Recorded February 22, 2025

This third and final Te-shan koan completes our overview of Zen practice as the hero/heroine’s journey/pilgrimage from unconscious self-centeredness to selfless wisdom and compassion. Maturing means more than aging. Becoming not just “olders” but “elders,” takes conscious effort and perseverance. Yamada Roshi counseled his Zen students to take care of their health so as to live as long as possible, continue working on their practice, and become as mature as possible. Let’s see how Te-shan does. 

As commentary on the koan itself is rather brief ( 20 mins), for the teisho’s first 15 minutes Roshi Martin offers a respite from our troubled times by reading and commenting on short (including haiku) Chinese and Japanese Zen-related poems, to help us touch base with our essential humanity of wisdom and compassion, “in such hard times.” 

Books referenced:

• The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) — Robert Aitken, translator
• A Future of Ice: Kenji Miyazawa: Poems and Stories of a Japanese Buddhist -- Hiroaki Sato
• Haiku — 4 vols. R.H. Blyth Vol 1: History | Vol 2: Spring | Vol 3 Summer/Autumn | Vol 4 Autumn/Winter
• Haiku Master Buson — Yuri Sawa and Edith Shiffert
• In Such Hard Times: The Poetry of Wei Ying-wu — Red Pine

• Books by Roshi Rafe Martin
• Talks on YouTube
• More information at endlesspathzen.org