Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the "Mu" (neither yes or no) Koan - Case 1 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/15/26.

The Koan:

A monk asked Joshu,

Joshu said,

In the 18th century, Hakuin established Mu as one of the introductory Zen koans. Mu is the first of 49 koans in the Gateless Gate or Gateless Barrier (Mumankan), which was compiled by Muman. Muman himself spent six years working on Mu to achieve his awakening.

delving into Conditioned vs Unconditioned Love, Dean explores the distinction between "conditioned" actions—those based on specific causes, social circumstances, or personal relationships—and the "unconditioned" aspect of reality.

On this first day of Crooked River Zen's Rohatsu celebration weekend, Dean talks about the commemoration of the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, focussing his talk on the time after the Buddha's enlightenment took place. Dean discusses the place for tradition in the ongoingness of Buddhism, and the emptiness around the distinctions between the different Buddhist sects.

Dean delves further into Ben Connelly's book the Flower Garland Sutra and begins with an interesting story of a dog and a crow, after the dog saved the crow from peril.

Ben is a Soto Zen teacher based at the Minnesota Zen Center, and was recently a guest at the Crooked River Zen Center here in Cleveland Heights OH. Ben talks about Huayan Buddhism which is rooted in the Flower Garland Sutra which is the subject of his latest book. Ben is as usual energetic, interesting, knowledgable, and very personable with all the stories he shares about the book, Buddhist philosophy, and his own travels along the path. Enjoy!

Tonight Dean covers Chapter 4, Only Knowing, of Ben Connelly's "Flower Garland Sutra". Dean starts his talk about Knowing by tieing in a present day book on science about connection, consciousness, and being, making plain the interconnectedness of science and Buddhism.

Thursday Evening practice at the zendo, John leading the discussion