PZI Teacher Archives
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Allison Atwill -
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Eduardo Fuentes -
Jesse Cardin -
John Tarrant -
Jon Joseph -
Michelle Riddle -
Tess Beasley
koan types
The Method of Zen
In the evening dharma talk John introduces us to an ancestor in the koan tradition, Dahui Zonggao 大慧宗杲 (Ta-hui Tsung-kao, Daie Soko), 1089-1163 and his disciple Wuzhuo Miaozong (無著妙宗; 1096–1170 CE), Miaozong lived during the Song dynasty and was one of the first nuns to be included in an imperially sanctioned Zen lineage history. The conversation between Dahui and Miaozong is instructive of his early method of using only the head of the koan and become one with it. His method was formulated for his culture like we are for ours.
Going Straight on the Road with 99 Curves
John Tarrant on working with different koan types. Predicament koan—Stone Crypt. Situational—Taking the form of Guanyin. Mysterious—A well that has not been dug. John talks about his early work with koans; tactics and strategies that weren’t working until he found himself laughing at his own mind, “Going straight on the road with 99 curves.” There’s no difference between “Life” and “MY Life.” What we can do for each other is open our hearts and be there together. Recorded January 2014.