Day-to-day life is filled with chasing the self outside of the self, in relation to some other. The dis-ease, dissatisfaction, and loneliness of life can never be resolved by seeking outside of the self. Early Buddhist sutras say that to depend on others is to be unstable and that the foundation of the self is only the Self. Bearing witness is the self being actualized by the reality of life. This is true awakening to just this, as it is: […]
Category Archives: Dharma Talks
The Three Principles of the Middle Way
First principle: There is no solid ground under your feet, and there’s no tile above your head. This refers to emptiness —that nothing is permanent; everything is constantly changing. Second principle: The sky is blue, the grass is green, cars are driving by outside. This is dependent origination — if this happens, that happens. Third principle: It is neither this nor that. Neither is nor isn’t. Before there’s an I, already you see, already you hear. You can be without […]
Beyond Ideas
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, There is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, The world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other Doesn’t make any sense. –Rumi Picking up the pieces As I get ready to head back to Sarasota from Asheville, North Carolina, on the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene, I am humbled to see how a gentle river of humanity has risen […]
Dharma Talk Videos
Dharma Talk videos on YouTube are from our practice sessions.
Genjokoan and the four noble truths
I have some favorite writings that I return to over and over again. One of them is by Dogen, the founder of Soto Zen in Japan, who is known for his great prose and his flowing, inspirational expressions of the Dharma. Genjokoan’s first four lines remind me of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths. GENJŌKŌAN (1) When all dharmas are the Buddha Dharma, there is delusion and realization, practice, life and death, buddhas and living beings. (2) When the ten thousand […]
I have no words, a walk down the road of habit
I have no words. There’s nothing I can give you that you don’t already have. There’s nothing I can add to what you already are. So we use words because we’ve forgotten who we are in our ignorance. We walk down the road of habit energy, it drags us along like a chain, and we struggle. As we go down the path of getting to know ourselves, we discover that there are options for us that we didn’t think we […]
Upcoming Events – November 2024
We are pleased that Zen Master Chong An Sunim will visit OZS from Saturday, November 9th, through Sunday, November 17th. There will be many opportunities to practice with Zen Master Chong An Sunim and learn from a master deeply rooted in the tradition of Zen at our events and practice sessions. Our all-day retreat at Myakka River State Park is next Saturday, November 9th. There is still time to sign up for the retreat. Following our retreat on Sunday the […]
Don’t Miss Out On OZS Events and Sessions
We offer weekly meditation practice and Dharma talks. Our regular practice sessions continue and will be live on Zoom. I had to replace my mic to fix the audio issue of the last couple sessions. You may again join us on Zoom. Reminder: Chong An Sunim will be at our regular practice sessions on November 10, 13 and 17th. Come to our November events with Chong An Sunim! Our Silent retreat at Myakka River State park on Saturday, November 9th. […]
Upcoming Events in November
Don’t miss out! Remember you must RSVP for the Silent retreat. Come to all three events with Chong An Sunim! Our Silent retreat at Myakka River State park on Saturday, November 9th. A Talk at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Tuesday, November 12th. Sunset Full Moon Meditation at The Bay Park on Friday, November 15th.
Dharma Talk at the Original Light Zen Temple, Hungary
I gave this Dharma Talk on June 29, 2024, during my stay at the Orginal Light Zen Temple (zentemple.eu). Please forgive the choppy edit. The talk was translated into Hungarian by Chong An Sunim as I spoke, so most of the translation was edited out. Hence, the unnatural pauses. Deep gratitude to Chong An Sunim and the Original Light Zen Temple Sangha for supporting and caring for Charlene and me during our stay.