I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha.” He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.

Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

Practice Meetings

Friday Feb 27, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #49
“Tozan and the Memorial Service”

When Tôzan held a memorial service for Ungan before his portrait, he mentioned the episode with the portrait.

A monk came forward and asked, “When Ungan said, ‘Just this!’ what did that mean?”

Tôzan said, “At that time, I almost misunderstood my master’s meaning.”

The monk said, “I wonder whether or not Ungan really knew that IT is.”

Tôzan said, “If he did not know that it is, how could he say like that? If he knew that it is, how did he dare say like that?”

The truth knocks on the door and you say, “Go away, I’m looking for the truth,” and so it goes away. Puzzling.

Robert M. Pirsig

Practice Meetings

Friday Feb 20, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Blue Cliff Record #43
“Dongshan’s Cold & Heat”

A monk asked  Dongshan: “So, how avoid the coming of the winter cold and summer heat?”

Shan said. “Why not turn to the place without cold and heat?”

The monk said, “So, what is the place without cold and heat?”

Shan said, “In the cold time, the cold kills the preceptor; in the burning time, the burning kills the preceptor.”

Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.

-Ray Bradbury

Practice Meetings

Friday Feb 13, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #3
“Juzhi’s One Finger”

Whenever Gutei Oshõ was asked about Zen, he simply raised his finger.

Once a visitor asked Gutei’s boy attendant, “What does your master teach?”

The boy too raised his finger.

Hearing of this, Gutei cut off the boy’s finger with a knife.

The boy, screaming with pain, began to run away.

Gutei called to him, and when he turned around, Gutei raised his finger.

The boy suddenly became enlightened.

When Gutei was about to pass away, he said to his assembled monks, “I obtained one-finger Zen from Tenryû and used it all my life but still did not exhaust it.”

When he had finished saying this, he entered into eternal Nirvana.

Mumon’s Comment

The enlightenment of Gutei and of the boy does not depend on the finger.

If you understand this, Tenryû, Gutei, the boy, and you yourself are all run through with one skewer.

You don’t need to justify your love, you don’t need to explain your love, you just need to practice your love. Practice creates the master.

-Miguel Ruiz

Practice Meetings

Friday Feb 6, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #84, Blue Cliff Record #19 
“Juzhi’s One Finger”

Venerable Juzhi, whenever he was questioned, simply stood up one finger.

Xuedou’s Ode:

I am profoundly fond of old Juzhi for being one who draws out the teachings.

The universe comes in emptiness, more than that who exists?

Again and again, he has faced toward the blue sea and dropped down driftwood

On the waves in the night to join in welcoming blind turtles.