2012

John Tarrant shares final thoughts on practice and trusting the light within while in conversation with retreatants. Enjoy the singing of the Tree Frogs.

Roshi John Tarrant opens Sesshin with a Koan by Linji: “Whatever confronts you, don’t believe it. Have faith in this light that is always functioning inside you.” February 19, 2012.

Sensei Allison Atwill gives a teaching on an old teaching story, a koan, handed down from more than a thousand years ago in China. Changsha was a student of Nanchuan and he was a contemporary of many great teachers, Linji and Zhaozhou among them. It was the golden age of Zen Buddhism. Recorded June 29, 2012.

Roshi David Weinstein continues with the koan for Summer sesshin, “Where have you been?” “I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling blossoms.” June 26, 2012.

The koan of the Autumn Moon retreat is from one of the great teachers Yun Men. The student asks the teacher, “What is a teaching that will last a whole lifetime?” and the teacher responds, “Say something in response.” October 14, 2012.

Roshi John Tarrant presents on the koan, “Where have you been?” “I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling blossoms.” Going on retreat is like stepping through a door. You never know what you will find on the other side of the door: scented grass, falling blossoms, or the vastness. June 28, 2012.

The Koan presented by John Tarrant to begin retreat: “Whatever confronts you, don’t believe it. Trust in the light within and shine your light on it.” David Weinstein leads an exploration of the opposite of believing in the light. This exploration comes at the Koan from an opposite but not necessarily contrary approach. Enjoy shining the light of your awareness into what you believe, and seeing through it. February 21, 2012.

On day two of Autumn Moon retreat, John continues with the great Koan from Yun Men. He focuses on the tail of the koan: “The teacher says to the student, ‘Say something in response.'” Yun Men or Cloud Gate is at the center of the tradition of Koan study, and this Koan is presented in the Blue Cliff Record. October 5, 2012.

Opening night dharma talk Summer sesshin on the koan “Where have you been?” “Wandering about the hills. I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling blossoms.” June 24, 2012.

Soaking in the meditation bath with other students of the way is the topic of this dharma talk. October 17, 2012.

John Tarrant gives a dharma talk on the Bodhisattva of Compassion who has a thousand arms and hands with an eye in each palm. October 17, 2012.

David Weinstein gives a dharma talk on noticing our bodies while we swim or exercise. October 16, 2012.