For many, walking a path of meditation sometimes entails stumbling into challenges of frustration and self-evaluation. Ever clear-eyed about the nature of things, Zen practice employs the imagination to open us to the possibilities of wholesome growth, of a change in frame: stepping out of the limits of "the world according to me" and into the vast, joyful freedom of the Bodhisattva Universe animated by the Four Immeasurable Vows and Six Perfections. — Kodo Conlin
Fengxue's "Iron Ox" - Book Of Serenity 29
Anshi Zachary Smith: Case 29 of the Book of Serenity, which, in addition to a whole lot of slapstick hi-jinks and, perhaps, the most creative and outrageous insult a Tang Dynasty Zen teacher has ever leveled at his interlocutor, makes a number of subtle points about the nature and practice of teaching/transmission itself. Thus, it’s a fitting follow-on to Kodo’s talk about Practice Discussion of last week.
The Teaching Just for You: The Practice of Practice Discussion
With rivers of Dharma books and oceans of online instruction, how do I know the teaching that is right for me now? What does a practice that’s matured by decades even look like? One approach to clarifying such questions is the practice of practice discussion, to meet face-to-face in a space of shared reflection where the Teaching Just for You can arise. We will discuss the how's, what's, and why's. — Kodo Conlin
Zen as a Path of Metamorphosis
Inspired in part by the recent sesshin at City Center, we will be discussing the practice of Zen as a path of metamorphosis, a complement to our oh-so-everyday style. Let's see what arises as we discuss the path of transformation. Kodo Conlin facilitates.
Just to Be Yourself: Suzuki Roshi on Everyday Zazen
With the sounds of the Mountain Seat Ceremony still ringing through the halls of San Francisco Zen Center, we take another trip through the territory of Shikantaza, this time informed by the disarmingly everyday phrase Suzuki Roshi used to guide us in Zazen: just to be yourself.
Turtle Nosed Snake
Anshi Zachary Smith discusses the famous and nonetheless mysterious Turtle Nosed Snake from Case 24 of the Book of Serenity as well as Case 22 of the Blue Cliff Record. In the Case, Xuěfēng Yìcún warns his students to look out for the poisonous snake or, perhaps, he’s just suggesting they get up close and take a good look. We’ll also be taking a good look.
Everday Mind is Studying the Way
Shoren Heather Iarusso — Even if you aren't able to make it to a monastery, there are ways to infuse your everyday life with practices to help you awaken your inner monk. Everyday mind is studying The Way.
(4 of 4) Zazen Instruction for YUZ: Shikantaza
Consider this four-part series a gradual entry into shikantaza, the foundational meditation practice of our school of Zazen. Facilitated by Kodo Conlin, this course is designed sequentially for both experienced and first-time meditators: we develop our skills of awareness to include all aspects of our experience, one at a time. We begin with awareness of the breathing, proceeding to include, one by one, practices for wise awareness of the body, emotions, and thinking. This gradual approach is meant to support the cultivation of a clear, wise relationship to all aspects of our experience, with nothing left out. Finally, we enter shikantaza—just wholeheartedly sitting—a comprehensive immersion in the arisings of this moment, the practice of freedom amidst all things.
First session 1/31: To form our foundation: meditation on breathing and tips for establishing a daily practice.
Second session 2/7: To build upon our skills to include awareness of the body and wise practice with emotions.
Third session 2/14: To develop a mindful relationship to thinking.
Fourth session 2/21: Having now trained with breath, body, and mind, we open to shikantaza, the heart of Zazen meditation.
(3 of 4) Meditation Instruction for Young Urban Zen
Consider this four-part series a gradual entry into shikantaza, the foundational meditation practice of our school of Zazen. Facilitated by Kodo Conlin, this course is designed sequentially for both experienced and first-time meditators: we develop our skills of awareness to include all aspects of our experience, one at a time. We begin with awareness of the breathing, proceeding to include, one by one, practices for wise awareness of the body, emotions, and thinking. This gradual approach is meant to support the cultivation of a clear, wise relationship to all aspects of our experience, with nothing left out. Finally, we enter shikantaza—just wholeheartedly sitting—a comprehensive immersion in the arisings of this moment, the practice of freedom amidst all things.
First session 1/31: To form our foundation: meditation on breathing and tips for establishing a daily practice.
Second session 2/7: To build upon our skills to include awareness of the body and wise practice with emotions.
Third session 2/14: To develop a mindful relationship to thinking.
Fourth session 2/21: Having now trained with breath, body, and mind, we open to shikantaza, the heart of Zazen meditation.
(2 of 4) Meditation Instruction for Young Urban Zen
Consider this four-part series a gradual entry into shikantaza, the foundational meditation practice of our school of Zazen. Facilitated by Kodo Conlin, this course is designed sequentially for both experienced and first-time meditators: we develop our skills of awareness to include all aspects of our experience, one at a time. We begin with awareness of the breathing, proceeding to include, one by one, practices for wise awareness of the body, emotions, and thinking. This gradual approach is meant to support the cultivation of a clear, wise relationship to all aspects of our experience, with nothing left out. Finally, we enter shikantaza—just wholeheartedly sitting—a comprehensive immersion in the arisings of this moment, the practice of freedom amidst all things.
First session 1/31: To form our foundation: meditation on breathing and tips for establishing a daily practice.
Second session 2/7: To build upon our skills to include awareness of the body and wise practice with emotions.
Third session 2/14: To develop a mindful relationship to thinking.
Fourth session 2/21: Having now trained with breath, body, and mind, we open to shikantaza, the heart of Zazen meditation.
(1 of 4) Meditation Instruction for Young Urban Zen
(1 of 4) Zazen Instruction for Young Urban Zen — We begin this four-part series on the practice of Zazen with some foundations: the vast context of Zazen, essential skills for cultivating an awareness of the breathing, tips on posture, and considerations for starting a practice at home.
Stinginess, Resentment & Other Stories - Precepts 4 of 4
Anshi Zachary Smith hosts on the topic of "Stinginess, Resentment, and Other Stories" and will be talking about two precepts - the 8th and 9th - which uniquely implicate and invite us to explore the problematic side of a particular mechanism that’s one of our greatest gifts as humans. That is: our gift for planning, imagining, and pursuing outcomes that align with our desires (or aversions). We’ll also talk about how stinginess and ill will are related to the other precepts, especially the other items in the second group of 5.
This will be our fourth and final session of this series on the Zen Precepts.
Not Praising Self at the Expense of Others - Precepts 3 of 4
Great Robe of Liberation - Precepts 2 of 4
Even before you take the refuges, the precepts ceremony requires that you put on your robe. This is pretty significant. In particular, if you really look at the Robe Chant, it seems what it’s saying is like, “spreading/draping this formless garment of beneficial practice over all beings,” which is kind of cool. In other words, the fabric itself is a metaphor for our connection with and vow to practice for all beings. — Anshi Zachary Smith
Precepts Call Us In - Buddhist Heritage and Our Community with All Beings
First of four talks on the Bodhisattva Precepts: along with Zazen, the essence of Soto Zen training. Kodo introduces the series with a story of the origins of the precepts, how we find true shelter, and a compassionate approach to living our lives peacefully, and in integrity with all beings.
The Five Aggregates
The Buddhist scriptures speak of 84,000 negative emotions, which is a whole lotta weeds! Fortunately for us, the Buddha and his disciples distilled these afflictive psycho-emotional states into lists that aid in our ability to be mindful of their arising and to experience freedom within suffering. The Five Hindrances is one such list.
Awakening to Life through Contemplating Death
Perhaps Suzuki Shosan was wise in teaching that to know death—that is the entire Buddhist teaching. While we are well-supported to ignore this truth, Zen practice does much to keep our mortality front and center. Doing so wisely, gently, with humility, and maybe a touch of humor, can steady the mind and open our hearts to poignancy and to our priorities for this precious human life.
You can't be a part of something and be separate from it
Bryan Clark talks about the Buddha’s Awakening and Anchored Reality
Gratitude & Calmness
This week Bryan Clark talks about gratitude and shares a reading from Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind on Calmness
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.