This Week: Apr 7 - 12

"When we catch ourselves judging, we need to notice the thoughts that comprise the judgment, such as 'thinking that she's stupid,' and let feel the tension in our body. Behind our judgments is always anger or fear. It's helpful to experience the anger or fear directly, rather than letting them drive our actions. . . . We need to remember that most of practice can be summed up in kindness. In any situation, what is kindness?"

- Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special

SCHEDULE

Morning Zen: Mon-Fri: 7:30 - 8:30
Saturday Zen Service: 10:00 - 11:45

READINGS

The dharma talks/discussions each day are based on these readings. Read the chapter or koan in advance if you can. (If not, no worries.)

Mon Apr 7. Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special. Ch. 16, "Do Not Judge."

Tue Apr 8. Koan of the Week. "Nanquan's 'Cats and Oxen'." Book of Serenity #69.

Wed Apr 9. Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Ch. 18, "Limiting Your Activity."

Thu Apr 10. Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Buddha's Teaching. Ch. 17, "The Two Truths."

Fri Apr 11. Taizan Maezumi & Bernie Glassman, On Zen Practice: Body, Breath & Mind. Ch. 7, "On Gassho and Bowing."

Sat Apr 12. Diamond Sutra (trans. Red Pine), chapter 7.

KOAN OF THE WEEK
Blue Cliff Record #69

Case:

Nanquan addressed the assembly, saying, "All Buddhas of the Three Times [past, present, future] do not know of it, but cats and cows know of it."

Questions:
1. If "it" is enlightenment, then what is Nanquan saying?

2. If "know of it" is knowing and projecting, then what is Nanquan saying?

3. If "it" is suffering, then what is Nanquan saying?

4. What is Nanquan saying?

Hongzhi's Verse
Limping, limping. Palsied, palsied.
Frayed, frayed. Unkempt, unkempt.
The hundred aren't appropriated. Even one is not worthwhile.
Wordless, wordless. He himself knows the calm of the fields.
Potent, potent. Who's to say in his guts he's a fool?
Throughout the Dharma realm, all becomes his food.
With drooping nose, he's content to be full.

Hotetsu's Verse
Cat Buddha, Cow Buddha,
Know Buddha, No Buddha.
When past, present, future are stripped away, what will then distinguish buddhas, cats, cows?
Besides the usual its and bits?

* * *

The "Koan of the Week" is drawn from these three koan collections.

"Gateless Gate" (a.k.a. "Wumenguan," "Wu-men-kuan," "Mumonkan").
CLICK HERE.

"Blue Cliff Record" (a.k.a.. "Biyan Lu," "Pi-yen Lu," "Hekiganroku").
CLICK HERE.

"Book of Serenity" (a.k.a. "Book of Equanimity," "Congrong Lu," "Ts'ung-jung Lu," "Shoyoroku").
CLICK HERE.