Practice Meetings

Thursday May 1, 8:30am

Friday May 2, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #11
Joshu Sees the Hermits

Joshu went to a hermit’s cottage and asked, “Is the master in? Is the master in?”

The hermit raised his fist.

Joshu said, “The water is too shallow to anchor here,” and he went away.

Coming to another hermit’s cottage, he asked again, “Is the master in? Is the master in?”

This hermit, too, raised his fist.

Joshu said, “Free to give, free to take, free to kill, free to save,” and he made a deep bow.

Practice Meetings

Thursday Apr 24, 8:30am

Friday Apr 25, 7:00pm

This Week’s Koan

Gateless Gate #7, Book of Serenity #39
Wash Your Bowl

A monk said to Joshu, “I have just entered this monastery. Please teach me.”

“Have you eaten your rice porridge?” asked Joshu.

“Yes, I have,” replied the monk.

“Then you had better wash your bowl,” said Joshu.

With this, the monk gained insight.

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.