Blue Mountain Zendo Koryu-ji

1 week ago

... See MoreSee Less

Blue Mountain Zendo Koryu-ji

2 weeks ago

10-7-18 3-5:30pm Sutra Study (Sutra - "Namu Dai Bosa") ... See MoreSee Less

Blue Mountain Zendo Koryu-ji

3 weeks ago

So many people are interested in Buddhist theory. I remember spending years on IRC/Yahoo debating other monks/students on Sutra and theory. At that time, I truly thought this activity was it, let me rephrase, "I knew this was it!" It took years to learn that mentality, and years to clean house. My cup was overflowing yet, I could not quench my thirst. Oh, Seizei..
This activity can stoke the internal flame to burn away the ego's menagery of attachments and beliefs by exhausting the process. However, without the intervention of zazen, it can also disguise itself as practice and lead us down unessasary paths. Those years of competition compeled me to learn Buddhist history and theory, which can create a richer foundation from which to understand doctrine by, although, it also was one huge ego trip!
Twenty five years later and I try desperately not to speak of Buddha or Buddhism. People already have more than their fill of "Buddhism", just walk though any book store or new age shop and there are rows and rows of people writing about the founder of what we currently know as Buddhism. Eat your fill, however, paper pancakes dont satisfy hunger. The key for me is found in the other direction. Day by day, sit by sit, letting go of Buddhism and embracing life, as it is. I am interested now in walking the path, not studying it. It's not complicated, and we find the same "basics" in almost every religion, yet these are the foundations of "Buddhas", human, not diety. To distill it even further, simply put, for me life is "love" itself. Not the narrow love of attachment and mere emotion (this is one aspect though and worthy of exploration as any of its other manifestations) but, the inexhaustible and dynamically flux nature that permeates every atom within the universe. That which manifests right here, right now; complete in each branch and blade. You can glimpse it both within and between the lines, with every inhalation and exhalation, and within the thin veil of life and death itself. Just cast your "self" away into the currents of life, let go of knowing and the desire to aquire knowledge. We insist on putting hat upon hat, and head upon head, without seeing perfection manifest right now - "as-is".
What a beautiful life, to be the holy fool, to dance joyously in the torrents, bravely casting away shelter. To know nothing, and gaze at the world in awe. Twenty five years of practice and that one word remains (love). I certainly hope I have another 25 to explore its vastness, if not, I know my last breath, is also my first, and there is truly no coming or going, nor is there any end to it.

As I wrote this, this beautiful hawk watched me from outside of the window. I could not help but go ever deeper into the endless depths of that one all pervading word. ... See MoreSee Less

Blue Mountain Zendo Koryu-ji

3 weeks ago

Friday zazen is canceled for 10-5 (zendo floor stripped/polyurethaned).

Sunday 10-7 Sutra Study (Continuing Namu Dai Bosa) ... See MoreSee Less

Blue Mountain Zendo Koryu-ji updated their profile picture.

4 weeks ago

... See MoreSee Less