BLOG 3-5-2023

Emptiness<—- >    <—- >Potency

Knock Knock Alive or Dead. I won’t say. I won’t say. I just don’t want to steal your opportunity to discover. 

My tea is delicious, thank you.

In the Tibetan tradition, there is teaching about Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana.

In our tradition, there is teaching about Hinayana, Mahayana, Chan/Zen.

These vehicles are reflected in our own lives, our very own relationships.

In Hinayana, we begin to learn how to concentrate, to not be carried away by our perceptions, our six senses. We begin to appreciate that our senses, connecting us with the “outside” world, also shape and create that outside world. This is essential to the process of enlightenment unfolding.

In Mahayana, we begin to work with our very own bodies, appreciating how our six senses interpenetrate our bodies. Following the senses back into our own bodies, appreciating the emptiness that is. This is essential to the process of enlightenment unfolding.

Vajrayana and Chan/Zen. Tibetan teachers are forthright in teaching that Vajrayana is concerned with our emotions, our psychological being, which interpenetrates our senses and our bodies. The emotion and psychology that erupts in our relationships. Chan/Zen doesn’t come right out to say this, preferring to allow the personal discovery of this realm. “Alive or Dead” – what is the emotion that fuels this question? “I can’t stand this arguing. Unless you say something to calm me, I am going to kill this cat” – what is the emotion that fuels these activities? Koan after koan. What are you feeling in this moment? Do you really know? If not, why not? This is essential to the process of enlightenment unfolding.

Koan after koan present people in relationship. Dream after dream present me/you in relationship. Present the emotion, the psychology, that emerges from and within these relationships. Whether in dream or ordinary waking life, koan are about the nitty gritty of relationship. Seeing and feeling more directly and more clearly within relationship. A pebble strikes a bamboo “Thwock” and there is a sudden opening of …. Gutei cuts off a finger, and there is a sudden opening of… 

We are fortunate to have been given the Dream-Koan practice. Dream-koan is fine and dandy as an individual practice with the teacher. And…

Dream koan practice really comes alive, really sings, really dances, really cries, really laughs, really sobs, REALLY opens as a Sangha practice. Bringing the vulnerability of our dreams into the Sangha nourishes the relationships that heal us all. 

It’s my opinion that Dream Koan, especially Sangha Dream Koan. is central to Chan/Zen, To engage in Sangha Dream Koan is the heart of the matter, and will accelerate the unfolding of enlightenment. Do you really want your enlightenment experiences to be confined to the solitude of a cave? Come on out and play. Come on out and tussle. Join…Join

Make the effort to engage in Sangha Dream Koan as core practice! Don’t find excuses. Preferably drag your body to the Zendo. If you live at a distance, come on Zoom. 

How do you feel now? Share yourself and your Dream with us. 

I’m smiling.

8 Deep Bows

Zenho (auteur) and Issan

Emptiness< —- >. < —- > Potency

A POEM

The mists of Avalon

And Emei

Are not different 

From these vapors

Coursing within

My bones and marrow.

HAH

Only my shout

Empties lake

And flattens mountain

Hah

Anger or Joy

Or grief

I won’t tell

//////////

Only the loon

Directly absorbing

My shout

Can tell

Zenho

SCHEDULE 3/5 – 3/12

MONDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT TEA HOUSE, DAVID OPENING

MONDAY, 7PM, DREAM KOAN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81182899201?pwd=UVU4MnJhMG1ZUGJaOHhaSndwQ2dYQT09

TUESDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE, (Zenho away, no Zoom)

WEDNESDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE, (Zenho away, no Zoom)

THURSDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE WITH ISSAN 
DOKUSAN WITH ISSAN SENSEI

FRIDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN & SERVICE WITH ZENHO AT THE TEAHOUSE  DOKUSAN WITH ZENHO SENSEI