Being students of the Way, naturally, we seek places to begin and signposts of which way to continue. There may be teachers we study with for years; we may have years of disillusionment, and then there may be years we are on our own. 

Read the Journal while listening

Since there are sutras too numerous to count, Yanshou is taking the gems from many of them to help essentialize the heart of Buddhism.

Read the Journal while listening

This excerpt is scratching the surface of a work consisting of 100 fasicles; the above being only part of the first fasicle and the only one in translation at this point. Even in this brief glimpse, one can get a sense of the intention behind the work.

Read the Journal while listening

his classic story from the history of Zen is an excellent example of the lengths some have taken to explore meditation, the results that can happen when someone goes too far in overzealous attempts, and the commitment it takes to extricate oneself and return to a more middle way of practice. 

Read the Journal while listening

How much of what we know has been discovered firsthand by us? If you are honest, most of what we know has been handed down by others and rarely questioned. Even the traditional teacher/student relationship often engenders passivity; like baby birds with beaks open, we wait for the next tidbit of understanding to arrive. 

Read the Journal while listening

There is a point in training where we feel like we are living in two separate worlds – the conventional reality or culture and our world of practice. In the beginning, we establish our meditation practice routine and strive for continuity. As we mature in practice we realize we need to take that calm and centered experience off the cushion and into daily life.

Read the Journal while listening

It takes a while to begin to feel comfortable with “nothing to hang onto” as some refer to the subtleties of practice. Practice is bursting with paradox, and Zen masters seem to have mastered the art of communicating the Way in a manner that often does serve to stop the mind.

Read the Journal while listening

As abstruse as some of these pieces sound, there are always concrete points of practice that shine through. That doesn't mean it doesn't take some real contemplation to find the hidden kernel that is just the point to spur on our practice.

Read the Journal while listening

The question-and-answer format between a teacher and student is a timeless and startling tradition. The role of any true teacher is to help the student break through their illusions and awaken in the present moment to their attachments; their means of achieving this are often misunderstood.

Read the Journal while listening

Simplicity and clarity. The above guidelines are touchstones that help us to steer through practice. To take it all a step further is finding a way to return to zazen while walking, lying down, and standing.

Read the Journal while listening.