Practice Meetings

Tuesday Oct 30, 8:30am
Friday Nov 2, 7:00pm

This Week’s Reading

Thich Nhat Hanh, Old Path While Cloud, Chapter 18, “The Morning Star Has Risen”.

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #28: “Gokoku’s Three Disgraces”

A monk asked Gokoku, “How about when a crane perches on a withered pine tree?”

Gokoku said, “It is a disgrace when seen from the ground.”

The monk asked, “What about when every drop of water is frozen at once?”

Gokoku said, “It’s a disgrace after the sun has risen.”

The monk asked, “At the time of the Esho Persecution [1], where did the good Guardian Deities [2] of the Dharma go?”

Gokoku said, “It is a disgrace for the two of them on both sides of the temple gate.”

[1]: Buddhism was suppressed by order of Emperor Bu (about 840).

[2]: Nio-figures representing the two Deva kings on each side of the main gate of a Buddhist temple. They are considered to be protectors of the Dharma.

Practice Meetings

Tuesday Oct 23, 8:30am
Friday Oct 26, 7:00pm

This Week’s Reading

Thich Nhat Hanh, Old Path While Cloud, Chapter 17, “Pippalla Leaf”.

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #45: “Who is he?”

To Tozan, Master Hoen the Fifth Patriarch said,

“Shakyamuni and Maitreya Boddhisattva, both are His slaves. Well, tell me: Who is He?”

Mumon’s Comments:

Should you be able to clearly realize who he is, it would be as if you met your own father at the crossroads, as you do not have to ask your own father who he is.

Mumon’s Verse:

Practice Meetings

Tuesday Oct 16, 8:30am
Friday Oct 19, 7:00pm

This Week’s Reading

Thich Nhat Hanh, Old Path While Cloud, Chapter 16, “Was Yasodhara Sleeping”.

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #38: “Goso’s Water Buffalo”

Goso asked, “A water buffalo goes out of his ‘enclosure.’ The head, the horns, and the four legs go through, but why doesn’t the tail, too?”

Mumon’s Comments:

If you can open your one eye (to the question) and say an awakening word, you will be able to repay the Four Obligations and help the Three Bhava being saved. If you still have not gotten it, take a close look on the tail and awake yourself.

Mumon’s Verse:

Practice Meetings

Tuesday Oct 9, 8:30am
Friday Oct 12, 7:00pm

This Week’s Reading

Thich Nhat Hanh, Old Path While Cloud, Chapter 15, “Forest Ascetic”.

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #36: “Goso’s No Words, No Silence”

Goso said,

“When you meet a Man of the Way on the road, greet him not with words, nor with silence. Tell me, how will you greet him?”

Mumon’s Comments:

If you can answer Goso exactly, it will be extremely heartening. If you cannot answer properly yet, then you must do your best to watch out everything.