The Old Women of Mount Wutai

view from our zendo on 5/4/2014

Kugyo san talked about women in zen.  She quoted story 'The Old Women of Mount Wutai" from the book, The Hidden lamp.  

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If Buddha and Jesus had a talk...

If Buddha and Jesus had a talk....

Kugyo talked if Buddha and Jesus had a conversation what would it like to be...

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Kugyo also sited "Of Love" a potem by Mary Oliver.


Mary Oliver (b. 1935)

Of Love

I have been in love more times than one,
thank the Lord. Sometimes it was lasting
whether active or not. Sometimes
it was all but ephemeral, maybe only
an afternoon, but not less real for that.
They stay in my mind, these beautiful people,
or anyway beautiful people to me, of which
there are so many. You, and you, and you,
whom I had the fortune to meet, or maybe
missed. Love, love, love, it was the
core of my life, from which, of course, comes
the word for the heart. And, oh, have I mentioned
that some of them were men and some were women
and some — now carry my revelation with you —
were trees. Or places. Or music flying above
the names of their makers. Or clouds, or the sun
which was the first, and the best, the most
loyal for certain, who looked so faithfully into
my eyes, every morning. So I imagine
such love of the world — its fervency, its shining, its
innocence and hunger to give of itself — I imagine
this is how it began.

From New and Selected Poems, 1992, Beacon Press, Boston, MA

Sited from: 
http://www.journeywithjesus.net/PoemsAndPrayers/Mary_Oliver_Of_Love.shtml

Impermanence (無常)

Kugyo talked about impermanence from her recent experience.

You can download and listen to teisho from here.

自力 他力 (jiriki tariki) / 三奉請 （sanbujo)

Rev Ito explained sanbujo and discussed jiriki and tariki.
You can download teisho from here.

Teisho from 3/17

Here is teisho from 3/17
You can download and listen to our teisho from here

Letter from Kugyo

Letter from Kugyo

Kugyo will be at San Francisco Zen center from this week for 6 days a week attending zen practice session.  She will be back at our zendo on Sundays.

She wrote a letter to friends and family describing her thoughts.

Here is the copy of her letter.



--

1To my family and friends;

Beginning January 21^st , I will be participating in a residential Zen practice period at San Francisco Zen Center for 9 weeks, finishing March 28^th . During that time I will not be using e-mail, but will be available, if necessary, by phone at 408-354-3238. You may leave a message if necessary and I will return the call when able.

I am looking forward to this experience with both excitement and apprehension. It will be an experience in monastic living (not cloistered!) with the time scheduled between zazen (meditation) and Zen services, work periods (manual labor keeping the center clean and up to snuff), class participation, and sewing (I am sewing an okesa (robe) which is necessary should I make the decision to become a Zen priest. In a way, it is kind of like a spiritual sabbatical with days beginning at 5 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m. It is not done in silence, but rather mindfulness.

Most weeks I will be home with Fred and our dog Hana on Sun. My intention for that day is to stay within the spirit of simplicity and mindfulness, and not get caught up in work tasks like grocery shopping, bill paying, house cleaning, etc. (Although I dearly hope the SF 49ers are in the Super Bowl, it will be a very tempting challenge to not watch the game....). I also will maintain contact with my mom and my sons.

Many have asked me why I am doing this and what I hope to get out of it. Simply stated: I really cannot give a logical or rational answer. My life keeps unfolding in such a way that says: “this is the next step to take.” Like falling in love, whether with an individual, a profession or talent, an idea, or a pet....it just happens. Lots of rational explanations can be offered, but none really speak to the draw of the heart toward something. Some have asked if my intention is to become a Zen priest, and even that cannot be answered at this time. There obviously is some attraction to it and at this time I am not ready to take that definite and formal step. What will occur in the future is unknown as it always is, despite what we may be planning or expecting. So we shall see.

Through all this my dear husband Fred has been supportive, encouraging me to make the decision without pressure either way from him. It is a decision that has definite impact on him as he will be not only picking up pieces that I have previously managed, but will do so mostly alone. We will be celebrating out 25^th wedding anniversary on Jan 28^th .....and there is a certain upside-down-ness in our being apart on that day. What a statement of love he is making and that I am realizing...being apart in the gift of love. I am so very lucky!

You, my family and friends, have shared portions of our journeys together. I appreciate your interest and your concerns.....your encouragement and your acceptance while not understanding. You each, directly or indirectly, have contributed to my coming to this time of decision. Thank you for who you are and for sharing yourself with me.

In Zen Buddhism, gassho is a term indicating a bow, with hands together, in respect and appreciation to another. And so.....

Gassho and love,

Ann Kugyo Nain (Kugyo is my dharma name given when I became Buddhist. It translates “Gentle reverence”....a quality seen present and also seen to move toward)

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Listening

Listening


Let the sound, unheard and heard, come to you. Sit with It, breathe It, trust It. Experience It. It is here.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Do Your Best

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

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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.

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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

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About Rev Ito...

Kugyo talked about Rev Ito who established Rinzai Hakone Zendo.

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Mountains and Rivers

Kugyo talked mountains and rivers.
You can download and listen to teisho from here.
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Growing into it...

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

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Buddha Nature

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

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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

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大信根 (dai shin kon)

大信根
dai shin kon
だいしんこん

" believing in yourself"

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