in the Cloud

Episode Description: This instructive teisho reviews Buddha’s earliest core teachings: The Four Noble Truths and The Three Marks of Existence. The Three Fires of greed, hatred and delusion mislead us, so we get caught in the Three Worlds of desire, form and no-form. Henry applies these early teachings directly to Case 2 of the Book of Equanimity in which Emperor Bu asks Bodhidharma, "What is the highest holiness?" Bodhidharma’s answer is “no holiness, only vast and void.” Listen to this talk and discover how Bodhidharma sits, stops and sees precisely what Shakyamuni discovered and taught in his early teachings.

Image Credit: Space, by Sweetie187, CC BY 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: Beauty of Stillness, by Alice Lim, CC BY 2.0.

Episode Description: This teisho begins Henry’s journey through the Book of Equanimity. Case 1 shows the importance of just sitting, being still and quiet. Henry discusses Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teachings. He explores the teaching on dukkha (intrinsic dissatisfaction) and asks: Is there something in the core of ourselves that is intrinsically dissatisfied and dissatisfying? Henry then turns to Shakyamuni’s second teaching, on anatta—not self -- and provides some background introduction to the Book of Equanimity which emphases “clear sitting,” out of which realization and wisdom arise—stop, sit down and see.

Image Credit: Nature's Zen Garden - De Hoop, by Chris Preen, CC BY 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: Meditation, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Episode Description: Henry continues to explicate Sosan’s Shin-Jin Mei and incorporates the Three Treasures—Buddha, Dharma and Sangha--into the meaning of the poem. The Shin-Jin-Mei is an example of Dharma, a teaching or guidance, which helps us find our core, the heart/mind of ourselves (Buddha) and our universe (Sangha). Henry also discusses another meaning of Dharma, as "natural law," intangible but vividly experienceable, always with us, and in us, right now.

The other 2 parts of this series: Episode #20 Part 1 and Episode #21 Part 2.

Post Image and Featured Image Credit: Courtesy Cherie Manifest.

Episode Description: In this second talk of our spring sesshin, Henry elucidates the the case of an old, wise woman near Taizan who gives directions to a lost monk. Henry acknowledges the many women teachers within Zen history and this lineage. He discusses the depth of awakening that Joshu senses in the old woman and describes how the ten Ox-herding pictures provide a map to awakening. In this wide-ranging discussion Henry captures the essence of Zen’s promise—the infinite compassion of Kanzeon springing from Manjusri’s ultimate wisdom.

Image Credit: Spirit of Meditation, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: Playing the gayageum, by Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0

Episode Description: This talk, the first during our spring sesshin, introduces the Koan Mu and addresses the challenges that arise during a first sesshin. Henry compares zen practice to musical instrument practice with a lively story about his old trombone teacher, Jack Pinches. He also recounts the difficulties and rewards of his own first sesshin. Henry emphasizes the importance of diligent practice and explains how to sit with Mu while allowing it to absorb our inner commentary so we may gradually come face to face with our entrenched sense of self.

Image Credit: Meditation, Mahamudra, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: Playing the gayageum, by Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0