Do I need a teacher? No. One of my own old teachers, Russel Williams, was enlightened by a horse. Seriously. Uhhhh…was he on some wild acid trip? Nope. He was an orphan barely scraping by and took a job looking after horses. He had no background with the animals
Who does a Zen person vote for? Whoever they want to vote for. Religion doesn’t determine political affiliation. Yes, there’s some overlap. If you’re Catholic in the US now, 48% are Republican and 47% Democrat. The same applies to Zen. A lot of folks have this idea
I roughly get how Zen helps individuals, but what does it actually offer the world? Even if I’ve realized my true nature, what good does it do for farmers drowning in debt or the war in Yemen or some other plague of the world? If you’re upset by
Does Zen have rules like other religions? I know some Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists are vegetarian-mostly because I used to go to their fairs to get a free meal when I was badly strapped for cash. Rules. Lots and lots of rules. Rules on how to put on your sandals,
What’s the Zen take on good and evil? My favorite question. Uh oh. Why? Cause I get to tell funny stories. Like this first one, a classic koan from the Blue Cliff Record: A monk asked Toshi, “Is it true that ‘All sounds are the voice of Buddha’?” Toshi
If people ask about Ryokan’s death poem, tell them it was “Homage to Amitabha Buddha.”*1 Buddhism in Japan's gotten a bad wrap as a culture ravaged by sectarianism. This is a mischaracterization. While there were, at times, fierce territorial and political disputes amongst the different sects,
In the stillness by the empty window I sit in meditation wearing my under robe. Navel and nose in alignment, Ears parallel with the shoulders. Moonlight floods the room; The rain stops but the eaves drip and drip. Perfect this moment— In the vast emptiness, understanding deepens.*1 Why bother
In my hermitage a volume of Cold Mountain Poems — It is better than any sutra. I copy his verses and post them all around, Savoring each one, over and over.*1 Who is Cold Mountain? I don't know. The only fragments of his life that survive are stories
In my youth I put aside my studies And aspired to be a saint. Living austerely as a mendicant monk, I wandered here and there for many springs. Finally I returned home to settle under a craggy peak. I live peacefully in a grass hut, Listening to the birds for
Thinking back, I recall my days at Entsū-ji And the solitary struggle to find the Way. Carrying firewood reminded me of Layman Hō; When I polished rice, the Sixth Patriarch came to mind. I was always first in line to receive the Master’s teaching, And never missed an hour
