Dharma Wheel

In the Soto corner of the Zen world where I sit, the main work is by you with your self. Nobody can do it for you, and nobody can give you many answers. However, it is a good thing to have a Teacher and other experienced folks to lend an ear and offer guidance, and a Sangha of folks to support you a...

First as for the purification etc. it is in instructions and sodo practice, but could be done individually as well... those are manuals which are not translated. Commentaries as well. For the second - ST instructions come from following lineages: Bokusan, Sotan, Kodo; then from Tokuo line and 8 tea...

What are your goals in teaching? Zen is said to be the sudden path to buddhahood. Is that what you teach? Hi Astus, Yes, the Sudden Path realized and brought to life in each step by step, choice by ethical choice, on the road to the paradigm of Buddhahood. For Shikantaza folks like me, on our trip ...

Zen folks have certainly had a love-hate (beyond all aversions and attractions) relationship with scripture, a finger pointing to the moon. Most of Zen in Japan has historically been about studying Zen (Japanese masters) and Chan (Chan records from China) literatures. It was largely a literary move...

If by common you mean that there are Zen teachers who talk ill of the Mahayana sutras, that is not a usual practice at all, and never was. It's equivalent of slandering the Dharma. The result of this is that his followers will not study the teachings and so fail to understand it. The idea that &quo...

Hi Tara, It is a funny hat, and funny clothes and my funny face. The only question is whether we need those funny hats and clothes. Our Treeleaf Lineage encourages the hand sewing of the Kesa (Buddhist outer robe), which we choose to interpret as Zazen practice with a needle, the Buddha's Teachings,...

Hi, I am always willing to discuss these issues with anyone, and whether Buddhist practice is possible ... thrives, shines ... with and without the (maybe) traditional superstitions, fabricated legends, hagiographical exaggeration, seeming hocus-pocus, decorative hoo-hah, funny hats and the like. Ca...

Oh, you asked ... By the way, speaking of sexist divisions, how many of your priests are women? One, but we do not think in terms of whether she is a man or woman. Gassho, J Is it a secret? Who is she, what's her name? What's your name, the Buddha's name? Her name is Allison. http://sweepingzen.com...

Oh, you asked ...

By the way, speaking of sexist divisions, how many of your priests are women?

One, but we do not think in terms of whether she is a man or woman.

Gassho, J

Hi Shel, Would I have some grounds to call former 1950's Science Fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard possibly a "story book writer"? I don't know, it is possible ... ... many witnesses have reported Hubbard making statements in their presence that starting a religion would be a good way to make ...

Hi Guys, Thank you for posting that talk here. However, I should be faulted for not mentioning during the talk what I usually say when discussing such subjects, to wit, I may criticize ideas and doctrines but I never will criticize a person's personal religious beliefs or right to believe in them .....

If you are interested in Zen, you could look into http://www.treeleaf.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It is an online Soto sangha. They have a discussion board, and meditation sessions via webcam, and one on one's with the Roshi, a fellow called "Jundo". This ...