Stefano Mui Barragato
Blue Cliff Record Case 1, The Highest Meaning of the Holy Truths
Blue Cliff Record, Case 1 Emperor Wu of Liang asked the great master Bodhidharma, “What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?” Bodhidharma said, “Empty, without holiness.”…
Zen Mishimi: Stef’s “Take” on Zen
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Reflections on The Wumenkuan: Commentary on the 48 Cases of The Gateless Gate
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Peter Seishin Wohl
Gateless Gate, Case 5: Kyogen’s Man Up a Tree
Art by Mark Morse Gateless Gate, Case 5 Kyogen said, “Its like a man up in a tree, hanging from a branch with his mouth; his hands can’t grasp…
Blue Cliff Record, Case 89: The Hands and Eyes of the Bodhisattva of Compassion
Blue Cliff Record, Case 89 Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion use so many hands and eyes?” Daowu said, “It’s just like a person…
Gateless Gate, Case 19: Ordinary Mind is the Way
Gateless Gate, Case 19 Joshu asked Nansen, “What is the Way?” “Ordinary mind is the Way,” Nansen replied. “Shall I try to seek after it?” Joshu asked. “If…
Peter Joryu Harris
Gateless Gate, Case 8: Keichu Makes Carts
Gateless Gate, Case 8 Mumonkan Gettan Osho said, “Keichu, the first wheelmaker, made a cart whose wheels had a hundred spokes. Now, suppose you took a cart and…
Mary Jo Dōin Carlsen
Margaret Ne-Eka Barragato
Second Kings 5: 1-19 (RSV): a story about “somebodies” and “nobodies”
2 Kings 5:1-19 (RSV) Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the…
The Rich Young Man: atop the 100-foot pole
Mark 10:17-27 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, what must I…
Terror: a study of two koans, one Buddhist and the other Christian
Probably all human beings spend a lot of time and energy trying to keep their lives under control, but I think we Americans are particularly obsessed with it.…
Jaime Heiku McLeod
Gateless Gate, Case 41: Bodhidharma’s Mind-Pacifying
Art by Mark Morse Gateless Gate, Case 41Bodhidharma sat facing the wall. The Second Patriarch stood in the snow. He cut off his arm and presented it to Bodhidharma, crying,…
Book of Serenity, Case 12: Dizang Planting the Fields
Dizang asked Xuishan, “Where do you come from”Xuishan said, “From the South.”Dizang said, “How is Buddhism in the South these days?”Xiushan said, “There’s extensive discussion.”Dizang said, “How can…
Book of Serenity, Case 20: Dizang’s Not Knowing
Book of Serenity, Case 20 Fayan was going on pilgrimage. Dizang said, “Where are you going?” Fayan said, “Around on pilgrimage.” Dizang said, “What is the purpose of…