Think of not Thinking. How? By leaving thinking as-it-is. Dogen Zenji
Dogen Zenji
Part 7 Zazenshin: Acupuncture Needle of Zazen, by Shohaku Okumura
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…
There is No Buddha-Dharma Outside the Mind, by Harada Sekkei Roshi
If you say there is not enough, there is nothing lacking. This is the mind which neither increases nor decreases and which is completely free and unrestricted. To really study and investigate this mind is the Dharma vehicle of the ancient Buddhas; it is the gate to the Dharma…
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…
Study the Self! By Maezumi Roshi
Awakening is the very core of the Buddha’s teaching, but if we are thinking about awakening we are separating ourselves from it…
Part 1 Zazenshin: Acupuncture Needle of Zazen, by Shohaku Okumura
When we practise for certain lengths of time we find that our motivation itself is influenced by poison. Then we often have doubts about our practice and whether or not it works to lessen the suffering caused by the three poisons. Sometimes we might even quit because we feel it doesn’t work…
Zazen is not step-by-step learning meditation, by Harada Sekkei Roshi
As long as you do not understand the Way of Buddha, you think that practice is the result of the Way. This is a great contradiction. While in the midst of the Way, you don’t clearly understand what the Way is…
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…
