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Treeleaf Zen

A New Years tradition at Buddhist temples across Japan is the ringing of the Joyanokane, the temple bell from midnight. The bell is typically rung 108 times (sometimes by the temple priests, sometimes by invited guests or parishioners) to cleanse the listener of the 108 mortal desires (bonno) that, in traditional Buddhist thinking, are the…

HAPPY NEW MOMENT !! May this be a moment of peace for all. Here are some of my ‘Happy New Moment’ resolutions for 2008: — Lose 20 pounds (9 kilo), although there is no loss or gain — Finish the book I’ve been writing, although there is nothing to achieve — Improve my Japanese calligraphy,…

Before moving on in Genjo Koan, let’s look at the specific words that Master Dogen uses in these first sentences. They arise from the question that originally sent a young Dogen on his search for an answer. He wrote … “As I study both the exoteric and the esoteric schools of Buddhism, they maintain thathuman…

We have encountered several “simultaneously true” perspectives of Master Dogen which vanquish suffering (and in coming sections of Genjo Koan and Shobogenzo, we will encounter countless more)… … the separate, abiding ‘self‘ is, is not, absolutely is just-as-it-is, etc.etc. … By these simultaneous perspectives, and others, we find no grounds to resist in life. But…

. I was going to talk about something philosophical … but how about we just sit.

. At this time of year, meeting family and old friends … how do you explain to them about “being a Buddhist”?

. We will have our Zazen today in celebration of Jesus’ Birthday, and All the Season … … Peace to the World, Goodwill toward all Humankind

. Céad míle fáilte romhat! Nollaig shona duit. Tá sé Harry! Fáinne óir ort! Press on arrow for ‘play’ .

An additional “simultaneously true” perspective of Master Dogen (not so clear in this passage, but found throughout Shobogenzo and we will encounter it many times) is that everything in the universe is dependent for its existence on everything else. In fact, we might say, everything –is– everything. Thus, there would be no “birth” without “death”.…

Master Dogen observes that you, and all the other “selves” of the universe, do not exist as separate selves. Next, Master Dogen observes that you and all the other selves absolutely exist, that the universe transcends abundance or scarcity, that nothing is missing or to be taken away from the universe or anything it contains.…
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