Welcome everybody. We have our workshop in a very busy place here. That is quite good, because we are going to talk about our practice being independent from our …
Read More...Three men are walking. The first man makes a sword sound, the second man waves his hands, and the third man picks up a handkerchief.
1. If you were there, what would be your correct function?
2. What is the relationship?
3. And lastly, what is the situation?
Commentary: …
Read More...From exchanges in Cambridge & Providence in April 1999:
Question: I am trying to decide whether the path I am on is right for me.
Zen Master Seung Sahn: You cannot find your job? So I ask you, who are you? Who is speaking now?
Q: I’m sorry?
ZMSS: Who …
Read More...[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
The whole world is suffering. Sickness and death everywhere. For what purpose do we come into this world? Only to suffer?
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
No world, no coming, no going, no suffering, no …
Read More...Life is like a cloud that appears.
Lifts stick, hits table
Death is like a cloud that disappears.
No life, no death.
No appearing, no disappearing.
Lifts stick, hits table
Katz!
Just now, breathing in and breathing out.
Twenty years ago I first heard the teaching …
Read More...Hits the podium with the Zen stick.
Mountain is blue, moonlight is shining.
Hits the podium with the Zen stick.
Mountain never said, “I am blue.” …
Read More...At the “leaping tiger” retreat in Lawrence several weeks ago, I had two interviews with you. I was the one who practices with Katagiri Roshi (sort of tall, thin, old, no hair).
During the interviews you gave me two koans that brought me to “don’t know.” Now, I …
Read More...Chew, Chew, Chew
Digesting our understanding is …
Read More...A visiting student asked Seung Sahn Soen Sa after a Sunday night lecture, “When practicing Zen, how can one keep a Zen mind?”
“Do you understand your mind?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, it is just this ‘don’t know’ mind that should be kept while practicing.
“But then is this mind …
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