2015

Steven Grant presents on Ruther Fuller Sasaki as part of the Women N Zen series.

Starting in the moment of “now”, David discusses the ancient zen master Dongshan, who wrote the koans taught during this sesshin.

John Tarrant gives a talk in October 2015.

John Tarrant gives a talk in October 2015.

“Two swords are crossed, there’s no way to retreat; you’re a lotus in the fire, you can’t help it – you’re determined to go higher.” John talks about the concept of enlightenment and serenity, and managing to love and appreciate the inner life of the mind.

“Not deciding it is or isn’t, do you have the courage to be at peace with this? Everyone wants to leave the endless changes, but when we finish bending and fitting our lives we come back to sit by the fire.”

John continues to discuss the 5th koan in the enlightenment cycle, focusing on the concept of “not deciding it is or it isn’t,” and discusses the “method” of zen.

“Not deciding it is or it isn’t, do you have the courage to be at peace with this? Everyone wants to leave the endless changes, but when we finish bending and fitting our lives, we come back to sit by the charcoal fire.”

During the final night of the 2015 January sesshin, the teachers have a conversation about identity, art, intimacy, and the nature of koan study.

Rachel Boughton talks about the lists of our lives at the Santa Rosa Creek Zendo, July 20th 2015.

“For twenty years I’ve suffered bitterly – how many times have I gone into the cave of the Blue Dragon for you?”

Jon Joseph talks about the difficult struggle of life, and suggests that even in the midst of the hardest struggle there is a beauty, and a sort of redemption in the realization that the struggle is not separate – but a part of the whole package of existence.

Rachel Boughton, at the June-July sesshin held at Land of Medicine Buddha, talks hackers, privacy, and zen koans in an age of technology.

“We go to wild places in search of our self-nature, looking in the darkness of the tall grasses of abandoned places. Now, honored ones, where is your self-nature when you are searching for your self-nature?”

David Weinstein talks about culture and ideas, and recounts stories of enlightening adventures.

John Tarrant talks about the relationship between student and teacher, as well as the relationship between the student and her self.

Speaking about Dongshan’s Each Stitch koan, Allison tells a story of recognizing awakening can come from anywhere when we can truly inhabit life as our own.

“Late one night, you decide to visit the family graveside, where (as a point of somewhat snobbish pride) your family’s personal tomb resides…” During the 2015 summer Sesshin at Land of Medicine Buddha in Southern California, John Tarrant talks friends, the feverish scheming and planning of the mind, and the predicaments faced in life.

On Friday evening, the last night of the October 2015 sesshin, all the teachers weigh in.