除夜の鐘 （joya no kane)

除夜の鐘
joya no kane
じょやのかね

During new years eve sitting, Rev Ito talked about Joya no kane which is hit 108 times on 12/31 every year.
You can listen to his teisho from below.

Also there is good website explaining this event in Japan. You can read more from here.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

接心（sesshin） 経行（kinhin)

接心　
sesshin
せっしん

Kugyo talked about session which is period of intense meditation. You can read more about sesshin here.


経行
kinhin
きんひん

Rev Ito also talked about kinhin which is walking meditation between zazen sessions. You can read more about it here.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

無門関 (mumonkan)

無門関
Mumonkan
むもんかん
Rev Ito talked about "mumonkan" which is very famous zen word.
mu means nothing
mon menas gate
kan mens check point.

When yo sit at our zendo, you need to empty your mind.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

Rev Ito's memory from zen monastery...

Rev Ito's Teisho from 11/3/2013

Rev Ito's memory from his youth days at zen monastery making charcoal during winter time.

  Click here to download and listen to the recording of this teisho

Do Your Best

Rev Ito's Teisho from 10/20/2013.
"Do Your Best"

  Click here to download and listen to the recording of this teisho

観世音（Kanzeon)

観世音
Kanzeon
かんぜおん
Kugyo talked about Kanzeon and her recent experience.
Also more information about Kanzeon on wikipedia.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

身相 氣息 思量 （shinso kisoku shiryo)

身相　氣息　思量
shinso kisoku shiryo
しんそう　きそく　しりょう

Rev Ito talked about how to prepare for zazen.

身相 (shinso) physical body and posture
氣息 (kisoku) power, determination, thinking, and breath　
思量 (shiryo) thinking

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

About Rev Ito...

Kugyo talked about Rev Ito who established Rinzai Hakone Zendo.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

Mountains and Rivers

Kugyo talked mountains and rivers.
You can download and listen to teisho from here.
  Click here to download recording of this teisho

Growing into it...

Kugyo talked about becoming, growing into it...
You can download and listen to our teisho from link below.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

Buddha Nature

Kugyo talked about Buddha nature manifested as you...
Also Rebecca shared some funny joke.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

板 (han)

板
han
はん

At begining of zazen at zendo, han is striken to notify students that session is about to beging.
Rev Ito explained characters and meaning of words written on our zendo's han.

生死事大　(shoji kodo dainari)
無常迅速    (mujo jin soku)
光陰可惜    (koin oshimu bekarazu)
時不待人   (toki hito wo mata zu)

Life & death is important matter
Never know when you are going to die
Do your best
Time never wait for you

  Click here to download recording of this teisho

大信根 (dai shin kon)

大信根
dai shin kon
だいしんこん

" believing in yourself"

  Click here to download recording of this teisho.

戒定慧 (kai jo e) 作務 (samu)

戒定慧 
kai jou e
かいじょうえ

戒　kai : rule of daily life
定    jou:  concentration on zen
慧    e:    spiritually enlightened

作務
samu
さむ

Daily activity

  Click here to download recording of this teisho.

Four Great Vows

Kugyo talked about Four Great Vows and value of zazen. In her talk she referred to "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor.  You can watch her video from Ted from here.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho.

一日不作 一日不食（ichi jitsu nasa zareba ichi jitsu kura wazu)

一日不作　一日不食
ichi jitsu nasa zareba      ichi jitsu kura wazu
いちにちなさざれば、いちにちくらわず

"If you don't work, you don't eat" 
This sitting was on mother's day. Rev Ito also talked about his memory of his mother from World War II.

  Click here to download recording of this teisho.

松尾芭蕉 (Matsuo, Basho)

松尾芭蕉　
Matsuo, Basho

Kugyo talked about "Basho" traveler/poet from 1600s in Japan.　Here is the link to more details. 

  Click here to download recording of this teisho.

坐禅定慧 体用一致 (zazen jou e taiyo itchi)

坐禅定慧　

za zen jou e

体用一致

tai yo itchi

Rev ito talked about "zazaen to start with zazen manner". 

 Click here to download recording of this teisho.

延命十句観音経 (ENMEI JUKKU KANNON GYO)

延命十句観音経
ENMEI JUKKU KANNON GYO

Kugyo explained " ENMEI JUKKU KANNON GYO"

Click here for copy of chant.

 Click here to download recording of this teisho.

5 Hindrances

Kugyo talked about 5 Hindrances

Negative states of mind that impede progress toward wisdom and awakening

All arise in daily life and practice....and in meditation

  
Click here to download recording of this teisho.

色即是空 空即是色 (Shiki soku ze ku, ku soku se shiki)

色即是空 空即是色　
Shiki soku ze ku, ku soku se shiki.

Means "you emplty"

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

SESSHIN: SILENCE, STILLNESS, and FREEDOM

Sesshin:  gathering or collecting the Mind/Heart (shin).  Mind meaning integration of heart (compassion) and head (understanding). Awareness of who we really are.

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

惺惺著 (sei sei jaku)

惺惺著
sei sei jaku

Are you awake?

Rev Ito talked about "sei sei jaku" which is from mukanmon, "Gateless Gate" case 12.    This means "Are you awake?"   

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

No Self

Kugyo talked about "No Self".  Story about valuable bubble.... Imagine you own a very valuable bubble which is so valuable that you place your trust in it so that should you fall upon hard times, it will look after you.  It’s so valuable that ... listen to the story from link below.

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

主人公 (shu jin ko)

主人公

shu jin ko

Rev Ito reviewed his lecture note which he gave to students at Hakone in 2001. When he reviewed, he realized he need to add 1 more important thing, "Shu Jin Ko" 

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

3 Marks of Existence

3 Marks of Existence

Impermanence, No Self, Suffering

Kugyo talked about impermanence.

All day in rain

Hollyhocks

Follow the sun’s

Invisible road

 ...Basho

The above haiku speaks of change...all day in rain....hollyhocks...following sun’s....invisible road

We, too, as we are seated on the cushion can more easily observe the evidence of change (impermanence) as we follow the breath.  Fewer distractions.   Each breath is different, unrepeatable....as it is so with all senses.

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

Atta Dipa

Atta Dipa 

                                

Kugyo talked about Atta Dipa, words supposedly spoken by Shakymuni Buddha shortly before his death and what we are trying to accomplish in zazen. You can read more details on Atta Dipa here.

Click here to download recording of this teisho.

平常心是道 (byo jo shin kore do)

平常心是道

byo jo shin kore do

                            

Everyday mind is the way.   When Jo Shu Osho (趙州和尚) asked a question to Nansen Osho,(南泉和尚) zen master how to be enlightened.

Nansen osho's answer was "everyday mind is the way".

Rev Ito also talked about a book Mumonkan (無門関). This book is used to learn zen at zen monasteries.  You can read more about this book from this link.

Click here to download recording of this teisho.