AZC Weekly talks

Description: When we are torn, when our longings pull us in different directions, when we feel pinned on the horns of some dilemma, or literally in two minds about something, what is our True Self?

Main Text(s) quoted: The Hidden Lamp, Stories from 25 Centuries of Awakened Women, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon.

Second part of a Dharma talk by Grant George.

Dharma talk by Grant George.

Dharma Talk by Richard von Sturmer.

Some basic instruction on working on one's first koan.

Text cited: What is This Tricycle Article by Martine Batchelor and Shattering the Great Doubt by Master Sheng Yen.

Kakuzan Shido, founder of Tokei-ji, challenged about her ability to teach, brings forth a dagger. Was her act a violent one? What role do such extreme actions play in Zen? What role does pressure (external and internal) play in Zen, and in life? Why are koans so difficult?

Text(s) quoted: The Hidden Lamp, Stories from 25 Centuries of Awakened Women, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon.

Why can’t the buffalo’s tiny tail pass through the window when his head, horns and legs all do? How come, even after we have seen into the emptiness of all things do we still have unfinished business to attend to? And how can we work with our imperfections in a healthy way?

Putting kensho in perspective; the importance of cultivating compassion as well as wisdom.

Text(s) quoted: The Hidden Lamp, Stories from 25 Centuries of Awakened Women, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon. Zen Teaching, Zen Practice, edited by Kenneth Kraft

A continuation of the above. Kensho as a third step of the Ten Oxherding Pictures.

Text(s) quoted: The Hidden Lamp, Stories from 25 Centuries of Awakened Women, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon. Zen Teaching, Zen Practice, edited by Kenneth Kraft

What is the enlightenment referred to in the story? What do we mean when we talk about enlightenment and kensho? Do these terms as they

are used in the Three Pillars of Zen, mislead us? Roshi Sunyana Graef’s comments on how the kensho accounts affected the first generation of Roshi Kapleau’s students.

Text(s) quoted: The Hidden Lamp, Stories from 25 Centuries of Awakened Women, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon. Zen Teaching, Zen Practice, edited by Kenneth Kraft