In Zen-Buddhism, Dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a “successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual ‘bloodline’ (kechimyaku) theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself.” The...
GOING FOR REFUGE Going for refuge and taking the precepts is the cornerstone of all the Buddhist paths. It usually becomes a turning point in a person’s life. One where they work toward an ideal – this ideal being shown to us through The Buddha – a...
THE HEART SUTRA The Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokateshvara, while in deep meditative concentration, absorption and curious inquiry, looked deeply into the nature of experience, penetrated fully to the intuitve realization of the emptiness of the skandhas and after...
The Perfect Enlightenment Sutra is one of the most popular and influential sutras in Zen. It was held in the highest regards by some of the greatest Zen Master’s like Zongmi and Chinul. The sutra itself is twelve chapters and the introductory section describes...
“Do you have a Koan?” That was the first question Korean Zen Master, Venerable Hwasun Yangil Sunim asked me. I had heard about Koans before – mainly from books. I didn’t really think they were essential for Zen practice. But here I was, sitting...
A quick and expedient way of awakening… The master takes his staff and points directly to your heart saying, Listen here! This! This! A thousand times this! The seeker is what’s sought. Originally the mind is pristine, vast and expansive like a clear blue...
A young monk tentatively asked the Master, “Teacher, why did Bodhidharma come from the west?” The Master looked out the window and said, “The cypress tree in the courtyard.” The Zen Master whacks his stick against the floor. You’re startled, heart racing, eyes...
The conceptual every day mind is never happy. It always wants something to chew on. It’s a hungry ghost and no matter how much information we feed it the mind will never be satisfied. “Does a dog have buddha-nature?” “Why did Bodhidharma come to China?” “Was the...
Zen is… “A special transmission outside the scriptures, not founded upon words and letters. by pointing directly to one’s mind, It lets one see into one’s own true nature and thus attain buddhahood.” (1) The above statement from Bodhidharma is an...
Master Feixi’s 飛錫 Gaosheng nianfo sanmei baowang lun 高聲念佛三昧 寶 王論 (Precious King’s Treatise on the Samādhi Gained by Loudly Invoking the Buddha’s Name) states: "Those who bathe in the ocean are making use of hundreds of rivers. Those who invoke the Buddha’s name...
Everyday Miracles Okay, perfect. Any insights, revelations, challenges, frustrations, since the last time I saw everybody? Everybody’s great? That’s perfect. Student: I’d like to share something. I was looking for a Buddha for my altar and my...
The Universe – ○△□ “The circle-triangle-square is Sengai’s picture of the universe. The circle represents the infinite, and the infinite is at the basis of all beings. But the infinite in itself is formless. We humans endowed with senses and...
“If one points at the moon, one has to look at the moon; why look at the finger tips?” The supreme vehicle’s starting point is the faith and belief that one is already a Buddha. That the fundamental nature of mind is utterly free, clear and pure. The supreme...
Pub Life is Dharma Life Okay, perfect. any insights, revelations, challenges, frustrations since last time I seen you guys? Student: I had a revelation or an insight I guess. I noticed that sometimes in certain situations I’m feeling like I’m an imposter. Like...
.. “Dear friends, Withdraw the mind from the senses and fix it in meditation. Control the thought-current. Find out the thought-center and fix yourself there. Then you will be conscious of the Divine Self; you will see it dancing in ecstasy. Live in that Delight. That...
One Practice Samadhi Hui-neng (638-713) I have come here today because I have a connection of many lifetimes with you officials, clerics, and laypeople. This teaching has been passed down by the ancients. It isn’t something I discovered by myself. But if you...
Below you’ll find Zen resources that will help you come back home to yourself. They will also give you some background on the Zen style of Dharma and Practice. I’ve also included some additional pieces from the Mahamudra and Ati Yoga traditions as...
The Teaching Which Directly Reveals That the True Mind is the Nature “The one word ‘Awareness’ is the gateway to all mysteries.” “This teaching propounds that all sentient beings without exception have the empty, tranquil True Mind. From...
The Teaching Which Directly Reveals That the True Mind is the Nature Zen Master Zongmi said that, The one word ‘Awareness’ is the gateway to all mysteries. The teaching which reveals the Nature, is geared to advanced students and those of superior ability,...
