Wu-Men Kuan, Case 24: It All Outside Words A monk asked Wind-Source Mountain: “Word or silence- either way you cross over into its all broken between Presence and Absence, the differentiated and the undifferentiated. How do I avoid that transgression altogether? Master Wind-Source replied: I always remember, south of the river, that third month: mountain-partridgeContinue reading “Elixir”
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7 Gems
the moon in the pines looks cold cloud after cloud drifts up ridge upon ridge unfolds the view is for ten-thousand miles and the pool in the gorge is clear like looking through a mirror treasures of a magic terrace the seven gems can’t match you ~ Pickup “From Temple Walls, The Collected Poems ofContinue reading “7 Gems”
The Still World
“Spring water is pure in an emerald stream moonlight is white on Cold Mountain silence thoughts and the spirit becomes clear focus on emptiness and world grows still.” -Han-shan Throughout history monks and enlightened persons have left behind the distractions of the world and retreated to the mountains and rivers of the wild places. There theyContinue reading “The Still World”
NO YES
Koan: An older woman had been supporting a solitary monk living high up Just This Mountain for 25 years. She decided she wanted to get a sense of his attainment. She asked a beautiful young woman from the local village to pay the monk a visit. The young woman did so. When she returned the olddrContinue reading “NO YES”
Stacking Tiles
Why is it that we feel that we must bring meaning to our experiences? Can we simply experience them in their natural purity? We usually think about the experience as it’s happening, as we’re actually having it and try to remember it exactly, cling to it so we can later ruminate on it’s meaning and thenContinue reading “Stacking Tiles”
Happy New Year!
May all beings be peaceful. May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings have enough food, shelter, compassion, love & wisdom. May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature. May all beings be free. Happy New Year! Deep Peace and Great Love, Issan & Zenho Schedule 1/1/24-1/6/24 Tuesday:Continue reading “Happy New Year!”
The Pool
At the time, I was reading Dōgen’s, Uji, also called Being Time, and one morning while meditating an image of the phrase “No coming or going” arose. This is what I saw: Everyone throughout all time and space, all being in the same swimming pool at the same time. No one ever enters the poolContinue reading “The Pool”
Cutting through
“Just as long as I’m in this world, I am the light of this world.” ~Rev. Gary Davis A number of years ago Zenho Sensei started giving me books of the root tantras. My experience with books that Zenho Sensei had given me in the past was that they were enthralling, eye-opening, fascinating and sometimesContinue reading “Cutting through”
Simplicity
After college I moved back to rural NH to begin an apprenticeship at a local pottery studio that made traditional items like ginger jars, crocks, kitchen and table ware.In exchange for cleaning the studio, prepping the clay, mixing glazes, feeding the chickens, I was permitted to live in the room above the studio in theContinue reading “Simplicity”
It’s time to close our eyes and listen to mother grief.
This time of year is like a portal. From the frenzied energy of summer, where plants and animals play out their life cycles of output, to summer vacations and tending gardens…to the transition to falling leaves, darkening mornings nudging the wearing of warm socks and layers…to the slow, yet deliberate move into dormancy. To quietingContinue reading “It’s time to close our eyes and listen to mother grief.”
No Gate Zen Center 