I sometimes refer to our meditation practice by different names. It is called zazen, just sitting, shikantaza or silent illumination. These are just names that point at what we do when we get on the cushion. “Silent Illumination” best describes our meditation practice. I first learned the term “Silent Illumination” from a book titled “The Method of No-Method” by Chan Master Sheng Yen. Master Sheng Yen described Silent Illumination as another name for Shamatha-Vipashyana, a meditative practice of stilling the mind […]
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Ordinary Sunday Night Zazen Cancelled for Sept. 10.
Be safe and prepared for what might come.
The bots working your mind
There is a saying “Don’t believe everything you think!“. Here are two articles that advise us on how to be better at distinguishing the real from the fake. We all need to know how to spot a social media bot spreading fake news. Read this very informative article to understand how “bots” are working social media now. “Not knowing” is described by Wendy Egyoku Nakao Roshi as “the letting go of fixed ideas about yourself, others, and the universe” in her Tricycle […]
Living With Ease In A Crazy World – The American Election – Talk 2 Loon Lake Sesshin 2016
Everyday Zen Podcasts from Norman Fisher are a wonderful resource. In particular this podcast of a Dharma talk published November 25 2016, “Living With Ease In A Crazy World – The American Election – Talk 2 Loon Lake Sesshin 2016” speaks to what we are all facing and how our practice informs our actions. Enjoy.
Ordinary Zen Retreat Schedule
Silent Illumination an Ordinary Zen Sangha Retreat Sunday November 6, 2016 10:30am – 4:00pm Retreats offer a rare occasion to deepen one’s zen practice and commitment to the path. This silent retreat is open to anyone, however some previous experience with zen meditation is helpful. There is no fee, however donations are accepted ($10.00 suggested amount). A potluck* lunch will be served. Please RSVP as space is limited. You may email me at onezenzoo@gmail.com for more information and to RSVP. Schedule: 10:30am — […]
The Heart Sutra
The Maha Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra The Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra The Venerable Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, performing his meditation in the deep Prajna Paramita, clearly saw that there are five skandhas, and these by their nature are empty. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. What is form is emptiness, what is emptiness is form. The same is true of sensations, perceptions, conception and knowledge. Shariputra, all dharmas have the character of emptiness; […]
Precepts and Lineage
To me precepts and lineage are alive in one’s experience, not an outward “signing up for” or “belonging to”. It is a natural process of awakening to your original nature. The sixteen bodhisattva precepts are a set of vows of ethical conduct taken by a Zen practitioner when he/she is ready to make a commitment to conduct that benefits others, and are taken by both monastic and lay practitioners. I took/take the sixteen Bodhisattva vows as an expression of inner connection and commitment to […]
Just Be Ordinary
Making the esoteric ordinary and accessible. Question: What do you mean by Ordinary Zen? Answer: We are so busy chasing after what we think is important to us that we miss out on how very extraordinarily beautiful ordinary life is! When I first began my practice, I was fortunate to spend time with the Korean Zen Master Gosung Shin. He was ordinary, yet masterful at it. One time a larger than life bronze statue showed up at the Zendo. It […]