This is mistake day, so my talk points the same way.
Buddha was born and the gods enjoy: Big mistake.
Six years under the Bodhi Tree, then enlightenment: Another big mistake.
Your life, my life: Also a mistake.
Today it’s Buddha’s birthday celebration: Mistake celebrating mistake.
Then how will you …
Read More...Zen Master Bon Haeng is asked “What should I do when I encounter office gossip?”
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Read More...Everybody worries about death. When we were young, our first worry was – what shall we do when our parents die? We human beings worry about that. And children worry: “How will I feel? What shall I do? Who will take care of me?” Many kinds. Then old people worry …
Read More...Here’s a question for everybody: How can you get out of samsara, how do you get out of suffering? We’re really lucky because we have a good practice situation. We can help and support each other, come here freely and nothing is stopping …
Read More...There is an ancient tradition in the monasteries in Asia at mealtime: three times a day, a great bell is rung and a big drum is struck, signalling to all the monks and nuns that it is time to come to the dharma …
Read More...Question: If you see a lot of blame in your life and very little praise, and you feel a lot of pain and very little pleasure, and you hang on to this then you suffer a lot. So you always say put it all down. I ask you: What is …
Read More...From talks in Cambridge on April 1, 1999 and Providence on April 2, 1999
Question: In your book, Compass of Zen, you say that “Mu practice” is not a correct practice. But Mu is the same as Kwan Seum Bosal, so why is it not correct?
Zen Master Seung …
Read More...A New Translation of the Hsin Hsin Ming, the classic poem by the Third Patriarch of Zen, Seng T’san
Zen Master Hae Kwang
The Great Way is not difficult,
Just don’t pick and choose.
If you cut off all likes or dislikes
Everything is clear like space.
Make the slightest …
Read More...Given April 2, 1994
A true person
leaps into the world
takes seven steps in each direction
“Only I am holy.”
Un Mun’s foul mouth
Cries “Mistake!”
Still, 2538 birthday candles
Have already burned up
Buddha, Un Mun,
and the whole world of
desire, anger, and stupidity.
Was your birth…
At the beginning of December we celebrated Buddha’s Enlightenment. Then two days later we began the seven-day intensive retreat that’s traditionally associated with the enlightenment ceremony. That’s interesting, because in Zen Buddhism, ceremonies are usually associated with actual practicing. That is somewhat unusual in conventional religious life. Zen’s direction is …
Read More...An excerpt from a letter written by Mu Bul Su Nim from Korea:
Before Soen Sa Nim left Korea, we had the great fortune to meet Mrs. So. She has been working for almost a year on getting a bell made for the Providence Zen Center. She went to great …
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