Dongshan's Three Paths
KOAN:
A teacher asked a pilgrim, “Where have you come from?”
“From Dongshan’s,” replied the pilgrim.
“What does Dongshan teach?”
“He usually teaches in three ways.”
“What are they?”
“The dark way, the bird path, and the open hand.”
– from The Record of Dongshan
The Open Hand Way
Audio PZI Zen Online – David Parks with the 3rd of his zoom sessions on The Bird Path. Returns to the question: Where are you coming from? What we come out of in this time. Where we change our focus. As recorded May 14 2020.
Where Are You Coming From?
“Where are you coming from?” What is is like to be you right now in Covid-19 lockdown? Navigating sadness, loss, looming poverty, and loneliness. PZI Zen Online. Audio as recorded May 7, 2020.
The Bird Path
John says birds open the sky for us when we watch them fly—everything just appears, and then is gone, with no trace. If we trust whatever appears, that’s a taste of the bird path. Might it be true that no matter what, you’re not having the wrong moment, that you don’t have to disapprove? When it’s difficult, it’s good to know that it’s for us, it’s ours. Life is blessing us all the time. Our thinking and feeling “This isn’t it,” is what we call loneliness. John talks about how our practice asks us, “What’s it like to be alive, to be me? What’s it like to be a tree? A bird? What if I’m a fire? What if I’m river?” My mind and the universe—not much difference.
The Dark Way
John Tarrant gives a talk at the 2017 Summer sesshin. Evening of July 17, 2017.
Settling into Retreat
Rachel Boughton gives a talk at the Summer 2017 sesshin. Morning of July 18, 2017.
Precious Inconvenience
John Tarrant gives a talk at the 2017 Summer sesshin. Evening of July 16, 2017.
