PZI Teacher Archives

What Is This? (BCR51)

KOAN:

What is this?

—PZI Inquiry Koan

Video March 3, 2023

What Is This? An Ancient Question

John Tarrant

What is this? is an ancient question—it holds our whole lives. That wondering is the essence of what it is to be human. If you allow wonder into a hard time, it will change it. The attempt to discover something is where the question or problem will change.

65' 30"
Video February 24, 2023

The Vows with Amaryllis and Jesse

Amaryllis Fletcher, Jesse Cardin

From a Sunday Zen session with John Tarrant (What Is This?): Amaryllis plays a violin intro for Jesse’s rendition of the Four Vows on bongos and vocals. 3-minute clip recorded February 19, 2023.

2' 50"
Video January 17, 2023

Great Silence at the Beginning: Arriving Here! Silence All Around Us

Tess Beasley

Entering into great silence. What is appearing, in this new year? A guided meditation with Tess Beasley from the first Sunday Zen session of the new year. Recorded January 8, 2023. 5 minutes.

6' 2"
Video February 19, 2020

Every Day Is a Good Day

John Tarrant

Yunmen said, “Before or after the full moon, every day is a good day!” The light of sesshin infuses us. In a “good day” the light is in you, just how it is—this is not an achievement, you are in the gift of the universe. The tenderness of the good day. Our whole lives opening to now. You can’t bully the Dao, it’s bigger than you! Not getting in the way of life. Also: Dreams, Linji’s death, and more. Video recorded in Winter Sesshin 2020.

50' 7"
Video February 8, 2020
0' 0"
Video February 2, 2020

Australia Is Burning

John Tarrant

John Tarrant speaks of fire sirens and the Queensland Magpie singing, and walks us through the ancient forests he knew as a child. How do we live the life we live in the face of this vast change? What is this? As recorded in Winter Session 2020.

0' 0"
Video February 2, 2020

Linji’s Was I at Fault or Not?

Jon Joseph

Revisiting the big koans on his personal path: What is being a teacher? What is succession? Jon talks about Linji’s path to enlightenment – his teachers Huangbo and Daiyu conspire to help him. Jon reflects on his recent visit to Japan and the Chan zendo in Kamakura, his warmth and gratitude for Yamada and his teachings. Our ancestors in the Chan lineage.

45' 31"
Video February 2, 2020

What Is This?

John Tarrant

John Tarrant discusses the surprisingly complex inquiry koan which lies at the heart of Zen practice.

32' 37"