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the 4 rules from the late Master Sheng Yen
Jia shared the 4 rules from the late Master Sheng Yen of the Dharma Drum Mountain: 四要：需要、想要、能要、該要。When you wish for something, ask yourself these fourquestions: Is it needed? Is it wanted? Is it obtainable?Is it advisable? 四感：感恩、感謝、感化、感動。The four attitudes to take towards others: grateful,thankful, transforming, and inspiring. 四福：知福、惜福、培福、種福。The four keys to good fortune: know what…
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Mindfulness provides incredible freedom
Shared by Jing It provides the ability to question the accuracy of the perception provide the ability to respond to the feeling/emotion rather than react. It helps me to understand the truth, sometimes we display good qualities, sometimes bad. Sometimes the output looks like success, sometimes failure. But we are not defined by these qualities…
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What is “Mu”?
Shared by Ann. Mu is a koan associated with Rinzai zen. In one story associated with this koan, a monk asks a teacher whether a dog has buddha nature, and the response is “Mu!” – (No). Later, the monks ask the teacher the same question and get the opposite answer – “Yes”! (Note: this article references a book focused on…
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Omotenashi おもてなし
Shared by Kaz Omotenashi has been part of Japanese culture for a long time. Omote means front, nashi means nothing. Omotenashi means from the bottom of the heart, sincere. Omotenashi is an important concept from the tea ceremony which is closely related to zen. The host who is serving tea and the guest are treating…
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Don’t try to ride two horses at the same time
Talk by Ann From Daily Sutras （禅宗日課聖典） Know! You are the Light itself Rely on yourself Do not rely on others. The Dharma is the Light Rely on the Dharma Do not rely on anything other than the Dharma. Rev Ito, the founder of our zendo, used to tell Ann, “Don’t try to ride two…
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色即是空・空即是色
shiki soku zekuu ・kuu soku zeshiki Shared by Jia This calligraphy by Rev Ito hangs in our zendo. Jia shared the meaning of this phrase. 色即是空・空即是色 is a phrase from the Heart Sutra(般若心経). It means Form is Emptiness, and Emptiness is Form. Emptiness is a crucial concept in Zen. To me, it has two folds of…
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