PZI Teacher Archives
-
Allison Atwill -
David Parks -
David Weinstein -
Eduardo Fuentes -
Jesse Cardin -
John Tarrant -
Jon Joseph -
Michelle Riddle -
Tess Beasley
Changsha Wandering in the Mountains (BCR36)
KOAN:
One day Changsha went wandering in the mountains. When he returned, the head of practice met him at the gate and asked, “Where have you been?”
“Wandering in the mountains.”
“Where did you go?”
“I went out following scented grasses and returned chasing falling blossoms.” “That’s so much the feeling of spring,” said the head of practice.
“Still, it’s better than autumn dew dripping on lotus flowers,” said Changsha.
Xuedou comments: “Thanks for your reply.”
—Blue Cliff Record Case 36 (transl. by John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland)
I Went Out Following the Scented Grass
Sensei Allison Atwill gives a teaching on an old teaching story, a koan, handed down from more than a thousand years ago in China. Changsha was a student of Nanchuan and he was a contemporary of many great teachers, Linji and Zhaozhou among them. It was the golden age of Zen Buddhism. Recorded June 29, 2012.
Death Poem
Roshi David Weinstein continues with the koan for Summer sesshin, “Where have you been?” “I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling blossoms.” June 26, 2012.
Stepping Through a Door
Roshi John Tarrant presents on the koan, “Where have you been?” “I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling blossoms.” Going on retreat is like stepping through a door. You never know what you will find on the other side of the door: scented grass, falling blossoms, or the vastness. June 28, 2012.
Where Have You Been?
Opening night dharma talk Summer sesshin on the koan “Where have you been?” “Wandering about the hills. I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling blossoms.” June 24, 2012.