EASTER BRIDGE

Blue Cliff Record, Case 52

A monastic said to Zhaozhou, “The stone bridge of Zhaozhou is widely renowned, but coming here I find only a set of steppingstones.”
Zhaozhou said, “You see only the steppingstones and do not see the stone bridge.”
The monastic said, “What is the stone bridge?”
Zhaozhou said, “It lets horses cross over and donkeys cross over.”

Happy Easter. Happy Easter. This story of birth death rebirth is really wonderful. We are all experiencing birth death rebirth death all the time. Now this is all well and good as an idea. What does it feel like?! The agony of the cross. Swallowing a hot iron ball. To really experience that intensity is, hmmmmm, difficult for most of us. We prefer the steppingstones. Excellent. How do you feel? Even the steppingstones allow horses to cross, donkeys to cross.

On Good Friday, the Catholic Church has a ceremony in which the Host (the bread that represents the body of Christ) is removed from the altar tabernacle (they take it to another side altar, not willing to experience the full ramification of the ceremony; a steppingstone perhaps). The tabernacle door is left open – EMPTY. Horrific really. Yet this was my favorite part of the Catholic ceremonies. A mystery that still calls out from me. EMPTINESS BIRTH EMPTINESS DEATH EMPTINESS BIRTH EMPTINESS DEATH EMPTINESS

Are these stories theistic or nontheistic? How do you feel?

In interviews recently, I’ve been asked about the difference between theism and non-theism. Are you engaged with this question? A steppingstone? 

I suggest that if you are engaged with this question, you may have the wrong end of the stick, the wrong end of the bridge. The other end says “Who or what or when or why or how is asking this question!” Engaging directly with the intensity of this may lead directly to Zhaozhou’s stone bridge. Or it may swallow stone bridge and steppingstones and horse and donkey whole! Or a bit at a time.

It’s up to….you? WHAT WHAT

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A child

Perhaps tiger

Skipping across

A giant

Rough hewn

Skipping stone

Upon this

The ocean

So cold

And blue

And wet

My skin

Goosed flesh

Plunging donkey

And horse

Direct through

Zenho

8 DEEP BOWS

Zenho (auteur) and Issan

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Noah Seltzer’s offering this week

I keep on trying to get to where I already seem to be

this I am

I am 

beckoning myself to the 

overwhelming matter-of-factness

of the day

and the night

but the tiger still needs to bite my shoulder as I sleep

so I can know my true

rage 

at God

and my mom

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SCHEDULE  APRIL 9- APRIL 16 

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

MONDAY, 7PM, DREAM KOAN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM

Drag your body to the Zendo, or Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81182899201?pwd=UVU4MnJhMG1ZUGJaOHhaSndwQ2dYQT09

TUESDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM, WITH ZENHO. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86265616603?pwd=WHZEQWNDQnZPS1VicDl6VVlEdmxFZz09

WEDNESDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM WITH ZENHO 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89605039197?pwd=VTVubW5pUnBCNFBqQjBieERvNDd5QT09

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