Tuesday, April 21, 2015

This too

The two most important words in Zen are "This too." If we can accept everything that comes to us, everything that life presents us with, then we are walking the Way of the Buddhas.

The Buddhadharma excludes nothing. It encompasses the stars, the moon, the rivers, and most importantly, our lives. Anger is not left out; neither are pain or jealousy. Zen practice is about transforming our lives into a container large enough to include all that arises.

When you get a raise at work, say, "This too." If you feel guilty about the raise, "This too."

Got fired? "This too."

If we can only learn to live with the spirit of these two simple words, then we will recognize that we are already walking the same path as the great ancestors. "This too" serves as a gentle reminder to open ourselves to life as it is, not how we want it to be.  

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Dharma talk - Don't Drink Bleach

Emergencies don't give us time to think. We just act. In this talk, Doshim explains how we all know how to act, if we can only get past all of our thinking and second-guessing.

Introduction and sound engineering by Tom Eunsahn Gartland.


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Dharma talk - No More Toys

People love toys--new cars, gadgets, concepts, and especially their sense of self. All of these can become crutches or obstacles if we fail to see clearly through them. In this talk, I try to remind students how subtle the craving mind can be.

Introduction and sound engineering by Tom Eunsahn Gartland.


Monday, April 13, 2015

Original Mind Zen Sangha April Newsletter

Click here to download a copy.

Special thanks to Jonson Miller for all of his work on the newsletter.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Beyond Buddhism - Dharma talk

Don't get attached to Buddhism--its rituals, chants, and lifestyle. The true Dharma must transcend itself. If you want to walk the Way, forget the Way and become the Way.

Introduction and sound engineering by Tom Eunsahn Gartland.