Practice Meetings

Thursday May 29, 8:30am

Friday May 30, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Blue Cliff Record #2
The Real Way is Not Difficult

Joshu, instructing the assembly, said, “‘The Far-reaching Way is without difficulty, only rejecting picking and choosing.’  Only when there is language is there choosing or is there clarity. An old monk does not exist within clarity.  Are you still fond of taking sides or not?”

At that time a monk had a question: “Since one does not exist within clarity, what part of taking of sides is there to be fond of?”

Joshu said, “I too do not know.”

Monk said,  “Venerable, since you do not know, why do you yet say you ‘do not exist within clarity’?”

Joshu said, “By asking, you are able to draw near the matter; complete the ceremonial bowing and withdraw.”