Knot Zen

The great casters, studious as ever in their endeavors, take a stab at birds.  One Zen Master sees ducks, one plays "Duck, Duck, You...", and Yuanwu maybe disregards the integrity of either approach in a in a revisionist eulogy. How BOUT them ducks?  When you see them take flight, where do they go?  Where have they ever gone? Welcome to the Sangha.

Scott, Brian and Ewk, weathering the winter woes and summer blues bring some five start level philosophizing in this latest cast about...food.

Does the cook do the cleaning? The Gang ponders the classic Case where Joshu congratulates a monk for eating breakfast before reminding him to do the dishes.

Joshu comes across some hermits throwing a fist.  Is it out of respect, a threat, a fist-bump?  None of the above?  All of the above? The Gang explores Joshu's seeming different take on two hermits doing the same action and where the water is deep and shallow. How would you respond to being left hanging by Joshu? Welcome to the Sangha.

The Gang does some quickmaffs in counting Yunmen's cards and examines why he'd use such specific numbers as an answer to a monk's question. One two, skip a few, how far do you want to go? Welcome to the Sangha.

Man got to sit and wonder 'why, why, why?'" - Kurt Vonnegut This week, The Gang gets maybe more than they can swallow as they explore Dongshan's exchange with a monk on this question of "why, why, why?" Regardless of whether it be like dis or it don't, Dongshan says 'it is for your benefit'. Some intense words, Dong! When life brings cookies, baskets, or caskets, why? How could this possibly be fo...

Spook alert! Join in for Knot Zen's first Halloween episode where The Gang discusses a ghost story told by Zen Master Foyan and whether the protagonist get tricked or treated by two scary ghosts. Who has the right to the candy in the bag? Are you the candy? Are you the basket? What can you eat when ghosts have devoured you? Chewing it may sustain you, but what you don't swallow might haunt you......

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... why is he doing that...? This week, The Gang chews on this strange hypothetical in the 5th Case of the infamous Mumonkan where a man is hanging from a tree by... his mouth? Get a taste of whether this Case has to do with trusting oneself and why on Earth the man would choose to hang so high above it in that fashion.   When you're stuck relying on nothing but your...

Blue Cliff Record: Case 4 The Gang picks up Deshan's story where they left off in Episode 5: Ryutan's Candle.  Somebody warn Zen Master Guishan: Deshan's coming to visit! Looks like Deshan ain't lettin' nothing stop him from having his showdown with the old man, and he comes crashing in before crashing right back out. What bundles do you carry?  What do you do with them once you meet a Zen Master?...

Oh no! In Mumonkan's Case 11, an elderly woman seems to be schooling all the monks on their way home! This is far from the first time that the elders of China ask tricky questions to the poor young monks! Go straight ahead as The Gang investigates Joshu's investigation: fighting fire with fire and having a gander at this goose! And, if you do walk the walk, at least talk the talk. 

It's the 26th Case of the Blue Cliff Record: A monk gets hit, where does it land and why...Dharma combat, extordinary affairs...all the fun stuff

Where did they come from, why did they go??? This week, The Gang invites Zen Master Ming from the capital, but apparently it would miss him. :( Join in and maybe you'll be able to bring Ming out of his shell!