"[Adjective] Buddhism"

For a group of people who are supposed to have this non-duality thing down, we Buddhists can sometimes be pretty bad at it. We're quick with to come out with Mahayana, Hinayana, Vajrayana, Zen, Tendai, Theravada, Green, Blue, ad infinitum. And all of us do the same thing in the rest of our lives too--Red State, Blue State, Labour, Tory, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, ad infinitum. The adjectives drive us apart where there is no defined, permanent, solid line to be drawn! The Way needs no adjectives, it barely needs a noun. Myeong Jin Eunsahn gives the year-end Dharma talk at One Mind Zen December 28, 2022.

"Compassion for the Holidays"

It's that most wonderful time of the year...for some anyway. For others, there may be some habits in the Storehouse Consciousness that turn gatherings into the fodder of conflict. We can practice compassion for both ourselves and others by being mindful of their thoughts, perceptions, and feelings whether pleasant or unpleasant, jolly or not-so-jolly. Kevin Hae Seong Sheriadan gives the talk on the first day of winter of 2022 at One Mind Zen.

Bodhi Day 2022 Poetry Slam

December 8 (or 8th day of the 12th month) is the day we celebrate the Buddha's awakening. Shakyamuni's awakening--manifesting his Buddha Nature--is the awakening in all of us. Our day-to-day activities--getting up, eating, going to work, reading poetry, sitting on a cushion--all activities are opportunities to manifest our Buddha Nature. To celebrate this auspicious day, the sangha of One Mind Zen Collective held a Poetry Slam to help all sentient beings to celebrate with us, and to manifest their own inherent awakened nature in their own ordinary activity.

https://issuu.com/onemindzen/docs/one_mind_zen_issue_1

"The Primary Point of Holiday Lights"

Zen Master Seung Sahn often spoke of the "Primary Point," the point of equilibrium or equanimity. It's not that we don't react to situations--good or bad--it's that we let go of the weight of either and return to the "0" point on the scale. If we think about our practice in this light, it's not that we're immune from happy or sad, we let them pass, and return to our Primary Point on the scale. The stronger the practice, the closer to the Primary Point we can stay...even when untangling strands of holiday lights. Myeong Jin Eunsahn gives the Dharma talk on November 30, 2022.

"Thank you for the opportunity"

It is customary among certain branches of Buddhism that monks go out on a daily alms round to collect their food for the day. Obviously, the beggar receives money or food for the day. The beggar's gift is that the donor be given the opportunity to practice the Perfection of Generosity (Danaparamita). And for that, the donor should be grateful. The beggar is also grateful not just for the food or money they've received, but also for being able to give the opportunity for practice to the donor. How often is our daily life transactional rather than giving with no expectation of anything in return? Haengdal Citta gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen on American Thanksgiving Eve, November 23, 2022.

"Three Circles of Attention"

Robert Koho Epstein tells us about the acting tool called the Three Circles of Attention. The smallest circle is the one that contains the individual, just focused on themselves. The next one contains the the individual and those in close contact. The third and largest circle extends beyond the limits of the physical environment, breaking through the 4th wall into the ten directions and three times.

Sounds a lot like Zen practice to me. Except the practice isn't always round--sometimes it's messy and doesn't stay between the lines. Water takes the shape of the container, the bodhisattva manifests in whatever the situation demands.

"Why Do We Chant?"

At One Mind Zen, we chant because...well, that's what we do. It's part of our regular service, so we do it. But another "why" is the purpose it serves--to get us out of our fixation on our Selves. We chant to join each other in together action, paying attention to each other--the words, the beat of the moktak, but also paying attention to ourselves, that we're working with the others who are chanting. Small I chants to Big I. Myeong Jin gives the Dharma talk from November 9m, 2022.

"If You See Me on the Road"

Two of the most misunderstood things in Buddhism are the Kalama Sutta & Linji's quotes. Don't get them twisted!

"Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.'"

"If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha.

If you meet your father, kill your father.

Free of everything, you are bound by nothing.

Live the life that is given to you." - Linji

“When you meet buddhas, you speak to buddhas; when you meet ancestral teachers, you talk to ancestral teachers; when you meet arhats, you talk to arhats; when you meet hungry ghosts, you talk to hungry ghosts. Everywhere you go in your travels through the various lands you teach and transform sentient beings without ever departing from this one moment of mindfulness. Wherever you are, the pure light extends in all directions and the myriad phenomena are one suchness." - Linji

"The Fourth Skandha"

In the midst of Rodin's "The Gates of Hell" sits "The Thinker." And from a Zen perspective, what could be more appropriate? We can think about our thoughts, think about thinking about the thoughts, think about the thinker that's thinking the thoughts...or avoid the rabbit hole and be mindful of our thoughts, notice whether they're wholesome or unwholesome, then let them pass without "inviting them in for tea." If we're acting according to our Original Face before thought is Buddha. Robert Koho Epstein gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen on October 19, 2022.

"Reward & Praise"

The Eight Worldly Concerns in Buddhism are hope for pleasure and fear of pain, hope for gain and fear of loss, hope for praise and fear of blame, and hope for good reputation and fear of bad reputation. All are hindrances, and all hinder our practice, and not worth more than what's in a litter box. Kevin Hae Seong Sheridan gives us the talk on October 12, 2022.

"So What's With This Merit Thing?"

Bodhidharma tells Emperor Wu Di that his actions have no merit. And the Diamond Sutra refers to merit numerous times: “Subhuti, we can summarize by saying that the merit and virtue of this Sutra is inconceivable, incalculable and boundless. The Buddha has declared this teaching for the benefit of initiates on the path to Enlightenment; he has declared it for the benefit of initiates on the path to Nirvana. If there is someone capable of receiving, practicing, reciting, and sharing this Sutra with others, the Buddha will see and know that person, and he or she will receive immeasurable, incalculable, and boundless merit and virtue."

The Buddha also says, “Subhūti, if this merit were real, the Tathāgata would not say that there was attainment of great merit. It is because this merit is no-merit, that the Tathāgata says that the merit is great.” Dedicating merit to gain praise gains no merit. But we dedicate merit in order to get out of the mindset of "I, me, mine" for the benefit of all beings. Myeong Jin Eunsahn gives the Dharma talk October 5, 2022.

"The Five Skandhas"

 

In the Anatta Lakkhana Sutta, the Buddha describes how we integrate these different elements into one thing--the perceived self. But those troublesome skandhas are nothing but trouble. But Avalokiteshvara saw the all five skandhas are empty, and was saved from all suffering and distress. Robert Koho Epstein gives the Dharma talk on September 28, 2022.

"Don't Die in the Words"

The Great Way is beyond words. But you'd never know that if someone didn't tell you. There, enough words. Haengdal Citta gives the Dharma talk.

One Mind Zen - Live Meditation & Service - September 28, 2022

"Vast Emptiness, Everything Holy"

In Indra's net, each jewel contains all other jewels, it shows the interpenetration, inter-causality, interdependence, and identity of all things. In the Huayan Sutra, fantastic images and events are shown, some quite unbelievable. But those extraordinary images, events, and beings are the stuff that makes up our daily, unbelievable, fantastic universe...right in front of us. Jonson Sunmin Citta gives the Dharma talk on September 14, 2022 at One Mind Zen.

The How & Why of Zen"

 

One Mind Zen has been on Zoom & YouTube since April 2020, and it's taken this long for us to give a talk for the beginning practitioner on how to practice Zen meditation, from the first bow to the last. Myeong Jin Eunsahn gives us the "how to" and then the "why" on September 7, 2022,

"The Other Three Bodhisattva Vows"

"Sentient beings are numberless; we vow to help them all. Delusions are countless; we vow to see through them all. Opportunities to awaken are infinite; we vow to embrace them all. The Buddha Way is endless; we vow to embody it."

Zen centers worldwide chant some variation of the Bodhisattva Vows. It's easy not to get past the first one, because numberless beings needing to be saved sounds a little daunting. But if we work backwards from the 4th Vow back to the 1st, it all becomes clear and open, and much easier to be of service without even thinking about it.

Myeong Jin Eunsahn gives the Dharma talk on August 24, 2022.

"Many Spokes One Wheel"

 

 

There may be numerous schools of Zen, there may be many different practices, and they all point to the True Mind of All Buddhas. Some form of meditation is typically employed to help the practitioner attain the Buddha Mind inherent in all of us. Robert Koho Epstein gives us the Dharma talk on August 17, 2022.

"Bodhidharma's Student Debt"

You might think that this has to do with the 1st & 2nd Patriarchs of Zen. You might think the debt is Huike cutting off his arm to prove how dedicated he was to practice, and how badly he wanted Bodhidharma to be his teacher. But Jonson Sunmin Miller's talk at One Mind Zen on the 3rd of August has more to do with Bodhidharma's entry into practice...and suffering the injustice of student debt.

"Growing Old"

Was Gautama's quest the result of fear--the fear of old age, sickness, and death? We're all of the nature to get old, to get sick, and to die; no escaping them. But what do we do between birth and death? Do we use this time to help all beings, or fritter it away in fear? Depending on Prajnaparamita, the mind is no hindrance, and without any hindrance, no fears exist...we already dwell in Nirvana. Kevin Hae Seong Sheridan gives the talk at One Mind Zen July 20, 2022.

"The Buddha Was Not Ordained"

The Kalamma Sutta says ”Don’t go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture...or by the thought, “This contemplative is our teacher...." Following blindly without consideration for wisdom is a dangerous way. Whether that's following a Zen teacher because he/she has attained a level of ordination, someone with initials after their name, or a politician. Layman Pang or householder Vimilakirti may have more wisdom in the tip of a hair than shaven-headed monks...."you know for yourselves that, ‘These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to welfare and to happiness’ – then you should enter and remain in them.” Myeong Jin Eunsahn gives the talk at One Mind Zen July 13, 2022.

"The Sound of "THUMP)"

What is this that hears? What is the sound? What is it named? If the Zen stick falls in the Meditation room and there's no one...*THUMP!* All phenomena interpenetrate unhindered. There's just *THUMP!* moment to moment. Jonson Sunmin Miller gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen on July 6, 2022.

"The Refreshing Coolness of the Dharma"

Meditation can give us the boost in equanimity we may need to immerse ourselves in the hot, humid, rain that we may perceive to be the world. But our meditation isn't separate from the "world," it's part of it. Some time one the cushion can give us the joy and ease in our practice, can give us the refreshment that is the Dharma. Robert Koho Epstein gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen on June 22, 2022.

"Golden Chains"

 

 

The Golden Chains of "spiritual advancement" are still chains. What do we see when we look at our achievements? Perhaps it's attachment to the idea of spiritual advancement? Ron Kisen Stevenson gives the Dharma talk on June 15, 2022 at One Mind Zen.

One Mind Zen - Live Meditation & Service - June 15, 2022

"Do Intentions Matter?"

When it comes to karma, intentions do matter. But when dealing with another human being whose perceptions might not quite align with our own problems can follow. "What bliss!" "What, bliss?" What bliss." Even an emoji can't help. Only the Buddha knows for sure. Min 'Ui Maitri gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen Jun3 8, 2022.

"Right View=Right Listening"

How do we combat the "I'm right/You're wrong" mindset we see all too often today? By listening before speaking, hearing the cries of the world, saving all beings. Ron Kisen Stevenson delivers the Dharma talk on May 25, 2022 at One Mind Zen.

"Admirable Friendship"

"Admirable friendship, Ananda, is the whole of the practice," says the Buddha in the Upaddha Sutta. It can be easy for us to practice the holy life when we're in our local Sangha, or maybe with members of our order. But can we carry the practice "off the cushion" into the broad Sangha of all sentient beings--even when some of them aren't what we'd consider admirable? The Dharma talk from May 16, 2022 at One Mind Zen.

"Smile"

We join in sangha activities. We smile. We contemplate love and compassion. We smile. Contemplate discomfort? Smile? Corpses and death? Smile. A child's laughter? Smile. Though your heart is breaking? Smile. It's all good! Brier Haengdal Windwalker gives us the Vesak Dharma talk May 11, 2022.

"Who Are We?"

Robert Koho Epstein asks the perennial question--the one that causes discomfort--what is this that's dragging this corpse around. The hwadu for the ages, what constitutes this thing we think of as "I." Is it eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind? No, no, no, no, no, and no. The Dharma talk from May 4, 2022 at One Mind Zen.

"Tear Down the Flagpole"

"Ananda, go knock down that flagpole!" External trappings serve a purpose, but they aren't any less empty than what fills the robes, the bowl, or flies in the breeze. Attaching too much, they're a hindrance. Saying they're meaningless is a hindrance also. The middle path is to use what function is appropriate in the situation, not force the situation into the function, whether appropriate or not.

"Don't Think Twice, It's All Good"

We've all been born, we're all sliding on the continuum toward death from that moment. What comes from death may make us sad as a cat, what comes from it may make us happy as a cat. Life and death are of Supreme Importance. Time passes swiftly and opportunities to awaken are easily lost. Do not waste your time by night or day."

"Zen Women"

Zen is often thought of as a male-dominated domain. Buddhists, especially older or more traditional ones, may be accused of misogyny. The Buddha himself was accused of having doubts about women joining he Sangha. These views may not be inaccurate, but they don't reflect the reality of the history and current Zen practice. In honor of Women's History Month, Rev Min'ui Maitri gives us the Dharma talk.

"The Other Guy"

In a world where enmity, divisiveness, blame, and hatred are the loudest, how do we as Buddhists quietly point away from these poisons, and toward virtuous speech, thought, and action? We can start by realizing the "other" guy is an illusion made by our thinking, and only when it serves our purpose. Ron Kisen Stevenson delivers the Dharma talk March 16, 2022.

"Equanimity Now!"

Sometimes we think that it's never been worse--Pandemic, maybe on the brink of a world war--but 100 years ago there's been a world war and pandemic, there's been the Black death, and conflicts throughout the ages. But right hereandnow, how do we live up to the Bodhisattva Vows to help all, to cut through delusion, take every opportunity to awaken, and to live according to our True Buddha Nature? Not easy, sometimes inconvenient, plenty of backsliding, but with diligent practice, we might skillfully approach every situation and relationship with the mind of helping all beings, and attain the correct action. Eunsahn Citta gives the Dharma talk at One Mind Zen on March 8, 2022. 

"The Zen Game Show"

In a variation of the standard Dharma talk, the members of the One Mind Zen Sangha give us the Dharma in a semi-game show format. Questions were asked about a hypothetical newcomer to the Zen Center, and how each Sangha member would describe the What. How, and Why of Zen.

Score was not kept, as there are no points, no attainment of them, and no one to do the attaining of points.

"Complaints, Comparisons & Compassion"

Robert Koho Epstein gives the talk about dukkha--what it is, where we find it, and what can be done about it--that is, if anything can be done, and whether that needs to be done.

"Absence & Presence"

Min'ui Maitri talks about the intersection of Zen & Taoism. Is "emptiness" the best way to convey shunyata, or might "absence" be better suited? The Relative & the Absolute are box and lid, one isn't complete without the other, nor is either lacking.

"Why are You Here?"

The huatou du jour:

Why are you here?

How did you come to practice? What keeps you coming back? What drives you away? What is it that asks these questions? You're here, right here, right now. Why are you here? Eunsahn Citta asks more questions than gives answers in the Dharma talk from February 2, 2022. They are your answers, after all.

"Compassion is a Verb"

Compassion isn't compassionate without action. Asking "How may I help you?" and then not doing anything to help is not the Bodhisattva way. Min'ui Maitri gives us the Dharma talk January 26, 2022.

"Forget the Ox. How Can I Help"

The 10 Oxherding pictures are an allegory for the entrance to practice. Arguably the most important is the 10th - "Entering the Marketplace with outstretched arms". But what is the marketplace in the era of Zoom and quarantine? Pay attention! The opportunity to enter the marketplace and help all beings is right here, from moment to moment.