The Three Poisons or the three unwholesome roots – Three root kleshas Moha – Ignorance (delusion, confusion (Cock) (a subcategory of avidya in Mahayana tradition) Raga – Attachment, (Desire, Greed and sensual attachment (Pig) Dvesha – Aversion or ill will or hatred (Snake) They are the root of craving (Tanha), and thus in part the… Continue reading The Three Poisons
Category: Zen – Study
Birth and Death
Birth and Death by Zenkei Blanche Hartman former Abbess of the San Francisco Zen Center There is a verse that’s on the han--the wooden block that calls us to the zendo. It’s also sometimes chanted just before bedtime in many Zen monasteries. It is an exhortation to practice and goes something like this: ‘May I… Continue reading Birth and Death
The Meaning of Taking Refuge – Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche
The Meaning of Taking Refuge A Discussion with Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche In order to become a Buddhist formally, you have to "Take Refuge. " What does "Taking refuge" involve? Do you have to take any vows or make any commitments? "Taking Refuge" in itself is a serious commitment. It is not something you should… Continue reading The Meaning of Taking Refuge – Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Introduction to Jukai – Nishijima Roshi
Introduction to Jukai - Nishijima Roshi Sekishin: What is the Jukai ceremony? Gudo: Jukai is the ceremony in which one receives and undertakes the Precepts as a disciple of the Buddha. Sekishin: That sounds, I think, like something to be undertaken solely by Buddhist monks ….. Gudo: No ….. In Jukai, we find both the… Continue reading Introduction to Jukai – Nishijima Roshi
Taking the Precepts – Part 1 – Sewing Buddha’s Robe
Taking the Precepts, Sewing Buddha's Robe by Josho Pat Phelan According to Ch’an Master Sheng-yen, a common saying in Mahayana Buddhism is "Having vows to break is the bodhisattva path. Not having vows to break is a non-Buddhist path." I have heard this expressed as "it is better to take the precepts and break them… Continue reading Taking the Precepts – Part 1 – Sewing Buddha’s Robe
Receiving the Precepts – Part 2 – by Josho Pat Phelan
Receiving the Precepts - Part 2 by Josho Pat Phelan Last time, I began talking about the Ceremony for Giving and Receiving the Precepts [Jukai] as a lay person, and the process or preparation for receiving the precepts. I stopped with repentance and today I would like to begin by reviewing repentance. The repentance verse… Continue reading Receiving the Precepts – Part 2 – by Josho Pat Phelan
Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures – Daido Loori Roshi
Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures - Daido Loori Roshi People ask, “How can I deepen the teacher-student relationship?” It is like asking, “How can I love you?” Is there a book of instructions on how to love? Does the baby get taught how to love its mother, the flowers, the earth, and the rain?… Continue reading Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures – Daido Loori Roshi
Zazen – Zen Sitting practice – notes
Jundo Cohen - Roshi - Treeleaf Zendo Remember that the result of this "Just Sitting" (shikantaza) is sitting vibrantly at the center of all the world, with nothing more to attain and no other goal besides sitting. Not one other place to be or thing to do in the world during that time of sitting… Continue reading Zazen – Zen Sitting practice – notes
The Ten Ox Herding Pictures
Note: Posting the 10 Ox Herding pictures here first, and add a commentary to the post later. Here is a quote from the Theravadan monk Ajahn Sucitto: “In Zen, the ox-herding images are emblematic of the Path. The person is searching for the ox, and sees its tracks. He is like a person looking for… Continue reading The Ten Ox Herding Pictures
Reality is Dharma 