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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

“You must understand that we practice within delusions and attain realization before enlightenment.“  Dogen Zenji - Chapter 3: Gakudo Yojinshu

What does it mean to have a practice?
Practice is not done in isolation, and at the same time isolation is not what you think it is. The Buddha proclaimed, “I, alone, am the only one!”
What is [...]

not arriving, here and now
a crossroad
here and now, no direction found
this no direction is only a crossroad

in just this no direction
gaining is lost
a Way is found
as a crossroad, here and now

never arriving, never departing
is only a crossroad’s no direction
is only a Way’s pulling and turning of an old monk
is only this old monk returning home

Moment by moment, we are taken away during our practice of zazen. Once taken away, we awaken to our true vitality. This is the entry way into the Buddha Dharma. This is zazens great function in the House of Eihei.
Zazen reveals Buddha Natures pervasive preaching that has been missed by our discriminating consciousness. Though missed, [...]

half a person
neither retreats
nor advances
what! is our vital function

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

Wind roars through the cracked window. Brisk cold air sharpens the senses. At seventy miles an hour, the highway greets this old monk with horizon upon horizon. One line, then another, trace away into the distance. Glancing behind, through a rearview mirror, the withered trees march backwards. Hands firmly grip the steering wheel, holding steady. [...]

While meeting an Old Buddha, a question was posed thus, “Sri Ramana Maharshi states - That which is not found in deep dreamless sleep is not real. What practice is available to realize this within your school?”
Old Buddha Gentei responded, “”When you are driving your car, how do you manifest your Buddha nature?”
Exactly! Ineffability expresses [...]