Zen for me was like encountering some carnal primordial dance training. The whole life was a choreographed dance. We came to the training, confused, awkward, couldn’t get ourselves going in one direction. We were scattered, lost. And then we’d see someone wash their bowls, and it was like the world turned to flame. To…
Musings on Sourcepoint: Birth of the Heart Sutra
O Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness, that which is emptiness form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. From Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra (The Heart Sutra) Where does energy end and form begin? What are these bodies? Why do…
Leading and Following: How Densu Taught Me How to Be with People
When I became Densu, I learned to lead the chants during the morning ceremonies. But I did not know that it would teach me how to be with people. This post is a bit about that process. I think it will be helpful for young monks and hopefully for people who have no interest in…
Bob Dylan, Folk Songs, Koans, and the Transmission of Art
Today I was listening to Bob Dylan’s lecture to the Nobel foundation (it is a requirement for all winners to give a lecture), hearing him talk about his formative time as an artist, playing music in small venues and on the streets to tiny crowds. That time shaped his artistic vision, and I was struck…
Breaking Through: Sublime and Natural
Lately, quite a few zen practitioners have asked me about breakthrough. Is it real? Is it possible? Does anyone really break through? What does it mean? I am writing this post to inspire those who have heard about breakthrough and find it mysterious and seemingly impossible. I am here to put my two cents in….
Tips for wild energy
I have been in lots of workshops lately involving energy work, and in every workshop there are a couple of people going through some intense energetic issues. There are many forms that these issues take. From shaking, to headaches, ears ringing, incredible anxiousness, or spontaneous uncontrollable movements. I usually try to assure them that things…
Everything is Relating
“There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha Way.” ~ Dogen Zenji (1200-1253) In this blog post I would like to talk a bit about relating. I am constantly looking for someone writing about stuff like this and I don’t find it. There is a very dynamic push…
Butterfly Wings, Wings of Tanden
Getting the energy in our bodies flowing for us, not against us, is a complete practice in itself. There is no need to come up with complicated techniques. Rather, to feel our bodies and experience how to allow them to naturally open up to the energy moving through them is a beautiful organic fascinating never…
Out Walking In
A friend of ours recently got us Fitbits. So I have been doing a lot more walking lately. I have been walking to work and back, taking nightly walks, getting more and more into it. It takes me back to many hours walking the mountains around Okayama in my twenties. Walking has always been…
Never Learn Anything from Anyone
“Do not follow in the footsteps of the ancient ones. Seek what they sought.” Matsuo Basho Let’s go deeper into process. It seems like the readers are interested in this topic. So I thought I would focus more on how to get into our own process. As far as I am concerned, we can’t learn…
