One Bright Pearl

as far as the eye can see
nothing to be seen
just this
not even this
ta ta ta…
.

the white ox refuses to leave
suddenly - Bong!
dinner bell ringing
.

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 [...]

My life is not theoretical. It is real. In this life, at all times, all things are possible. Only I can obstruct myself. I have met many students of Zen over the years, and one thing that seems to be common, is the lack of belief in their own innate wisdom. As if what the [...]

hanging in the abyss
space hammers space
one moment eternal
echoes through time
.

My teacher, Shohaku Okumura-roshi, gave me the name Kozan when I received Jukai earlier this month. He said that this “Ko” was the same kanji as in Sawaki Roshi’s Dharma name, Kodo. The meaning of this ko, is - raise up, support. The other kanji, “zan”, stands for mountain. So Kozan means to hold up [...]

Here is the Truth - at this moment I do not know what I am doing with my life. Sure, I can say, “Well, you’re typing a blog post concerning what you know.” Or, I could say, “You have been studying and practicing Dogen Zen with a living Master, Shohaku Okumura Roshi.” Or, I could [...]

Everywhere I turn, green greets me. Energy trills through my body as the trees, grass, and flowers of late spring stand out in their fullness of life. I am reminded of adventure, the adventure a young boy senses as a new day waits outside the door, during those precious first weeks of summer vacation.  I [...]

Dogen instructed,1
Students of the Way, do not worry about food and clothing. Just maintain the Buddha’s precepts and do not engage in worldly affairs. The Buddha said to use abandoned rags for clothing and beg for food. In what age will these two things ever be exhausted? Do not forget the swiftness of impermanence nor [...]

this zazen
doesn’t belong to me
leaving it to itself
I don’t know what to think