Breaking the Tether of Knowledge
Although we may study and train for decades, the Buddha himself taught that there is nothing to give or receive, and knowledge can, in fact, get in our way. In this spirited discourse, Daido Roshi reminds us that the Way reaches everywhere, and that the peace we are seeking is right where we are. Zen practice is nothing other than the practice of intimacy—when we allow ourselves to be intimate with every moment of our lives, seeing, hearing, and feeling with the whole body and mind—then we break the tether of knowledge and discover enlightenment for ourselves.
The koan in this discourse, “Shang-ya’s Great Enlightenment”” is case 17 from the collection the True Dharma Eye: Master Dogen’s Three Hundred Koans. Recorded live in April 2006. To purchase this or other talks, visit the Monastery Store at mro.org.
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The_Heart_of_the_Way
Our experience of life can vacillate between deep pain and exquisite joy. Within these highs and lows, the Buddha pointed to a place of profound equanimity. What does that mean in the midst of crisis? Shugen Sensei offers medicine for our ever-shifting minds, encouraging us to let go of all our familiar contrivances, to stop distinguishing between this and that, and discover that our heart is the Heart of the Great Way itself.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold Sensei, is the head of the Mountains and Rivers Order, and the Abbot and resident teacher of the Zen Center of NYC. This talk was given at ZMM in November, 2005.
The koan in this talk, Rujing’s Enlightenment, is from The Transmission of the Light or Denkoroku.
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Shitou Asks the Pillar
Abbot John Daido Loori, Roshi – True Dharma Eye, Case 41, Shitou’s “Ask the Pillar.” Again and again, Zen teachers encourage us to abandon understanding and our need to know things, but what does that mean? In this discourse, Daido Roshi takes up the matter of “not understanding.” If we can truly realize what this means, we’ll discover that each and everything is teaching us all the time.
This discourse was given at Zen Mountain Monastery in March of 2003.
To purchase this or other talks, visit the monastery store at http://www.dharma.net/monstore/ . © Dharma Communications
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Handling the Vajra Wisdom - Discourse by Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei
Zen practice offers us the possibility of finding profound depth and wonder in the midst of the mundane: our ordinary life can shimmer with light and brilliant energy, with vajra wisdom, if we liberate our minds from their habits and ruts. In this talk, Ryushin Sensei challenges us to practice so that our every action is light itself, illuminating reality.
Konrad Ryushin Marchaj Sensei, is the resident teacher and Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery.
The koan in this talk, “Keichu Makes Carts” is case 8 The Gateless Gate, or Wumenkuan. This talk was given at Zen Mountain Monastery in August 2009.
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