not knowing
Knock on Any Door: Daoist Masters & Zen Koans
“Great understanding is broad and unhurried. Small understanding is cramped and busy.” I don’t know if that’s true, but it kinda sounds good. “No other and no self, no self and no distinctions” – that’s almost it. But I don’t know what makes it this way. I think this is one of the cool things about what Daoism brought to Zen. Nobody knows what makes things this way. And we don’t pretend that.
When All Buddhas Destroyed – What Remains?
PZI Zen Online: Zhaozhou said, “Clay Buddhas cannot pass through water; metal Buddhas cannot pass through a furnace; wooden Buddhas cannot pass through fire.” Which Buddha survives? The mid loves its ideas, structures, concepts and so does society. Some of those constructs are always dissolving. Discomfort of change in society norms and our own personal norms. As recorded June 10, 2020.
‘Not Knowing Is Most Intimate’ – Book of Serenity
John Tarrant at Fall Sesshin 2019 – Being lost or between places is a fundamental human predicament. Being lost delivers you to yourself with an unknown outcomes. The teacher takes away the student’s need to know what’s unfolding on his pilgrimage. Zen likes predicaments as signs that things want to change.
‘Talking About the Deepest Matters’
John shares his interest in investigations onto reality – inquiry koans, koan types. The Watou of zen stories and more recorded at winter Sesshin January 2020.
‘10,000 feet Down, The Stone’ – PZI Zen Online – Recorded April 5th
John takes us further into our recent lockdown descent, into the Sea of Ilse, 10,000 feet down to the single stone there. it is a predicament koan that interrupts the usual ways of navigating. As recorded on Zen Online April 5th: includes meditation segments, John’s talk and koan, some closing music and teacher participants’ insights.
Settling in to Retreat
Rachel Boughton gives a talk at the Summer 2017 sesshin. Morning of July 18, 2017.