PZI Teacher Archives

Freely I Watch the Tracks of the Flying Birds (MK23b)

KOAN:

Freely I watch the tracks of the flying birds.

—PZI Miscellaneous Koans, Case 23b

From Crossing the Brook:

a. Slowly I cross a brook and extinguish its sound.
b. My lazy gaze follows the tracks of the flying birds.

—PZI MK Case 23: Xuedou’s verse following Yunmen’s Good Day koan, Blue Cliff Record Case 6

Audio November 2, 2021

Fall Sesshin 2021: Freely I Watch the Tracks of the Flying Birds

John Tarrant

As recorded on October 22, at PZI Fall Sesshin 2021. Bird tracks and a crane story from long ago in China. Four vows are sung and played by Amaryllis Fletcher & Jordan McConnell. Allison Atwill gives a closing poem.

59' 12"
Audio September 2, 2021

Unexpected Gifts, Unexpected Help Along the Way

John Tarrant

What is the gift of the universe? We receive unexpected help when we are “living down a level,” living things before we construct them. Not constantly consulting your “me,” you open to the invitations and gifts that appear; trusting in the Dao.

67' 28"
Text February 17, 2021

Freely I Watch the Tracks of the Flying Birds

John Tarrant

Everybody, every time, has its own difficulty and crisis. This is ours. We can trust our own lives that brought us here, and perhaps we have something to do here. And we don’t know what that is but we’ll find it as we keep walking. The thing about the meditation path is, I don’t have to think a lot about what’s mine to do. You just give yourself to the meditation, and it’s produced for you. It’s given to you. The path opens by itself, you know. Transcript of PZI Zen Online Sunday Talk with John Tarrant, recorded March 29 2020.

5504 Words
Audio March 29, 2020

Freely I Watch the Tracks of the Flying Birds

John Tarrant

PZI Zen Online Audio: Includes John’s intro and koan, a long meditation segment with Jordan McConnell on guitar. John gives the koan and other guidance throughout the meditation segment followed by a talk and comments. Closing bells, violin, & 4 vows with PZI Cantor Amaryllis Fletcher. As recorded March 29, 2020.

74' 42"

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Visual Artwork December 17, 2017

Bird Disappearing Among Clouds

Allison Atwill

Allison Atwill, “Birds Disappearing Among Clouds,” 2008. Acrylic on birch panel with gold leaf, 36″ x 48″.