zengateway's podcast

Q) Will all the problems go away when I stop thinking about them? ….. In this podcast: •    The context for this question - mental health crisis over climate change etc. •    The disciple who reads the Vedas three times (introvert approach) •    Problem solving and the difference between the extrovert and the introvert approach •    God, grant me the serenity to accept the things •    I cannot cha...

Followers of the Way, the Dharma of the heart has no form and pervades the Ten Directions. In the eye, it is called seeing; in the ear, hearing; in the nose, smelling; in the mouth, talking; in the hands, grasping; in the feet, walking.   Fundamentally, it is one light; differentiated , it becomes the six senses. When one's whole heart comes to a full stop, one is delivered where one stands. Why d...

"Venerable Ones, get to know the one who plays with these configurations. He is the original source of all the Buddhas. Knowing him, wherever you are is home.   Your physical body, formed by the four elements, cannot understand the Dharma you are listening to; nor can your spleen, stomach, liver or gall; nor can the empty space. Who then can understand the Dharma and can listen to it? The one here...

In this podcast: The Grimm's fairy tale of Lucky Hans Why is our heart so restless - an experiment The Buddha's diagnosis of this restlessness The estrangement of the Heart as cause - what the Buddha said on his awakening The false self and the True Nature of the Heart.

One day, while wondering in the mountains, Shi Tou said to Shishi, "' just lop off that branch of the tree in front of me - its hindering me" " I didn' t bring a knife", ' replied Shishi. ' Shi Tou pulled out a knife and gave it Shishi. " Why not let this come to me? '" said Shishi. " What would you use it for? '" asked Shi Tou. Then Shi Tou had a great awakening.

Q) Will you say something about the different types of bells and signals used in Zen? …   In this podcast:   •        The use of clappers and inken in Zazen •        The use of the gong for the turning over of merit for the benefit of all beings •        Using the myokugyo or wooden fish for chanting along with the inken •        The temple bell •        The wake-up bell or drum/clap board •      ...

In this podcast we look at how the Chan/Zen school arose in response to the complicated philosophy that had developed around Mahayana Buddhism that threatened to draw people away from the experience of ones own insight. However there is a place for the teachings in Zen, as this discourse makes clear all skilful means are used to bring students to Awakening. The talk also looks at how the influence...

38. Followers of the Way, do not take the Buddha for the supreme aim. I myself see him as a privy hole, and the Bodhisattvas and Arhats as beings who bind men with cangue and chains. This is why Manjushri grasped the sword to kill Gautama, and Anguilimalya took the knife to assassinate Shaka.  Followers of the Way, Buddha is not to be attained. The Three Vehicles and the Five Natures, as well as t...

Q) What is ' Heart-to-Heart Transmission ' ? … In this podcast: •        Bodhidhdarma's Four Line Verse •        The Buddha transmits the lineage to Mahakasyapa •        Rinzai's 'Not much to Obaku's teaching'. •        How poetry works •        Transmitting the lineage

Venerable ones, I cannot these days cease from using a lot of words, and come out preaching many inept things. But do not let yourselves be deceived! As I see it, there are not really so many principles. If you want to act, just act; and if you do not want to act, then rest. It is said that the Six Paramitas and the ten-thousand practices are the Buddha-Dharma. I say they are both methods for spir...

"The Great Way is not difficult, It merely avoids picking and choosing." On Faith in the Heart by Master Sosan, tr. Myokyo-ni … In this talk: •        Sosan is 3rd Patriarch receiving the Transmission from Eka. •        What is The Great Way and why is it important? •        What is picking and choosing? •        Why does picking and choosing make following The Great Way difficult?

Q) As a complete beginner to Zen, can you give me some tips for starting a Zen practice? …   In this podcast: •    The three pillars of daily life practice, meditation practice & wisdom practice. •    The root practice of giving myself wholeheartedly into whatever is just now being done, supported by ethical and cultural form practice. •    Cultivating a meditation practice daily •    Study of the...

One monk asked: "What is the meaning of Bodhidharma's coming from the West? The master said: "Had he had a purpose, he could not even have liberated himself." The monk asked: "If he had no purpose, how could the Second Patriarch attain the Dharma?" The master said: "To attain is not to attain." The monk asked: "If it is not to attain, then what is the meaning of not to attain?"  The master said: "...

Master Yoka cautions: 'Getting rid of things and clinging to emptiness are the same illness. It is like throwing oneself into fire to avoid being drowned.' (The Wisdom of the Zen Masters by Imrgard Schloegl) … In this podcast: The Buddha's first teaching of the middle way. The problem of the five ascetics What happens when 'I' give up smoking? Some advice on 'giving up' - don't (TL advice to a smo...

National Teacher Daito (1283-1338) founded the monastery of Daitokuji in Kyoto and Rinzai Zen Training monastery.  Before his death he gave his admonition to his monk which gives the essence of his teaching and points to just that which is most important for the training of his monks. The full text can be found here . This Dharma talk includes: The importance of both physical as well as spiritual...

Followers of the Way, when I say that there is no Dharma outside, the students do not understand and deduce it is necessary to search within themselves. Then they sit, leaning against a wall, tongue pressed to the upper palate, and remain so motionless. That they take for the patriarch's gate of the Buddha-Dharma. What a great error! (The Zen Teaching of Rinzai; tr. Irmgard Schloegl, pub. Shambhal...

"As I see it, there is nothing complicated. Just be your ordinary selves in an ordinary life, wear your robes and eat your food and having nothing further to seek, peacefully pass your time. From everywhere you have come here; all of you eagerly seek the Buddha, the Dharma and deliverance; you seek escape from the Three Worlds. You foolish people, if you want to get out of the Three Worlds, where...

The God of Buddhism is the god of wisdom. In Buddhism, the Buddha means one who knows, the knower. One who knows one's own wisdom is Buddha. Our eyes, which have the faculty of seeing; our ears, which have the faculty of hearing; our other senses - smell, taste, touch - are all manifestations of the power of knowing. So our sense organs are the eyes of Buddha. Every one of us is Buddha. However, M...

The unborn Buddha-mind deals freely and spontaneously with anything that presents itself to it. But if something should happen to make you change the Buddha-mind into thought, then you run into trouble and lose that freedom. Let me give you an example. Suppose a woman is engaged in sewing something. A friend enters the room and begins speaking to her. As long as she listens to her friend and sews...

In this podcast: The language of religion and how different schools of Buddhism teach. The importance of the lineage (Master Sesso) The Heart-Buddha is the source of the teachings which only appear to come from outside. The story of Rinzai's own awakening Avoiding the stink of Zen; Joshu's 'Mu & Uu'.

As we enter the holiday period, I recall that you talked about setting aside the Zen practice for a while. Why is that a useful thing to do? What happens if I find it difficult to re-start the practice after the holiday is over? ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, In this podcast: The value of taking a break from the timetable and regular practice - 2 types of student Using common sense Why things become 'chores...

Here in a quiet and dusty room they lie, Faded as crumbled stone or shifting sand, Forlorn as ashes, shrivelled, scentless, dry - Meadows and gardens running through my hand.   In this brown husk a dale of hawthorn dreams, A cedar in this narrow cell is thrust; It will drink deeply of a century's streams, These lilies shall make summer on my dust.   Here in their safe and simple house of death, Se...

Q) I've heard you say that in daily life practice we should give ourselves wholeheartedly into what we are doing. How do I know when something is being done wholeheartedly? …………….. In this talk: The problem of teaching someone how to ride a bike. The three ways 'I' give myself wholeheartedly in everyday life already The quality of flow in wholeheartedly being given into what is being done. Use the...