PZI Teacher Archives
-
Allison Atwill -
David Parks -
David Weinstein -
Eduardo Fuentes -
Jesse Cardin -
John Tarrant -
Jon Joseph -
Michelle Riddle -
Tess Beasley
Just This Is It
KOAN:
When Dongshan was ready to leave his teacher Yunyan, Dongshan asked, “Later on, if someone asks me if I can depict your reality, or your teaching, how shall I reply?”
Yunyan paused, and then said, “Just this is it.”
When he heard that, Dongshan sank into thought. And Yunyan said, “You are in charge of this great matter. You must be most thoroughgoing.”
Dongshan left Yunyan and was still perplexed; he didn’t quite get it. As he proceeded he was wading across a stream, and seeing his reflection in the water, he had some understanding. He looked down in the stream and saw something, and then he wrote this poem:
‘Just don’t seek from others or you’ll be far estranged from yourself. Now I go on alone, but everywhere I meet it. It now is me; I now am not it. One must understand in this way to merge with suchness.’
—from the Record of Dongshan
Fall Sesshin 2022: Falling Into the Well of Sesshin
Falling into the well of sesshin involves dissolving the you that had the problem. In Zen we are solving things one level down. We all have this ability, though it can be hard to see. John retells Jiashan’s strange journey toward awakening: He was falling and found purchase with an unexpected teacher, the mysterious Boat Monk. Comments and “teach us!” responses from teachers and sangha are included. Complete session from October 5, 2022.
Dharma Theme: Fall Sesshin 2022 – Door After Door Opening Inside
A complete audio record of talks from PZI’s Live-Online Fall Sesshin 2022, October 4-9, 2022.
Fall Sesshin 2021: Not Knowing & the Mysterious, Ungraspable World
What is the world? Just this! Eduardo Fuentes talks about the beautiful, mysterious lives we lead, and how “don’t-know mind” is hidden inside and underneath names and symbols. As recorded at Fall Sesshin, Friday, October 22, 2021.
Changing Places with the Night Sky – Make the Mountains Dance!
Make the Mountains Dance! Enjoy the life you have—side with the wisdom field, side with the koan. All of life is solved already. What do I do next? Keep meditating!
Special Program: 4 Teachers & 4 Boundless Vows: Opening Words – with John Tarrant
John Tarrant’s welcome and introduction to a special program on The Four Boundless Vows and the Bodhisattva path. We are each in the true temple; it’s always happening here, and everyone holds it. Meditation and opening words: the beauty of practice and of the path, the way we teach through stories in Zen, and inclusion of the Daoist view that “the world does fine on its own.” Excerpt from the Sunday session recorded August 1, 2021.
Excerpt: Small Kindnesses – Journey Into Awakening
PZI Zen Online: Excerpt from Journey Into Awakening. John Tarrant reads Naomi Nye’s famous poem, Kindness. Losing everything to find it. Every day small kindnesses open into the silence. The universe is so rich in destinations that you are always already in one! As recorded Nov 29 2020. 21 minutes.
The Journey Into Awakening: Kindnesses in Your Wild Temple
People go to wild places to find their true nature. The wild is here, right now, in your own wild temple. Anything can happen in the wildness of now. Small kindnesses open into the silence. The universe is so rich in destinations and you are already in one! The beauty of gathering for meditation in difficult times. Music from Jordan McConnell, Amaryllis Fletcher. PZI Zen Online. Complete session as recorded Nov. 29, 2020. 60 minutes.
Freely I Watch the Tracks of the Flying Birds
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.
