Category Archives: Nirvana (windless: asankhata

Brief History of Missouri Zen Center & Memories: ミズーリ禅センター略史と記憶

  Brief History of the Missouri Zen Center Josho, our member lawyer, suggested that we may apply as a historic site to continue our present practice place and even benefit from it, as it had zoning problems in the past, … Continue reading

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Higan: Nirvana: 彼岸:涅槃

  We are now at the spring equinox, considered to be higan (彼岸), the yonder shore or nirvana, equanimity, a balanced state in day and night and heat and chill in Japan. People visit the graveyards of their ancestors and … Continue reading

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Four Limitlessnesses: 四無量(心)

  The Four Brahma (Purity) Abodes or Limitlessnesses are friendship (mettā), compassion (karuṇā), joy (mudita), and equipoise (upekkhā). Equipoise is a neutral state (majjhatta-bhāva) standing for emptiness (suńńatā), nirvana (nibbāṇa: no-wind of karma), a discarding or disregarding (of karma: neither … Continue reading

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Nirvana Necessary for New Norm:新規範には涅槃が必要

  Good morning!   We have unusually hot, dry days, even after the equinox. I found honeydew vines almost dried out. Constant care is necessary for life, especially with abnormal weather and global warming. I hope you listened to Greta … Continue reading

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Holy Health, Harmony, Happiness: 聖なる健康・調和・幸福

  Good morning!   We have beautiful flowers at the altar and all around us, inside and out. The first koan is “holding up a flower, smiling at it.” The Buddha held up a flower and Mahakashapa smiled at it. … Continue reading

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Ultimate Universal Solution

  Good morning!   Again we have rain, now with thunder. Dogen made a poem:   Being heard as it is, and For the one without the mind, The water-gem from the eave, Is the true self indeed.   Raindrops, … Continue reading

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Zazen, Core Cultivation: 核修行の坐禅

  Good morning!   Last week we talked about Zazen stilling karma, reaching the universal truth and ethic. The Buddha called it “mahā assāsa,” (great ease, lit. great respiration). Dogen called it “anraku-no hōmon” (Dharma-gate of pure peace and bliss, … Continue reading

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Unconditioned Peace & Unsurpassed Awakening: 無条件平和・無上道覚醒

  Good morning!   We can now see colored leaves incessantly falling. Ryokan’s last moment poem is “Showing the back, showing the front – alas, falling leaves’re.” The popular poem says, “Falling fall leaves, non-falling leaves, but non-falling leaves are … Continue reading

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Nirvana-Awakening for All: 一切の為の涅槃‐覚醒

  Good morning!   Homo sapience could survive and thrive by its wisdom of harmony, communal cooperation. This species, however, may become extinct at any time, along with all living beings, due to its instinct of separation, short-sighted selfishness – … Continue reading

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Neither Chill Nor Heat:無寒暑

  Good morning!   A monk asked Tozan, “When chill or heat comes, how can I avoid it?” Tozan said, “Why don’t you fare to the neither chill nor heat place?” The monk asked, “What is the neither chill nor … Continue reading

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