All-day Silent Retreat – Myakka River State Park

Saturday, November 9, 2024, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. We are honored that Zen Master Chong An Sunim will join us for the retreat. The park setting, surrounded by nature’s beauty, will help us relax, reflect, and renew. We will start promptly at 9:30 a.m. (arrival time 9:00 a.m.). During the day, there will be several sitting and walking meditations, Dharma talks, and a vegetarian/vegan potluck lunch. Water and tea will be provided. The retreat will be over by 5:00 […]

Hui-neng leads us to water, but we must drink it.

Our study of the platform sutra only leads us to our own minds, nowhere else, no other Buddha. ‘Each of us must practice ourselves. No one else can do it for us. Nor can any text take our place‘ It isn’t that the teaching is direct or not, sudden or gradual. ‘The teaching is simply so. When we finally understand it, it appears direct because it is right in front of us. When we don’t understand it, it appears indirect […]

Platform Sutra Study- Part 4 – Sections 20-23

Dear Good Friends, We continue to explore the Platform Sutra of Hui-neng. If you are following along with me, I recommend that you go directly to the Platform Sutra and skip the introduction and the sections with commentary by Red Pine. Read sections (20-23) of the Platform Sutra, notice your reaction to this reading, sit with it, and comment below. I will respond to your comments (privately) as necessary. You may of course not follow my direction and not respond […]

Life Is Difficult?

What are the aspects of our practice that deal with difficulty? They are: Don’t Know, Don’t Make, and How can I help?