"New and Old~Same or Different"

Rev Min'ui Maitri gives the year-ending Dharma talk about transitions, hard endings and beginnings, and the loss we feel when separated from things we love. Shariputra was finally extinguished, and Chunda was sad and felt a loss. The Buddha teaches us that it's inevitable. Zen teaches us that it's inevitable, feel the sadness fully, then let the sadness go.

"Chanting Service for Ven. Wonji Dharma"

These chants are from One Mind Zen on December 22, 2021 in memory of  Great Teacher, friend, and founder of the Five Mountain Zen Order, Wonji Dharma. Chanting Kwanseum Bosal and Jijang Bosal are typical chants to commemorate someone's death. We chant not only in his memory, but for ourselves as a Sangha, and for the sake of all beings everywhere. 

Why do we chant, and not just sit in meditation? We chant sincerely not for any magical properties the chant might have, or supernatural reasons. We chant as a Sangha, to realize the unity of all things, while not neglecting the differences among all things. We chant as an exercise in laser-sharp concentration, paying attention not only to what we are chanting ourselves, but also to the other members of the sangha, to the sound of the moktak. In doing so, we can perceive that state of unity and difference of self and others. 

Most importantly we chant with sincerity. Zen Master Seung Sahn once said that one could chant "Coca Cola, Coca Cola, Coca Cola," and if done with sincerity it would be no different than chanting Jijang Bosal or the Heart Sutra. We don't need to understand the words, be they in English or in this case, Korean. Words are unimportant. That feeling you get when the chant and the chanter become one is important.

"Life and death are of supreme importance.

Opportunities to awaken are easily lost.

Strive to realize your True Nature.

Do not squander your time by night or day."

"Opportunities to Awaken"

One of the Bodhisattva Vows is to embrace all the infinite opportunities we have to wake up. On Bodhi Day, we commemorate the Buddha's awakening-- his sitting down Gautama, and standing up the Buddha. May we all embrace the myriad chances we have to wake up for the sake of all beings.

Jonson Sunmin Miller gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen December 8, 2021.

"Where is That Ox?"

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The 10 Oxherding pictures are an allegorical representation of our journey through Zen practice. This talk by Eunsahn Citta from December 1, 2021  goes through pictures 1 through 4: Searching for the Ox, Seeing traces of the Ox, Catching a glimpse of the Ox, and Capturing the Ox.