PZI Teacher Archives

Baling

Text March 29, 2023

A Dog’s Life

John Tarrant

John tells a story about dogs and Buddha nature upon the death of a beloved dog: Animals have their own large awareness in which we can share. Meditation is one way to do this. It resets the mind to zero and we stop waving our arms about so much, and we enter a communion with the universe. 

1531 Words
Audio October 24, 2022

Fall Sesshin 2022: Falling Into the Well of Sesshin

John Tarrant

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.

41' 20"
Audio October 24, 2022

Fall Sesshin 2022: Allowing the Fall

Allison Atwill

On entering a great sesshin, what is the tone? A quiet, receptive sense of modesty and humility, a humility of the earth, fallen into like Psyche into the underworld. Allowing the fall and encountering whatever appears, whatever one meets, is essential. Complete sesshin from October 5, 2022.

36' 30"
Audio October 24, 2022

Fall Sesshin 2022: Falling with the Koan NO

John Tarrant

When you are falling, there is not a lot you can do about it, but you are no longer constrained by your usual preoccupations. Awakening, too, is in the category of things you can’t do anything about. Sesshin’s Gate 3 is NO—or Mu—the famous dharmakaya koan that opens the body of reality. NO casts away all the consciousness you have had until now. Music with Jordan McConnell, closing words with Allison Atwill from the story of The Little Prince. Complete session recorded October 6, 2022.

54' 13"
Audio October 24, 2022

Fall Sesshin 2022: Falling with NO

John Tarrant

When you are falling, there is not a lot you can do about it, but you are no longer constrained by your usual preoccupations. Awakening too, is in the category of things you can’t do anything about. The apparatus of certainty is circumvented and the universe is manifesting and unfolding through us. Excerpt from a sesshin dharma talk recorded October 6, 2022.

19' 40"
Audio February 10, 2021

Guided Meditation with Jon Joseph: Falling into a Well

Jon Joseph

Jon Joseph Roshi gives an overview, then the koan “What is the Way?” leading into meditation with Baling’s “A clearly enlightened person falls into a well.” Or does a well fall into that person? Audio excerpt as recorded Feb. 1 2021, PZI Zen Online. 28 minutes.

29' 4"
Audio February 3, 2021

Through Winter Silence: Dreaming the Koan – Snow in a Silver Bowl

David Parks

Winter Sesshin: Through Winter Silence into the New Light – audio excerpt. David Parks recounts a personal dream encounter with “Snow in a silver bowl.” As recorded on January 16, 2021. 7 minutes.

7' 11"
Audio February 3, 2021

Through Winter Silence: The Call of Your Own Life

Allison Atwill

Winter Sesshin: Through Winter Silence into the New Light – audio excerpt from Allison Atwill’s dharma talk, recorded January 16, 2021.

2' 34"
Audio February 3, 2021

Through Winter Silence: This Is Happening

Allison Atwill

Winter Sesshin: Through Winter Silence into the New Light – audio excerpt from a dharma talk with Allison Atwill. The tale of a harrowing solo voyage around Cape Horn reminds us of our capacity to turn the boat toward the real. As recorded January 16, 2021.

3' 30"