Zen
Such is the clear and precise doctrine that reveals the true monk. There is no place in this doctrine for berating about the bush. You fire at the bulls-eye without hesitation If you don’t agree, check it out for yourself. Whether an escaped bull charges or the sky falls, we do not budge. What exists, exists; what does not exist, does not exist. What one can do, one does; what one can’t do, one doesn’t do. One does what should be done and doesn’t do what should not. Thoughts and actions are clear and distinct. This is what’s meant by a precise and specific doctrine. It’s the profound conviction that what one says is the truth and that this truth is eternal.
Kodo Sawaki
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What is Zen?
Kobun once told me that people mistakenly think that Zen is about meditation. He said “it includes meditation, but it’s mostly about cleaning up.” When you learn to bring awareness to all your activities, it makes no differences what you do. You bring total awareness to what you are doing, you are not multi-tasking.
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My Training.
I’ve had the great fortune of having great teachers throughout my life as well as good allies and friends. Teachers are found in many forms including the family Doctor who one day looked me straight in the eye and said, “I hope you remember that someone with your extraordinary abilities has extraordinary responsibilities.”
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A Day in the Life of a Monk.
Zen’s roots are in monastic practice. A proper monastery, in any religion, is a place of transformation transformation of body, of speech, and of mind. A Zen monastery is especially rigorous and disciplined in its techniques. The schedule is exacting but changing every day. It is posted after sundown the night before at one location.
