2026-03-16 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

Today's readings are from the Platform Sutra, by Huineng, including "The Gatha of Truth and Falsehood and Movement and Stillness":

Nothing that exists is true

don’t think what you see is true

if you think you see the true

what you see is surely false

if you want to find the true

the mind free of the false is true

unless your mind forsakes the false

nothing is true where true can’t be.

Living things know how to move

lifeless things stay still

those who practice staying still

resemble motionless lifeless things

to see what truly doesn’t move

in movement find what doesn’t move

what doesn’t move is what doesn’t move

lifeless things have no buddha seeds.

If you can perceive its attributes

the ultimate truth doesn’t move

if you can realize this

you will see how reality worksall you students of the Way

be relentless and concentrate

don’t stand at the entrance of the Mahayana

clinging to views about birth and death.

If those before you are ready

tell them the Buddha’s teaching

and if they aren’t truly ready

bow and tell them to be good

there’s nothing to argue about in this teaching

those who argue lose sight of the Way

clinging to blindness arguing about teachings

they lead their nature into birth and death.

Why love what you will lose?

There is nothing else to love.

“From the Japanese” by Louise Gluck

2026-03-02 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

2026-03-09 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

2026-03-07 I Erin Curtis Memorial by Appamada

What does it mean to live a “good life”?

This dharma talk starts there. We'll spend some time with Hui-Neng's teaching on one practice samadhi, which, it turns out, offers a surprising and slightly subversive take on living well.

Prompts for discussion:

1. What makes a good life?

2. How well are you living this good life?

Nate's reading is from the Platform Sutra, by Huineng.

2026-03-03 I InquiryI Roots and Branches I Joel Barna by Appamada

This is a Dharma talk on the Ocean Mudra Samadhi (Kai-In-Zanmai) from the Shōbōgenzō, written by our Sōtō Zen ancestor, Eihei Dōgen in 1242.

In this writing, Dōgen points to “attaining the way and entering realization” as nothing other than this moment, appearing through this very body. We reflect on what shifts when we move from trying to grasp the dharma with the mind and instead allow it to be lived and embodied within the mudra (shape) of Zazen.

Below is an excerpt from the text:

The Buddha said:

Elements come together and form this body.

At the time of appearing, elements appear.

At the time of disappearing, elements disappear.

When elements appear, I do not say “I” appear.

When elements disappear, I do not say “I” disappear.

Past moments and future moments do not arise in sequence.

Past elements and future elements are not in alignment.

This is the meaning of Ocean Mudra Samadhi.

Full text available here: https://kokyohenkel.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/4/127410773/kaiin_zammai__tanahashi_.pdf.

We make every effort to share the teachings with those who cannot attend at the scheduled time by posting recordings to both Soundcloud and YouTube. Everyone has the option to be edited out of the recording, whether audio or visual. If that is your choice, please use the “contact us” link at the bottom left of the Appamada website.

2026-02-24 I Inquiry I Attending to our actions I Suzanne Kilkus by Appamada