One Bright Pearl

Rohatsu Sesshin is upon us here at Sanshinji. We will begin by having dinner together at 6:00pm and then meet again at 7:30pm for Okumura Roshi’s orientation talk. When he finishes sharing his words of encouragement, we will turn and face the wall, as the Buddha did all those years ago.
We sit a classic Uchiyama [...]

A large, spacious room, unfolded before me. It seemed to be part of a rustic lodge, with beautiful blonde ash woodwork, framing a grand window, that looked out upon a natural mountain vista.
Outside the window, a herd of ancient buffalo, or perhaps muskox, munched placidly in a high alpine meadow. I noticed that their coats [...]

In response to a visitor’s comment, I felt compelled to expound a little of what has been shared with me.
It is all Buddha Nature… or is it? It is indeed. Buddha Nature pervades the entire universe, right here, right now. The pure lotus land unrolls moment by moment. But do we know that in our [...]

Needing nothing
Rain falls
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter
Grey clouds fill the empty sky

While listening to Shohaku Okumura share his understanding of Bussho 1, he states:
“The power that creates our suffering or samsara, and the power that allows us to practice and create nirvana is the same power…”
It is all our responsibility.
This realization has become koan for me. It has put me on the spot. I can’t [...]

During zazen this morning I had several great ideas for today’s post, and I can’t remember any of them.  Letting go of thinking doesn’t oppose great ideas. It just doesn’t cling to them. This not clinging isn’t aversion to thought. Thoughts come and go. Non clinging and non aversion do not originate from a position [...]

the cicadas song
disappeared
only the soft whisper
of falling leaves
brush my tent

“… it is precisely by seeking the way of the unconditioned, being one with conditions where the ego doesn’t intervene, that is the true repayment of gratitude.”
Indeed. Dana manifested in the way of non-gaining mind. No position to defend.  East gate, West gate, North gate, South gate… No gate, wide open, available.
I have spent [...]

“Now I’m weaker than the palest blue…” Nick Drake - Place To Be
Living alone, homeless, prevented from seeing my children. Where hope for a healthy, mutually caring and respectful relationship once existed, now there is darkness and fear. Not that I am fearful, but lonely for my children, yes. My soon to be ex-wife, Kirstin, [...]