Text used: Moon by the Window: The Calligraphy and Zen Insights of Shodo Harada.

Koan number 9 from the Denkoroku.

Continuing on from the previous teisho, more on working with our darkest thoughts, especially tanha vibhava the craving for non-existence, aka the "pot of loathing". Plus four perspectives on our response to suffering.

Main Text(s) quoted: The Transformative Power of Crisis by Robert M. Alter with Jane Alter, Harper Collins NY 2000

Some responses to questions from a student: "Given the enormous amount of destruction and suffering in the world how can we do everything that needs doing? How to we keep our hearts and minds wide open and manage the feelings of helplessness and inadequacy that arise?

Main Text(s) quoted: "The Love in Deep Adaptation" by Jem Bendell and Katie Carr www.jembendell.com, 17 March 2019

The Mosque shootings, white supremacy, non-violent climate action and "placing our fearful mind in the cradle of loving-kindness".

Main Text(s) quoted: "Why climate action is the antithesis of white supremacy" by Rebecca Solnit, The Guardian, 19 March 2019 and "Practice of Metta and the English Problem' by John Aske, Buddhism Now, 11 January 2014.

How to practice daily.

How to practice daily.

Sensei comments on the sangha's discussion of the climate crisis.

Forgetting the self and being awakened by the 10,000 things

Text quoted: The Hidden Lamp ed Susan Moon and Florence Caplow ; Women on the Buddhist Path by Martine Batchelor

The paradox of zen -- a practice which is both sudden and gradual

Text quoted: The Hidden Lamp ed Susan Moon and Florence Caplow