Now you know clearly: what is called ‘mind’ is the great earth with its mountains and rivers; it is the sun, the moon, and the stars. Shobogenzo, Soku Shin Ze Butsu, Hubert Nearman It really is that simple – the eyes are horizontal, the nose is vertical. There is nothing cryptic or esoteric about this, [...]

As in all the great spiritual and literary traditions, in Zen Buddhism the experience of awakening, realization of nirvana, Buddhahood, or satori (enlightenment) are described in terms of vision (rather than hearing). To hear the Buddha Dharma is to learn about it and to study it, to see the Buddha Dharma is to experience it [...]

Does a Falling Tree make a Sound When Nobody is there to Hear it? As it presupposes dualism (between “things” (dharmas) in themselves and “things” as represented) the representational view of knowledge and experience is definitely rejected in Zen Buddhism, as it is in Mahayana Buddhism generally. In Zen, all real dharmas (things, beings, instances, [...]

Dogen fan? If so, here are some links to a recent series of posts on our sister blog (Dogen and the Shobogenzo) Thursday, July 01, 2010 Your Mountain and My Mountain – The Same Mountain? Sunday, June 27, 2010 True Nature – The Reality of the Self and the World Saturday, June 26, 2010 The [...]

The Source of the Morning Star.. — It is one’s Eye creating the morning star. Zen Master Eihei Dogen (1200 – 1253), Shobogenzo, Sanjushichihon Bodai Bumpo, Hubert Nearman — Peace, Ted

Zen wisdom on erroneous thoughts, your consciousness, and the Buddha Q: At this moment, while erroneous thoughts are arising in my mind, where is the Buddha? A: At this moment you are conscious of those erroneous thoughts. Well, your consciousness is the Buddha! Perhaps you can understand that, were you but free of these delusory mental [...]