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Treeleaf Zen

We had some very good news today: The buildings of the Treeleaf Zendo won’t need as much ‘anti-earthquake’ reinforcement work as we thought. (I think that is why I kept confusing ‘architect’ with ‘archaeologist’ during today’s talk … I have roof beams on my mind). Only a few walls will need to be torn out.…

Today we have a special guest to sit-a-long with us. This sitting was filmed in his tiny Tokyo apartment, where he lives alone (since his wife passed away and he closed his Dojo of many years) and has retired to translate books from Sanskrit. Not a pastoral hermitage in the mountains, not a grand palace…

When we woke up this morning, the passing typhoon had left the skies crystal clear. Now the skies have clouded again, the rain has returned, and we’ve felt strong earthquakes several times today … the last about an hour ago. Several people on the other side of Japan died, houses and bridges fell. It started…

When we got home after the typhoon passed, the frogs were really going at it. Must be because of all the heavy rain. No talking tonight, just a silent sitting … except for their croaking and the last of the wind. Hard to miss that. Though sitting accompanied by the sound, we don’t listen to…

Today is my birthday, my first birthday … … or maybe it is my no-birthday. What does a Zen fellow get for his first birthday/no-birthday? Nothing, and the whole universe too! Press on arrow for ‘play’

Bamboo … Press on arrow for ‘play’

Today we practice Kinhin, walking meditation, step by step going nowhere … … each moment, where we are .. … right ’round to the place we began. (Please excuse the dropped microphone noise about 2 minutes in)Press on arrow for ‘play’

For a few minutes before we sit, we will silently observe an ordinary object … just a stone from the walkway. But we’ll not even label it as “stone” … Press on arrow for ‘play’ .

Here is the ‘Secret of Secrets’, the Key to the Myriad Doors of Zazen: … that little rocking back and forth at the start. (What? You thought it was something else??) Do that rock ‘just so’, and All Buddhas of All Ages ‘rock & roll’ with you. Do that ‘Sway’ in accord with ‘the Way’,…

Today we look at the eyes. They are open during Zazen, either by 1/3rd or 2/3rds. Yet, we stare without focus at the wall or ground. Our eyes are not closed, and are open to all things. However, we do not label or distinguish ‘this’ from ‘that’ … In such way, all the world is…
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