PZI Teacher Archives
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Allison Atwill -
David Parks -
David Weinstein -
Eduardo Fuentes -
Jesse Cardin -
John Tarrant -
Jon Joseph -
Michelle Riddle -
Tess Beasley
Guanyin
The Smell of Fresh Toast & the Enchantment of the World
“What is this?” asked the eccentric Zen teacher Budai, holding up odd objects to a crowd. The universe is an intimate net, its jeweled facets contain everything, including the smell of fresh toast. All living beings must turn toward the ultimate. This is deeper than any sorrow, horror, disgrace. The strangeness and beauty of now, of life, is beyond explanation. And this moment has always been here.
The Smell of Fresh Toast & the Enchantment of the World
“What is this?” asked the eccentric Zen teacher Budai, holding up odd objects to a crowd. The universe is an intimate net, its jeweled facets contain everything, including the smell of fresh toast. All living beings must turn toward the ultimate. This is deeper than any sorrow, horror, disgrace. The strangeness and beauty of now, of life, is beyond explanation. And this moment has always been here.
Dahui’s Journey, Bodhidharma’s Response, & the Marvelous Duke
So, if you stop being afraid, if you stop being wonderful, if you stop being charming, if we stop charming each other, we’re just here in the vastness with no agenda, and that’s the Daoism that’s at the core of Chan. Emptiness is here. That’s what I think is a good thing.
Make Yourself a Raft Intro: A 6-Part Series on Group Facilitation
When we lead a group in the PZI tradition, we offer ourselves to something larger. Our small identity falls away to reveal a vessel that can ferry all beings deeper into the mystery of this life we share. This is no easy task. I’m pleased to offer an online 6-part training and support series for group facilitators. In the interest of maintaining focus, this series will be limited to those who are actively facilitating koan salons and cohort groups, or who plan to do so imminently.
Make Yourself a Raft: Sitting in the Leader’s Seat Part 2 of 6 Part Series on Group Facilitation
For our second session, I’d like us to shine our light on the experience of sitting in the Leader’s Seat. I spoke briefly last time about the facilitator’s role in maintaining the vessel. In this next session, I’d like to dive deeper into the experience of doing that.
Throughout the Six Realms, All Beings Are Free
In one story about Guanyin, our patron saint of compassion, her head literally explodes when she tries to contemplate the suffering of all the beings left in hell. Fortunately, future-buddha Amitabha comes along and gives her more heads. But then when she tries to help, her arms explode too! So he gives her a thousand arms. Sunday Zen from June 19, 2023.
Dharma Theme: Home and Not Home
It is the Chan way to understand that the fullness of life resides in us, and the experience of life, whatever it is, is all for you. Our task is to have the life we have.
Ikkyu’s Well & The Miscellaneous Koans
Images of water are deep in the meditation tradition. There is the notion that water nourishes us and holds us, and that the Dao flows like water and always finds the Way. Whatever blocks the river, the Dao dissolves it or will move around it. That’s the quality of meditation.
Hearing the Sounds of the World
We don’t need to turn away from the world and we don’t have to find a place to stand. Our listening and our presence operate below the level at which we usually manage things. So that is the hearing aspect of this koan. Just let hearing have you. This koan can be carried everywhere with you. Complete Sunday Zen session.
Where Do You Go, Oh Where Do You Go When You Die?
Article by John Tarrant for Lion’s Roar magazine. A traditional Chan way to approach the question of death is to stroll, stumble, hurry, struggle, fall accidentally through the gates of samadhi—the deep concentration of meditation—and look around. When you really enter this moment, it has no end, no beginning; it is older than the universe that seems to contain it. Then it will inevitably occur to you: “I’ve always been here.”
The Way of Flirting
John Tarrant introduces a modern bodhisattva of compassion found in Mike Leigh’s latest film, Happy-Go-Lucky. How does the bodhisattva of great compassion use all those hands and eyes? It’s like reaching behind you for a pillow in the night.
Surprises on the Way: Article by John Tarrant
Meditation offers a path out of the burning house, without abandoning the promise and good-heartedness of being human. Practice is the last best hope of living up to that good-heartedness, the only thing that never hurts and usually helps. And even at the beginning of the meditation path, on a good day it’s exciting. It actually makes you happy.
Dragons of the Blue Cliff Retreat – Part 2: Hands & Eyes
How does the bodhisattva of compassion use all those hands and eyes? How do I express Guanyin? How is Guanyin showing up in my life? John Tarrant’s afternoon meditation & talk, Part 2 of this two-session Dragons of the Blue Cliff 1-Day Retreat. In the PZI Digital Temple, as recorded June 6, 2021.
Dragons of the Blue Cliff Retreat – Part 1: Hands & Eyes
How does the bodhisattva of compassion use all those hands and eyes? In some way, through the vastness of hands and eyes, the koan speaks of the vast currents of the universe that carry and hold us. John Tarrant’s morning meditation & talk, Part 1 of this two-session Dragons of the Blue Cliff 1-Day Retreat. In the PZI Digital Temple, as recorded June 6, 2021.
Audio Excerpt: Awakening Is Participation in Every Moment of Life
PZI Zen Online: Audio excerpt from Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon, Michelle Riddle’s Talk, “Earth.” Compassion is receptive earth. It does not have one face, nor is it driving or pitying. It erupts within us. It allows barriers to fall, and in that way it is the ground on which we stand, the heart and soul of awakening. As recorded August 9 2020.
Saving Houses: Fiery Guanyin – with Allison Atwill
Saving houses from fire: Allison Atwill Roshi’s stories of fiery compassion and radiance. Audio excerpt from Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon, recorded August 30, 2020.
Audio Excerpt: Guanyin Air & Breath Arising with Sarah Bender
PZI Zen Online: Audio excerpt from Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon. Sarah Bender Roshi contemplates the call and response of compassionate exchanges. Air as breath of life. Anchored in the Heart Sutra. Dream of a room, barely there, full of gifts for all times and places. As recorded August 23 2020.
The Great Temple Fire & Nothing Destroyed with Allison Atwill
Fire & Radiance with Allison Atwill Roshi. Audio excerpt from Guanyin in the Pavilion under the August Moon, recorded August 30, 2020.
Audio Excerpt: Water Moon Guanyin with Tess Beasley
Audio excerpt from Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon. Tess Beasley Sensei and the winged pavilion of summer. The various ways compassion can manifest. Water offers compassion at unfathomable depths and in reflections. As recorded Aug 16 2020.
Fiery, Radiant Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon with Allison Atwill Roshi
Fiery Guanyin in the butterfly tent with open wings. Allison reminds us of all the elemental manifestations of Guanyin as Space, Earth, Water, Air, and, finally, Fire. Guanyin manifests solutions from unseen space in any situation that is deemed unfixable. Complete session recorded from August 30, 2020, with Michael Wilding on flute.
Guanyin’s Breath in the Pavilion Under the August Moon with Sarah Bender Roshi
Audio: PZI Zen Online – Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon with Sarah Bender Roshi manifesting Guanyin as air with ‘Breath Sweeps Mind’ and the call and response we employ meeting her compassionate nature. Appropriate response is Guanyin’s territory. Fayan’s …’the fresh breeze that arises when the great burden is set down.’ Sarah presents her field notes on Guanyin as wind, breath, release, and the Sutra of Endless Life. Michael Wilding on flute, Ryan McCoy on 4 vows, vocals and guitar. As recorded August 23 2020
Guanyin’s Watery Nature in the Pavilion Under the August Moon with Tess Beasley
Audio: Guanyin in the Pavilion with Tess Beasley. Guanyin’s watery nature. Water: ‘the softest compound that can overwhelm the hardest’. Compassion dissolves and connects us. The ‘call and response’ of our relationship to Guanyin. A force greater than any striving. Like Buddha at the brink of starvation opening to the offering of milk. We can’t know how she will call us or what our response will be. The great intimacy & spaciousness of abiding nowhere together. She enters when we need a new path. Michael Wilding on flute, Jordan McConnell guitar, Amaryllis Fletcher, Cantor on violin. Aug.16 2020.
Guanyin Touches the Earth – In the Pavilion Under the August Moon with Michelle Riddle Sensei
Audio – PZI Zen Online – Guanyin in the Pavilion with Michelle Riddle Sensei -Touching earth as Guanyin. Falling – Layman Pang and his daughter Ling Zhao fall together. The subtle and varied flavor of Guanyin’s manifestations – her/his shape/form/gender shifting qualities. As recorded August 9 2020. Michael Wilding on flute, Jordan Guitar. Amaryllis Fletcher, violin.
Audio Excerpt: Kindnesses and the Appearance of Guanyin, with Michelle Riddle
PZI Zen Online: Audio excerpt from Guanyin in the Pavilion Under the August Moon. Michelle Riddle Sensei reflects on the kindnesses that appear as Guanyin, as she shifts the ground of suffering throughout our lives. Her quality of welcome. As recorded August 2 2020.
Audio Excerpt: The Surprise of Guanyin with Allison Atwill
PZI Zen Online: Audio excerpt from Guanyin In the Pavilion Under the August Moon. Allison Atwill Roshi introduces the surprise of Guanyin – anything can happen when the Goddess appears, she has no fixed form. As recorded August 2 2020.
All Those Hands and Eyes
John talks about the warm intimacy of the ‘the dark’ – the uncolonized zone where koans work with us. Intimacy in teachings is used often as an equivalent for enlightenment. Koans open gates and bring us inside that mystery. Some categories of koans: Predicament koans, Heart Changing koans, Inquiry koans and more.
Not Knowing Is Most Intimate
Using the koans Not Knowing is Most Intimate and Taking the Form of Guan Yin Find Shelter for the Homeless Person, John Tarrant talks about the intimacy that comes when we turn toward vulnerability and no longer need to defend against life.