by SJZC Administrator | Jul 8, 2025
The first of the Eight Awakenings of Enlightened Beings is having few desires. This is a great practice. It steers us to noticing how often desire lurks just below the surface of our mental stream. All the thoughts of “I want this” or “I don’t want that.” All the ways...
by SJZC Administrator | Jun 3, 2025
Words from Mushin: “Zazen never becomes anything special, no matter how long you practice,” said Kodo Sawaki Roshi. “If it becomes something special, you must have a screw loose somewhere.” Listening to this fine old master Zen adept we are...
by SJZC Administrator | May 26, 2025
Words from Mushin: Writing this on a quiet afternoon during the Memorial Day weekend, I notice the very simple pleasure that a warm breeze on my face elicits. It’s these unanticipated moments of simplicity, where no mental agenda presses, and the thinking mind is as...
by SJZC Administrator | May 11, 2025
Mothers’ Day brings to my mind Prajnaparamita, mother of all Buddhas. What IS prajnaparamita? We translate it as the “perfection of wisdom”. “Prajna” is “wisdom”, and “paramita” means “that which goes beyond”. Whatever’s happening right here and now. Where is the...
by SJZC Administrator | Apr 28, 2025
Listen. Just listen. At any time of day or night, anywhere. Listen to the sounds of the world. This simple practice is always available in the midst of activity or stillness. One of the gifts of just listening, according to Master Dogen, is what that allows for. At...
