see--the clouds on the highest mountain gather and disperse of themselves; what "far" or "near" is there? The flowing water at the bottom of the canyon… Continue reading Dogen Zenji – the vanity of trying to be “here now” – it already is!
Category: How to Practice
Is Meditation Difficult? – Ajahn Brahm
“Is the meditation easy for you? If you hold the view that meditation is difficult, and you are very attached to that idea, then meditation will seem to be difficult. Where did that view come from? Maybe, a long time ago, someone with authority told you that meditation was difficult, you believed them, and that… Continue reading Is Meditation Difficult? – Ajahn Brahm
Don’t hold onto shit……
We humans like to hold onto shit........ Our mind is like a frogs tongue, sticking to things and not letting go. News Flash: It is possible for the mind to let things pass without sticking to them. The more we let time.... and its potential shit (and its potential joy as well) .....… Continue reading Don’t hold onto shit……
Gary Weber – links to talks and information
The Default Mode Network - Latest information - posted August 2018 http://happinessbeyondthought.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-is-default-mode-network-folk-on.html
Life – a series of breaths
From the moment we had our ass spanked, and we started breathing, our “life” is one breath in – one breath out, a constant stream of breaths, until the day we take our last breath and expire. (Yes, that seems too short, doesn't it....?) Our “ life string” (a clear droplet of Infinity) enters this… Continue reading Life – a series of breaths
Shikantaza & Zazen – Videos by Jundo Cohen – Roshi of Treeleaf Zendo
Introductory Videos about Shikantaza & Zazen https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?121-A-SERIES-OF-TALKS-FOR-NEW-FOLKS We are all Beginners 1 - Mind as a Noisy Kitchen Blender https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14895-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%281%29 2 - Oww! It feels so good when we stop hitting ourselves- Putting the hammer down (uniting the two perspectives of thinking and not-thinking) https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14894-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%282%29 3 - Basic Instructions of zazen - featuring a "full… Continue reading Shikantaza & Zazen – Videos by Jundo Cohen – Roshi of Treeleaf Zendo
Watch what your mind is doing
i have spent some serious time, as i am certain many do, watching this thing called “my mind”. i am thinking that this may be the most important time we spend in our lives, watching what the mind is doing, and learning what is happening, and how to “use our faculties” instead of having “our… Continue reading Watch what your mind is doing
The Quiet Eye
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180627-is-quiet-eye-the-secret-to-success-for-athletes Every day, there are more studies about how we as humans use our brains, our mind and our body. These studies can help us to see the productive and counterproductive ways we have learned, and help us to "fix the scratched LP" of bad habits in our minds. They provide us with many… Continue reading The Quiet Eye
Dogen and Shogun’s moon
A Japanese shogun was going crazy, at night screaming and swinging his sword trying to chop the ghosts of people he had killed in battle.... He finally went to Dogen, a Japanese Zen priest, and asked him to make it stop..... Dogen pointed him to the moon's reflection in the lake, and told him to… Continue reading Dogen and Shogun’s moon
Zazen and sensations – Jundo Cohen Roshi
Jundo Cohen I came across a passage from Okamura Roshi today which made a similar point, although better: "Sometimes this world [during Zazen sitting] becomes very bright, and sometimes a person may feel he or she understands everything. It may seem at this time that there is no doubt or question remaining about anything; everything… Continue reading Zazen and sensations – Jundo Cohen Roshi
Reality is Dharma 