PZI Teacher Archives
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Allison Atwill -
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Jesse Cardin -
John Tarrant -
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Michelle Riddle -
Tess Beasley
Baling’s Blown-Hair Sword (MK74c)(BCR100)
KOAN:
What is the blown-hair sword?
Each branch of coral holds up the moon.
—PZI Miscellaneous Koans Case 74c & Blue Cliff Record Case 100 (PZI version)
Note: Third of Baling Haojian’s Three Barriers, PZI MK Case 74
See also: Baling’s Coral Moon, transl. by John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland)
Dragons of the Blue Cliff Retreat – Part 2: Hands & Eyes
How does the bodhisattva of compassion use all those hands and eyes? How do I express Guanyin? How is Guanyin showing up in my life? John Tarrant’s afternoon meditation & talk, Part 2 of this two-session Dragons of the Blue Cliff 1-Day Retreat. In the PZI Digital Temple, as recorded June 6, 2021.
Coral Moon
Allison Atwill, “Coral Moon,” 2013. Acrylic on birch panel with silver leaf, 30″ x 40″.
The Power of Koan Practice
Those who have used koans have described them as a poetic technology for bringing about awakening, a painful but effective gate into the consciousness of the Buddha, an easy method of integrating awakening into everyday life, the most frustrating thing they have ever done, an appalling waste of time, a tyranny perpetrated by Zen masters… Well, you get the idea — about koans, opinions differ. Article by John Tarrant published in Shambhala Sun magazine, May 1 2003.
Each Branch of Coral Holds Up The Moon
Roshi John Tarrant gives the third of three koans for Bare Bones retreat. The head of the koan is: “What is the sharpest sword or the sword which will cut even the finest piece of hair in two?” The response to the question is, “Each branch of coral holds up the moon.” February 22, 2013.
Each Branch of Coral Holds Up the Moon
Allison Atwill Sensei describes the making of her amazing art piece inspired by the koan, “Each Branch of Coral Holds Up the Moon.” January 24, 2013.