In Lightened Enlightened

Ep. 8

Q&A

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today.

Ep. 7

The ancients said: "(self-)cultivation takes an unimaginable time (while) enlightenment in an instant is attained." if the training is efficient, enlightenment will be attained in one fingersnap.

In days gone by ch'an master hui chueh of lang yeh mountain, had a disciple who called on him for instruction. The master taught her to examine into the sentence: "take no notice." she followed his instruction strictly without backsliding.

One day her house caught fire, but she said: "take no notice." another day, her son fell into the water and when a bystander called her, she said: "take no notice." she observed exactly her master's instruction by laying down all casual thoughts.

One day, as her husband lit the fire to make fritters of twisted dough, she threw into the pan full of boiling (vegetable) oil a batter which made a noise.

Upon hearing the noise, she was instantly enlightened. Then she threw the pan of oil on the ground, clapped her hands and laughed.

Thinking she was insane, her husband scolded her and said: "why do you do this? Are you mad?" she replied: "take no notice." then she went to the master hui chueh and asked him to verify her achievement.

The master confirmed that she had obtained the holy fruit.

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today.

Ep. 6

Q&A

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today.

Ep. 5

Dogo had a disciple called soshin. When soshin was taken in as a novice, it was perhaps natural of him to expect lessons in zen from his teacher the way a schoolboy is taught at school. But dogo gave him no special lessons on the subject, and this bewildered and disappointed soshin.

One day he said to the master, "it is some time since I came here, but not a word has been given me regarding the essence of the zen teaching." dogo replied, "since your arrival I have ever been giving you lessons on the matter of zen discipline." "what kind of lesson could it have been?" "when you bring me a cup of tea in the morning, I take it; when you serve me a meal, I accept it; when you bow to me, I return it with a nod.

How else do you expect to be taught in the discipline of zen?" soshin hung his head for a while, pondering the puzzling words of the master.

The master said, "if you want to see, see right at once. When you begin to think, you miss the point."

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today.

Ep. 4

Q&A

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today

Ep. 3

One day the king of yen visited the master chao chou, who did not even get up when he saw him coming.

The king asked, "which is higher, a worldly king, or the 'king of dharma'?" chao chou replied, "among human kings I am higher; among the kings of dharma I am also higher." hearing this surprising answer, the king was very pleased.

The next day a general came to visit chao chou, who not only got up from his seat when he saw the general coming, but also showed him more hospitality in every way than he had shown to the king.

After the general had left, chao chou's attendant monks asked him, "why did you get up from your seat when a person of lower rank came to see you, yet did not do so for one of the highest rank?" chao chou replied, "you don't understand. When people of the highest quality come to see me, I do not get up from my seat; when they are of middle quality, I do; but when they are of the lowest quality, I go outside of the gate to receive them."

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today.

Ep. 2

Q&A

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today

Ep. 1

Ascending to the high seat, dogen zenji said: "zen master hogen studied with keishin zenji.

Once keishin zenji asked him, joza, where do you go?' hogen said. 'i am making pilgrimage aimlessly.' keishin said, 'what is the matter of your pilgrimage?' hogen said, 'i don't know.' keishin said, 'not knowing is the most intimate.' hogen suddenly attained great enlightenment."

Season 2

Some of the best known Zen stories are used here to illustrate the nature of enlightenment, meditation, love, knowledge and knowing, man's misplaced identification with his ego, and other issues very relevant today

Ep. 10

Q&A

Season 1

Acharya says that laughter is "the very essence of Zen." And though the theme of this series is meditation - watching, remaining alert and aware - as the only way to truth, Acharya encourages us to, "be happy and meditation will follow." There is a wonderful chapter on laughter, Hotei the Laughing Buddha, and enlightenment. As Acharya says, "This is the whole effort of all the masters: to create a sudden clash of thunder so those who are fast asleep can be awakened."

Ep. 9

In the tang dynasty there was a stout fellow who was called the happy chinaman, or the laughing buddha.

This hotei had no desire to call himself a zen master, or to gather disciples around him. Instead he walked the streets with a sack on his back full of candy, fruit and doughnuts -- which he gave out to the children who gathered and played around him.

Whenever he met a zen devotee he would extend his hand and say: "give me one penny." and if anyone asked him to return to the temple to teach others, again he would reply: "give me one penny." once when he was at his play-work another zen master happened to along and inquired: "what is the significance of zen?" hotei immediately plopped his sack down on the ground in silent answer.

"then," asked the other, "what is the actualization of zen?" at once the happy chinaman swung the sack over his shoulder and continued on his way.

Season 1

Acharya says that laughter is "the very essence of Zen." And though the theme of this series is meditation - watching, remaining alert and aware - as the only way to truth, Acharya encourages us to, "be happy and meditation will follow." There is a wonderful chapter on laughter, Hotei the Laughing Buddha, and enlightenment. As Acharya says, "This is the whole effort of all the masters: to create a sudden clash of thunder so those who are fast asleep can be awakened."