Our practice is not so simple that when we sit in zazen, we automatically have fantastic experiences, become enlightened and no longer have problems! Our practice is not such a simple matter, at least it is not according to Dogen…
Baso
Part 3 Zazenshin: Acupuncture Needle of Zazen, by Shohaku Okumura
Baso came to a realisation and his mind was transcendent. After this encounter, he became Nangaku’s student and practised with him for ten years. Day by day Baso deepened his understanding of the profound secret…
True Peace of Mind, by Harada Sekkei Roshi
Many people think Zen is something difficult. However, the Chinese character used for ‘Zen’ means ‘to demonstrate simplicity’. As this character implies, Zen is an extremely clear and concise teaching. Zen is also said to be the Buddha-dharma itself. The Chinese character for ‘Dharma’ is written with the components for ‘water’ and ‘to leave’. This implies that water flows from a high place to a low place. Zen, then, is to realise the Truth (the natural principles of things) which is completely separate from the judgement and intervention of the ego-self…
The Grandmotherly Kindness of the Zen Masters, Diana St Ruth
As far as the Zen masters are concerned, however, they have always been motivated by something beyond this material world and even when they are being apparently extreme or severe, if they are genuine, far from being cruel or uncaring they will be acting from a grandmotherly kindness…
What was the message of the Buddha? by John Aske
Perhaps this is why Buddhism—almost the oldest of the great religions—has had so little effect on the others…
