The Nature of Inquiry & Response

Anshi Zachary Smith discusses the nature of inquiry and response over the course of Buddhist History with examples from the Pali Canon, the Mahayana Scriptures and the literature of Zen. We’ll see how questions that are very similar in intent give rise to radically different answers and, perhaps, dig into why this might be true.

Tozan's Cold & Heat

A monk said to Tozan, “Cold and heat descend upon us. How can we avoid them?” Tozan said, “Why don’t you go where there is no cold or heat?” The monk said, “Where is the place where there is no cold or heat?” Tozan said, “When cold, let it be so cold that it kills you; when hot, let it be so hot that it kills you.” The Blue Cliff Record, Case 43   (Tozan Ryokai, 807-869)

The monk asks “how can we avoid cold and heat?” Does he mean this literally? Is his question just about how to avoid extreme weather?  Come to YUZ tomorrow and find out where the place is where there's no heat or cold (and it's NOT San Diego).

A Life of Coherence

Questions on my mind after a week of meditation retreat in the Redwoods: What unifies and what divides us, our hearts and minds? How do we live a life that's sane amidst frenzy and whirl? An interactive community night on the topic of complexity and simplicity.

Valley Sounds, Mountain Colors

Anshi Zachary Smith discusses a story that appears both in Dogen’s Shinji Shobegenzo (case 6) and in his “Valley Sounds, Mountain Colors” fascicle, in which an academic Buddhist teacher named Zhǐxuān asks a Zen Master, Lángyé Huìjué, to explain why we experience the world in the way we do. (Brief) hijinks ensue.

Zazen is Good for Nothing

The benefits of meditation are well-documented and worthwhile.

Yet, a pith teaching from 20th century Japan, "Zazen is Good for Nothing," points beyond our aims of self-improvement, to a freedom that refuses to be grasped by the mind bent on gain.

The Sound of One Hand Slapping

What happens when we overlay old stories onto new situations? Sometimes these thick karmic filters cause harm to ourselves and others. The Buddha described Nirvana as "free from reference points." How can we discern our "reference points" and practice with them so that we do no harm?

Quīngyuán and the Price of Rice

"Anshi Zachary Smith (bio here) will be hosting and we will be discussing “Quīngyuán and the Price of Rice” which is the 5th Case in the Book of Serenity. We will talk about the price of rice in the ancient town of Lúlíng which may (or may not) be of use as a metaphor for the whole of the Buddha’s teaching. We shall see."

Don't Hold Your Breath -- This Moment Counts Too

Our Zen practice celebrates each moment, whether it is wanted or unwanted or in some in between mundane place in our experience. Learning to let the present moment catch on fire and become illuminated is something that monastic practice is centered around, whether waiting in a line, washing a bowl or working through an illness. In this talk, we'll explore the different places we find ourselves in - whether wanted, unwanted or in between - and how the simple practices of Zen allow us to be with them.
— Michael McCord

(3 of 3) Everything Included, One at a Time - Introduction to Zazen - Thinking, Shikantaza

Facilitated by Kodo, consider this three-part series a gradual entry into shikantaza, the foundational meditation practice of our school. This course is designed sequentially: we will develop our skills of awareness to include all parts of our experience, one at a time.

First session 8/9: To form our foundation: meditation on breathing and tips for establishing a daily practice.

Second session 8/16: To build upon our skills to include awareness of the body and wise practice with emotions.

Third session 8/23: To develop a mindful relationship to thinking. Having now trained with breath, body, and mind, we open to shikantaza, the heart of Zazen meditation.

Part 2: Eating Food, Finding Freedom

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Zen practice is radically inclusive; all elements of daily life are a part of practice. This includes our relationship to food: how we eat, what we eat, when and why we eat. Despite engaging in eating throughout the day, it often remains opaque and uninvestigated in our daily life. In a country wracked with obesity, malnutrition, and an endless hunger for more, what does it look like to eat wisely? As food is so closely linked to craving, to emotions, and to well-being, if we are to fully wake up, we must include our relationship to food. 

In the first class in this series we studied the eight types of hunger as discussed by Jan Chozen Bays, author of the book Mindful Eating. These types of hunger describe why we eat.

In the coming class, we will explore how we eat, learning practices for doing so mindfully and wisely.  

During the session we will do some mindful eating together, so please bring a food item in a quantity sufficient to have 3 or 4 bites. 

If you would like to listen to part 1 of this series, you can find it here. 

(2 of 3) Everything Included, One at a Time - Introduction to Zazen

Facilitated by Kodo, consider this three-part series a gradual entry into shikantaza, the foundational meditation practice of our school. This course is designed sequentially: we will develop our skills of awareness to include all parts of our experience, one at a time.

First session 8/9: To form our foundation: meditation on breathing and tips for establishing a daily practice.

Second session 8/16: To build upon our skills to include awareness of the body and wise practice with emotions.

Third session 8/23: To develop a mindful relationship to thinking. Having now trained with breath, body, and mind, we open to shikantaza, the heart of Zazen meditation.

(1 of 3) Everything Included, One at a Time - Introduction to Zazen

Facilitated by Kodo, consider this three-part series a gradual entry into shikantaza, the foundational meditation practice of our school. This course is designed sequentially: we will develop our skills of awareness to include all parts of our experience, one at a time.

First session 8/9: To form our foundation: meditation on breathing and tips for establishing a daily practice.

Second session 8/16: To build upon our skills to include awareness of the body and wise practice with emotions.

Third session 8/23: To develop a mindful relationship to thinking. Having now trained with breath, body, and mind, we open to shikantaza, the heart of Zazen meditation.