PZI Events Calendar
W E L C O M E to the PZI Events Calendar! Here you will find all upcoming events and registration links for PZI Zen Online retreats, sesshins, and weekly meditations & talks. Search by individual event, day, or month. Save to your Google Calendar or iCal Calendar. No experience required to participate. All event times are Pacific Time. Questions? Contact Lucas at PZI Support.
F E A T U R E D
May 7–10: Say A True Word & I Will Stay The Night – Open Mind Retreat with John Tarrant, Tess Beasley, & Allison Atwill
May 17: Sunday Zen with John Tarrant, Allison Atwill & Tess Beasley
June 8–14: Dragons & Tigers, Oh My! – Our Great Summer Sesshin with John Tarrant & PZI Teachers
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TUESDAY ZEN with David Weinstein: Coral Moonlight
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Baling’s Three Turning Words
What is Zen?
Snow in a silver bowl.
What is the Way?
The clearly enlightened person falls into a well.
What is the blown-hair sword?
Each branch of coral holds up the moon.
Having spent time with the clearly enlightened person falling into a well and then with each branch of coral holding up the moon, I suppose it was only natural for snow in a silver bowl to come along to complete the triptych of Baling’s Three Turning Words. The refuge vows also came along to join in the conversation. Perhaps Yunmen also appreciated the parallel.
At the time, it was the custom to present a poem to your teacher when you had an awakening experience. Instead of a poem, Baling offered these three koans to his teacher. Yunmen responded, “On the anniversary of my death, just recite these three turning words, and you will have repaid my kindness in full.”
For me, the first of the refuge vows, taking refuge in awakening, is the first of Baling’s turning words. You might ask yourself, ”What is it about the image of snow in a silver bowl that could be about awakening?”
The second refuge vow, taking refuge in the Way, is kind of a no-brainer. The Way is a clearly enlightened person falling into a well. You might ask yourself, “What is it about a clearly enlightened person falling into a well that is the Way?”
And finally, the third refuge vow, taking refuge in my companions/community. Again, you might ask yourself, “What is it about each branch of coral holding up the moon that speaks to taking refuge in community?”
I will be continuing to ask myself these questions and we all will have the opportunity to share the results on Tuesday.
—David Weinstein
COME JOIN US on Tuesdays for koan meditation, dharma talk and conversation.
Register to participate. All are welcome.
David Weinstein Roshi, Director of Rockridge Meditation Community
