The zen mind videos

Hi.

Found this on my way around.
Great videos, but be wary of some instructions given.
Notice Gudo Nishijima (part 1&2), my "grandfather" in dharma, he's my teacher's teacher.though old he still sits zazen.
Also be wary that it is an rinzai zen roshi speaking(part 3), maybe already knowing it is for a western viewer

Other than that, entertaining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBrflCGEYW0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ZO1pOzBMI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSCzT9XckMs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JlpQ6-r4p8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrt_NbYMxBk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCk5cNAhhzc&feature=related

Mtfbwy
Fugen

What happens now?

Hi.

I use to say “when this happens, do this. When that happens, do that”.
But what does it mean?
It means to fully emerge yourself in the water, without having any thoughts of the waters colour, temperature, flavour asf.
To fully do what is right to do in that moment/doing, without any pretences or judices.
To be fully "here" without there being a "there", totally mindful of the moment and the task at hand.

There's a line in the Tenzo kyokun (instructions for the cook) that really has always mesmerised me, ever since i read it.

"When steaming rice, treat the pot as one's own head; when rinsing the rice, know that the water is one's own lifeblood."

And mind you it's not something you can "just let happen", you have to be "active"...
I once got asked if it matters if we do or not do.
I would say it matters, sometimes much, sometimes little.

When doing this, this happens.
When doing that, that happens.
other than that, I don't know.
And i don't really think it matters.
What matters is that you try ("beyond trying") to see and do what's right.

Now, people may think it’s “platitudes” and that Dead Zen Masters talk and live like that in story books, and teachings not used anymore.
Yes, they're platitudes.
Sometimes useful ones.
And there's masters/teachings being here doing the same now, just as in the books.
The problem is to find them.
I hope you do.

Mtfbwy
Fugen

a lecture in the wind...

Hi.

The 25:e of february i'll be doing a lecture on the philosophy of Buddhism in Tibro.
We'll look at some of the words and methods deriving from and central to Buddhism, and do some meditationpractices.
If you're interested, please email me or contact the local bookshop or vuxenskolan tibro.

And remember to smile.

Mtfbwy
Fugen

A short snap!

Hi.

This is from an entry i made in Zen forum international about the importance on treating people's questions rightly.

First of all, thanks everybody for your answers, i'll pass them along (somehow...).

Secondly, the belief in rebirth is manyfold.
is there rebirth from this second to the next, or just between lives?
Is it just a figure of speech or something "real"?

Thirdly, realms and other stuff, are they for real and does it matter if they are?

Fourthly, can we believe in that the Buddha said what he did, and does it matter if he did or not?

Fifthly, religion? Do i need to say more or have i already thrown enough s--t in the fan?

Sixthly, what about nirvana?

All the above questions matter to people.
So they are important.
Treat them rightly.

As for me, i'll just sit here saying "when this happens do this, when that happens do that".

All questions are important.
Why would they otherwise be asked?
Treat them accordingly.

Mtfbwy
Fugen

Bookreview: Daily wisdom & more daily wisdom

Hi.

I like these little quaint books full of quotes and reminders from a little of everywhere, and these are a great example of that.
Daily wisdom & More daily wisdom are both collections of quotes out of books published by wisdom publications and edited by Josh Bartok.

The book's blend of useful insights for daily reflection, from a variety of different of buddhist schols, make them an good read and gives some good moments of thought.

Mtfbwy
Fugen

Hyakujo's fox, cause & effect, enlightenment and Dogen...

Hi.

When Baizhang would give teachings to the assembly an old man would often appear and listen to his Dharma talks.
The old man usually left after the talks, but one day he remained behind.
Baizhang asked, “Who are you?”
The old man said, “I am not actually a human being. In ancient times, at the time of Kashyapa Buddha, I lived and taught on this mountain. One day a student asked, ‘Does a person who has cultivated great practice still fall into cause and effect?’ I said to him, ‘No, such a person does not.’ Because of this I was reborn as a wild fox for five hundred lifetimes. Venerable Master, please say a turning word and free me from this body of a wild fox.”
Then he asked Baizhang, “Does a person who has cultivated great practice still fall into cause and effect?”
Baizhang said, “Do not ignore cause and effect.”
Immediately the old man had a great realization.

The famous koan Hyakujo's fox is perhaps the most cited koan in the works of Dogen. It appears in the Shinji Shobogenzo, Eihei koroku, Zuimonki and is discussed at length in the chapters Jinshin inga and Daishugyo of the shobogenzo.

I've read an interesting statement regarding the name Dai-shu-gyo that led me to this blogarticle.
It is not an bad attempt, and it shines some light into the story.
He, Dosho mike port, explains the name as great-conduct oneself well-action.
This goes somewhat in line with what Dogen says about the story

When we thoroughly investigate the "great cultivation" (Daishugyo), we find that it is already "Great Cause and Effect" (dai inga).(110) This "Great Cause and Effect" is the completeness of cause and completeness of effect. Therefore, it is not a question of falling or not falling, or of obscuring or not obscuring.
...
even though he errors, there is falling into rebirth as a fox, and there is release from rebirth as a fox.

-

All of those who have not yet seen and heard the Buddha Dharma say that after the end of his rebirths as a fox the "old master" attained supreme enlightenment (daigo) and that the fox body was completely absorbed into the ocean nature of original enlightenment (hongaku no shogai).
This meaning implies the erroneous notion of "returning to an original self" (honga ni kaeru).
This has never been a Buddhist teaching.
Moreover, if we say that the fox had no original nature (honsho), that the fox was not originally enlightened (hongaku nashi) : this [also] is not the Buddha Dharma.

- Daishugyo

On a side note, the last quotation is also the most used when trying to explain Dogen's view on enlightenment...
The Koan brings to light such things as Cause & effect and enlightenment.
And we have seen somewhat what Dogen had to say about them.
He also says that Cause & Effect arise at the same time and is an inevitable fact of the human existence.
You can't have one and not the other, or?

Mtfbwy
Fugen

The posture of meditation

Hi.

What significance does the posture of body have for the meditation and the experience of meditation?
The author of the book, Will johnson, shows that when it comes to meditation practices, the body is as important as the mind.
This is a fact that may come as a surprise to the many people who regard meditation as a strictly mental activity, and as Will Johnson shows, the physical aspect of the practice is far too often underemphasized.
He goes to some lenghts at showing the importance of the relationship between the body and the mind.

In this book johnson offers guidance and exercises for working with the posture of meditation and also gives advice on how to carry its benefits on into all the rest of life.
An almost "new agey-feeling" creeps in on the text, but if you can see past that this one of the best books i've read on meditation and how to get it right.

Mtfbwy
Fugen