June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

[Daijo]

Re: June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

Thank you Jundo! It's been awhile since I've participated in the full 4 hour Zazenkai, so I have to admit I took a break :cry: before the 3rd session began. I thank you for your Koan explanations, they were very non-thought provoking. I hope your nieces fellow survived without any permanent damage. j/k

Gassho,

Chuck

[Shokai]

Re: June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

Thank you to all who sat and will be sitting
And, Jundo, thank you for your skillful means of teaching us beginners. You reminded me of when i used to tell the kids to listen to the radio in their head when they asked to use their walkman* when camping. Also remember, when you turn the soil to kill the weeds, you cultivate all the seeds in that soil. :roll: :lol:

* What's an Ipod? :shock: 8)

[Gary]

Re: June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

Thank you Jundo, the talk was very helpful, thank you to your visitors and all who sat.

Big Gassho
Gary

[Nenka]

Re: June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

I've been wondering . . . where is the "sound of one hand clapping" koan, anyway? Or the "if a tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound" one? I've never come across either of them in a book of koans.

Anyway, thanks to all who sat, or will.

Gassho

Jen

[Jundo]

Re: June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

I've been wondering . . . where is the "sound of one hand clapping" koan, anyway? Or the "if a tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound" one? I've never come across either of them in a book of koans.

Anyway, thanks to all who sat, or will.

Gassho

Jen

Hi Jen,

I believe that "what is the sound of one hand clapping" is actually a Koan created by the great Rinzai Master Hakuin, although he did not use that exact phrase ...

The master wrote about "one hand" and Kannon Bosatsu, or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva as depicted in Japan -- "'Kannon' means to observe a sound. It is the sound of one hand. If you understand this point you will be awakened. When your eyes can see, the whole world is Kannon."

He also said, "When you hear for yourself the voice of One Hand, whatever you are doing, whether enjoying a bowl of rice or sipping a cup of tea, all of it you do in the samadhi of living with one bestowed with the buddha-mind."

http://buddhism.about.com/od/whoswhoinb ... hakuin.htm

'Tis (as Taigu recently wrote) a "soundless sound" ... the sound heard by the ears without ears ... the sound you hear everywhere yet without a "you" to hear "it" ...

The other question, however, about "a tree falling in the forest" is not a Koan by origin... but just a Western philosophical conundrum, only a little more serious than "if my dog meows, is it my cat"?.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_tree_ ... n_a_forest

Gassho, J

[Myozan Kodo]

Re: June 2nd, 2012- OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

Hi Jundo,
Thanks for the Zazenkai. What a crowd! This Zen thing is catchin' on.
Gassho
Myozan