Some 40 years ago I went back to the land, built a homestead and grew much of my own food. It was a dream many shared back then and still do today. It is in our nature to be in nature. It was during this time that I came across the writings of Wendell Berry. I went for a hike a couple of days ago at Myakka State Park. As I walked alone in solitude among the Oak hammocks […]
Why OZS Exists
OZS exists because it is needed. It isn’t a church or religious institution. We have enough of those. It isn’t a Buddhist Temple and we do not worship a Buddha, a god or deity. We do not belong to or adhere to an ideology. Yet when you walk into our zendo, you will find the triple treasure is very much present. OZS is a modern practice center. Here, presence is what matters. It is palpable. What do we practice? Our […]
Don’t Believe Everything You Think!
If we are caught in the bubble of our own thinking, we are not truly practicing Zen and are only deluding ourselves. We are Buddhist practitioners in name only and our commitment goes up in smoke with the fire of like and dislike! We may wander around from one Teacher, Spiritual Center or Zendo, to another, trying to make the world into how we think it is, or blindly following like sheep as long as it feels good. By believing […]
Enlightenment is the Solution – Chong An Sunim – March 8, 2019
In this second visit to OZS, Sunim begins our weekend retreat with a brief Dharma talk on the path to awakening followed by a Q&A.
Chong An Sunim Video 2-16-2019
The Middle Way in Zen Buddhism. What is the difference between practice, life and stress nowadays and in old time? Chong An Sunim will be at the Ordinary Zen Sangha for a weekend workshop March 8, 9, 10, and also a Wednesday Evening Dharma Study March 13. 2019. Sunim is a wonderful teacher and OZS is honored to be his host. There is no set fee for the Weekend Workshop and donations are accepted. We couldn’t do this without […]
the Six Subtle Dharma Gates
Wednesday Evening Dharma Study at OZS – February 2019 Zoketsu Norman Fischer gives three talks on the Six Subtle Dharma Gates to the Tassajara 2019 Winter Practice Period. We started listening to these PodCasts with the first talk last Wednesday and will continue over the next couple of weeks. The Six Subtle Dharma Gates are a way to understand zazen. Norman, as always, gives wonderful teaching on this practice. These talks are for practicing meditators that want a deeper understanding of their practice […]
Welcome to OZ
This morning on the way to the Sarasota Jail to teach Ordinary Zen Meditation to the inmates, I began thinking about our Ordinary Zen practice as a trip to OZ to see the wizard! Is this not the perfect story about getting lost to find ourselves? Aren’t all these characters just part of our own inner stories? The Scarecrow who doesn’t believe he is smart, the Tinman who thinks he is heartless, The lion who is fearful. Then there is Dorthy, the child […]
Zen Master Chong An Sunim Weekend Workshop at OZS
Zen Master Chong An Sunim Weekend – March 8-10, 2019 Friday, March 8th: 7:00 PM – Dharma Talk and Q&A Saturday, March 9th: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Silent Retreat, with Dharma Talks, & optional Kongan Interviews (bring a brown bag lunch). Sunday, March 10th: 9:00 AM – Join us Sunday for morning meditation, circle talk, and Potluck. Bring a vegetarian or vegan dish to share. Please RSVP below. You will receive an email with the retreat schedule and instructions ahead of the retreat. […]
The Platform Sutra of Hui-neng Dharma Study
Today’s Dharma Study will be “On Repentance” from The Sutra of Hui-neng. Here is a transcript of the chapter on Repentance, so that you may review it. Please join us, if you can, for this special Dharma Study… Transcript: On Repentance Once there was a big gathering of scholars and commoners from Kuang-chou, Shao-chou, and other places to wait upon the patriarch to preach to them. Seeing this, the patriarch mounted the pulpit and delivered the following address: In Buddhism, […]