"Zealous Zen"

Joe Strummer did an interview after the Clash broke up, and he described Punk music and fans and bands as almost Stalinist. For a lot of people, Zen is the punk rock of Buddhism. Sort of dangerous, dark, edgy, and can’t always understand the words. And we defend it against anything that isn’t it with the same zeal as a Bolshie overthrowing a Tsar. As punk stripped music down to the minimum, Zen says to see your true nature. That’s it. See your true nature, you’re done. Everything you’d like to be able to count on is as useless as a Tsar or an orchestra conductor. To bring that home, Linji said: “If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha; if you meet the patriarchs, kill the patriarchs; if you meet Arhats, kill Arhats; If you meet your parents, kill your parents; if you meet your relatives, kill your relatives. Then for the first time you will see the truth.” Zen is asking for Mozart and getting Stravinsky; wanting The Beach Boys and getting Pere Ubu: expecting Huangbo and Thich Nhat Hanh shows up; Nat King Cole instead of Coltrane. Think there’s something to stand on, finding the carpet you thought was there not only has been the pulled out, but it was on top of the abyss. That can be uncomfortable. No one said Zen was supposed to be comfortable. Or uncomfortable for that matter. While we may be Stalininst in our conceptual understanding and defense of Zen, in reality Zen is to be zealously engaged in our lives, and the lives of all beings. We pay attention, pay attention, pay attention, and we fully participate in life. We help when help is needed, in small or grandiose ways. We have zeal for life and for helping others. That is our True Nature, that is Zen. Myeong Jin Eunsahn gave the Dharma talk January 10, 2024.

"Subject Meets Object"

When the dancer becomes the dance, when the there's no separation between musician, the music, and the instrument, then we're onto something. If there is a cart with wheels, and a driver, and oxen, and they all perform their correct function, then we can fully realize that the cart is a cart. If there are no oxen, or driver, or wheel, or axel, can the cart truly be considered a cart if it isn't performing its function as a cart? It could be a flower pot, or firewood, or just a random collection of indecipherable elements. But when they interpenetration without hindrance, and none of the elements are separate, then a cart is a cart.

When correct function is performed, there is no need for thoughts or analysis, no names required, not concepts to be had. It's "just this." Haengdal Citta gave the Dharma talk January 24, 2024.

"Fear & Fire"

“Monks, all is aflame…eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind, all aflame…” So says the Buddha in the Adittapariya Sutta—The Fire Sermon. The Heart Sutra tells us all these things are empty. But empty as they may be, that’s little comfort when they cause, or are caused by fear. Fear is a response to a threat—fight, flight, and freeze are the typical involuntary responses to the threat.

But what about when the perceived threat doesn’t pose actual imminent danger—something short of a hungry tiger when you’re wearing a suit made of meat? The virtually global siege mentality that is prevalent today is based on that type of fear. People are so enchanted with eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind…and most of all ideas about them and the perception of “meaning” we assign to them. Feelings of hatred and envy, perceptions of self and other, belief that these feelings and perceptions have some permanence and reflect reality are all inflamed.

They aren’t just dreams, they’re nightmares. Not drops of dew, but tsunamis. Not flashes of lightning, but nuclear explosions. Since they’re all subject to causes and conditions, are characterized by emptiness.

What can we as individuals do about this inflammatory speech, thoughts, and actions? We can contribute our small part to help douse the flames. One small glass of water won’t douse a forest fire, but eight billion glasses could. If we don’t know what our metaphorical glass of water is, we can at least not spew gasoline on the flames, and do no harm.

Won Yong Sunmin gave the New Year Dharma talk at One Mind Zen on January 3, 2024.