Knot Zen

What’s black, white, and full of holes? According to Boddhidharma, not even the holy truths!

The Gang discusses the first Case of the Blue Cliff Record: the infamous exchange between the Emperor Of China himself and our good old grumpy grandpa, Boddhidharma.

Join in as we discuss why our first Patriarch may have been so laconic in his answer to Wu’s question regarding the highest of holy truths.

As for you, what merit have you brought to this kingdom?

Welcome to the Sangha.

Boddhidharma shows up the Second Patriarch by pacifying his mind with both arms tied behind his back!

In this episode, The Gang discusses this visceral 41st Case of the Mumonkan where Huike (the Second Patriarch) stands, arm cut off in the snow, chit-chatting about his inability to find his mind when he searches.

Join in on this cold night and join in the question: "Let it go?  Let it go?" 

What's brown and sticky?  According to Yunmen, it's Buddha!

This week, The Gang tries scraping back the bullshit behind Yunmen's seemingly cryptic answer when asked by a monk what this "Buddha" is.

Feel free to light some candles, turn on the fan, and drink plenty of coffee to prepare for this (maybe not as gross as it seems) discussion on why Yunmen would call Buddha "Kanshiketsu".

Make Way, here he comes, ring bells, cloth-cover the drums!

The King himself comes to greet one of our favorite Zen Masters, Joshu!  He is a bit surprised at Joshu's seeming lack of greeting him in return.

Tune in and join The Gang as they question who the King might be, if Joshu is just too lazy to get out of a chair, and why he says who he will meet where (just make sure you don't slight The King).

Move your feet? Lose your seat!

In this week's episode, Zen Master Yunmen asks monks, when they hear the bell to go to class, why they're even getting up.

Make sure you're on time to join as The Gang examines the question Yunmmen asks us: Why are we here?  Why aren't we there? The world has many things going on - why are you listening to this instead of that?  Seeing this instead of tasting that?

Even if you think he's making fun of you, who's Yunmen to tell you what to do anyway??

Yunmen's back at it again, only this time the tables are turned!

Come join the Sangha as The Gang tries unscrambling the 15th Case of the Blue Cliff Record.

See if you can discover who is "Dying with you, being born with you, to give your certainty."

Uh oh!  Looks like this is another episode of Knot Zen After Dark.

The Gang explores the 14th Case of the Blue Cliff Record and pushes the limits of appropriate statements.  And this is just part 1! 

Be sure to check out Part 2 where everything starts going topsy turvy!

Hold your horses before giving that rating! 

In this episode, Joshu weighs in on raindrops on roses and girls in white dresses as "The Gang" discusses what there is to be disliked and why Joshu would give such a seemingly strange comment to a monk asking about Buddha.

Aww!  Buddha's giving a flower to Kashyapa!  

Join "The Gang" as they discuss the potential meaning(s) behind this gesture and why Kashyapa couldn't help but give a big smile at the scene.