Practice Meetings

Thursday Apr 17, 8:30am

Friday Apr 18, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #18
Joshu’s Dog

A monk asked Joshu, “Does the dog have buddha-nature, or not?”

Joshu said, “It has”.

The monk said, “If it has it, why did it creep into that skin bag?”

Joshu said, “Because it does so knowingly.”

Another monk asked, “Does the dog have buddha-nature, or not?”

Joshu said, “Mu.” (No.)

The monk said, “All living beings have buddha-nature. Why doesn’t the dog have any?”

Joshu said, “Because it is in its karma-consciousness.”

Practice Meetings

Thursday Apr 3, 8:30am

Friday Apr 4, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #1
Joshu’s Dog

A monk earnestly asked Joshu: “Does even a dog have Buddha Nature?”

Joshu replied: “Mu!” (No!)

Practice Meetings

Thursday Mar 20, 8:30am

Friday Mar 21, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Blue Cliff Record #36

Changsha Went For A Walk

Changsha one day returned from hiking on the mountain and came to the Leader at the gate.

The Leader-Seat asked, “Venerable, what places have you been going to and coming from?”

Sha said, “I’m coming from hiking on the mountain.”

The Leader-Seat said, “You arrived, where did you come from?”

Sha said, “In the beginning I left following the fragrant grasses; and then I returned chasing the falling blossoms.”

The Seat said, “That is very much like the meaning of Spring.”

Sha said, “It even excels the Autumn dew drops on the lotus.”

Practice Meetings

Thursday Mar 13, 8:30am

Friday Mar 14, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #87

Sozan: With or Without

Sozan came to Isan and asked, “I have heard that you said, ‘Words of being and words of non-being are just like wisteria wound around a tree.’ If suddenly the tree falls down and the wisteria withers, where will the words go?”

Isan burst into great laughter.

Sozan said, “I sold my clothes and other belongings, and made an arduous journey of one thousand miles to come to you. Why does Your Reverence make light of me?”

Isan called his attendant and said, “Bring some money and give it to this reverend monk for his travel expenses.”

Finally he said, “Some day a one-eyed dragon will let you open your eyes.”

Later Sozan went to Myôshô and told him about this. Myôshô said, “I can say that Isan is completely right, but he did not meet one who could appreciate him.”

Sozan asked again, “If the tree falls down and the wisteria withers, where will the words go?’

Myôshô said, “It would make Isan laugh again all the more.”

Upon hearing this, Sozan gained realization.

Then he said, “From the beginning, there was a sword behind Isan’s laughter.”

Practice Meetings

Thursday Mar 6, 8:30am

Friday Mar 7, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #37

Guishan’s Karma Consciousness 

Isan asked Kyôzan:

“Suppose a man asks you, saying, ‘All living beings are tossed in a vast karma-consciousness, and have no foundation to rely upon.’ How would you check him?”

Kyôzan replied:

“If such a monk appears, I call out to him, ‘Mr. So-and-so!’ When he turns his head, instantly I say, ‘What is this?’ If he hesitates, then I say to him, ‘Not only is there a vast karma-consciousness, but also there is no foundation to rely upon.'”

Isan said, “Good.”

Practice Meetings

Thursday Feb 27, 8:30am

Friday Feb 28, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #15

Kyôzan’s Hoe

Isan asked Kyôzan, “Where have you come from?”

Kyôzan said, “From the rice field.”

Isan said, “How many people are there in the rice field?”

Kyôzan thrust his hoe into the ground and stood with his hands folded on his chest.

Isan said, “There are a great number of people cutting thatch on the South Mountain.”

Kyôzan took up his hoe and left immediately.

Practice Meetings

Thursday Feb 20, 8:30am

Friday Feb 21, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #1

Joshu’s Dog

A monk asked Joshu, in all earnestness:

“Does even a dog have buddha nature?”

Joshu answered:

“Mu!” (No!)

Practice Meetings

Thursday Feb 13, 8:30am

Friday Feb 14, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Blue Cliff Record #24, Book of Serenity #60

Tetsuma the Cow

Ryû Tetsuma came to Isan.

Isan said, “Old Cow, you have come!”

Tetsuma said,  “Tomorrow there will be a great feast at Mt. Tai. Will you go there, Master?”

Isan lay down and stretched himself out. Tetsuma left immediately.

Practice Meetings

Thursday Feb 6, 8:30am

Friday Feb 7, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Blue Cliff Record #4

Deshan Carrying a Bundle

Deshan arrived at Guishan carrying under his arm his vestment bundle and went up into the Dharma Hall.  From the east he crossed to the west. From the west he crossed to the east.  He turned his head to look around and observe and said “Without, without.”  (alt.”Nothing, nothing” or “Not, not.”) Then he exited.

Deshan got to the main gate and turned back saying, “I should not get careless either.”

Then he prepared for a dignified ceremony and again entered to meet together.  Guishan sat.  Next Deshan lifted and unfolded his sitting paraphenalia (i.e., a sitting cloth or very thin mat) and said, “Venerable.”

Guishan intended to take up the whisk.  Deshan then shouted and shook (pun with whisk) his sleeves and then exited.

Deshan turned his back on the Dharma hall, put on his straw sandals, and then went on foot.  When evening arrived, Guishan asked the Head-Seat monk,   “The coming and going newcomer, where is he?”

The Head-Seat said, “At that time he turned his back and withdrew from the Dharma hall; wearing his straw sandals he exited and went away besides!”

Guishan said, “In that case, then, the son will afterwards be guided to ascend to the top of a solitary peak to tie and weave a grass hut where he will have leave to laugh at the Buddhas and revile the ancestors.”

Practice Meetings

Thursday Jan 30, 8:30am

Friday Jan 31, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Book of Serenity #86

Rinzai’s Enlightenment

Rinzai asked Ôbaku, “What is the great meaning of the Buddha-Dharma?”

Ôbaku hit him. This happened three times.

Rinzai then took his leave and went to see Daigu. Daigu asked,

“Where have you come from?” Rinzai said, “From Ôbaku.”

Daigu said, “What did Ôbaku have to say?” Rinzai said, “I asked him three times, ‘What is the great meaning of the
Buddha-Dharma?’ and I got his stick three times. I don’t know if I was in error or not.”

Daigu said, “Ôbaku was overly gentle like an old grandmother; he completely exhausted himself for your sake. Yet you come here and ask if you were in error or not!”

With these words, Rinzai came to great enlightenment.