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MANDALA
Day one, and they are hunched over the mat meticulously drawing faintly on its deep blue surface. Day two and sitting, leaning forward they precisely place the first grains of sand. Day three, the same and the picture begins to emerge though they dare not breathe. Day upon day, minute upon minute hours on end…
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THREE VIEWS: WINTER
the ghosts of morning cast their spell over the sun joyous winter smiles first snow of winter white coated Buddha dreaming of chrysanthemums each flake different a billion unique moments a Buddhist season
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YAKUSAN’S LAKE 鐵笛倒吹 八十八
When you travel from home and are asked if the lake on the shore of which you live is now full, what can you say. Will you speak of the rains that soaked your fields and what of the herd of water buffalo come to graze since you have left. The eye sees only now,…
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CASTLE HARLECH
High on the battlements of Castle Harlech the winter wind cuts through me like scythes slashing the grasses in the meadows that roll out toward the distant, mute hills. The plaintive cry of bowmen whose bones are dust taken deep into the Welsh soil are whispers lost in the wing sweep of the circling starlings.…
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LINJI WAS(N’T) HERE
I very strongly doubt that Linji ever walked along this path, given that it wasn’t even here fifty years ago. He never saw the egret staring back across the pond, or the flock of ibis doing what seem like prostrations. He did not see any of this, which saddens me a great deal, but taking careful steps,…
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Q AND A: SOMEWHERE
Somewhere deep within complete uncertainty lies the answer to the question we are reluctant or unwilling to ask. The only problem is that in peeling back the fear and trepidation we risk reopening wounds we have long forgotten, that are scarred over. Is it the answer we fear or the question, or the inability to…
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NIGHT ZAZEN
The last inkin bell tone dies on the fading whisper of incense. Here and not here now and still now silence and Zen. The distant mountain kisses the moon’s curled lips.
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HYAKUJO’S SECOND VISIT 正法眼蔵 語十四
You may come asking questions, and perhaps the teacher will answer you with a discourse. If you go deaf and hear nothing, if the words flit like so many mayflies just as soon gone, if no word finds purchase, you will have grasped the heart of the Dharma. A reflection on case 54 of the…
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THE MESSENGER TIRES
He says, in a quiet aside he hopes no one will overhear, that he has grown tired of being an angel. And not for the reason we might think, he adds with a wry smile. The work is not all that difficult, in fact there seems to be less of it week by week, but…
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Basho’s Staff 無門關 四十四
Do you have old Basho hidden away in your home? If you do, I will gladly give him to you, but if he is not within your walls, you should produce him immediately. If you need to cross the river walk carefully on his back on a moonless night. If there is a moon, walk…
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an old writer and his words 