by SJZC Administrator | Oct 1, 2025
From Sogen The Song of Loving Kindness is sung during each weekday morning service: May you dwell in the heart, may you be free from suffering, may you be healed, may you be at peace. The Pali word for Loving Kindness is Metta, as in Metta Sutra, which is chanted in...
by SJZC Administrator | Sep 21, 2025
Dogen Zenji wrote in Genjokoan, which we sometimes chant: “To study the Buddha Way is to study the self; to study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be verified by all things.” Or as that last line appears in our chant book:“To forget the...
by SJZC Administrator | Sep 15, 2025
From Sogen: Curiosity is a skillful attitude in Zen practice. Cultivating curiosity, inquiry, investigation, questioning, wondering, asking, exploring in your practice leads to new insights, new perspectives, new understanding, and new questions. A useful practice...
by SJZC Administrator | Sep 8, 2025
From Mushin: How often do you pay attention directly to sentiency? I mean, how often are you aware that a living being, tree or animal, bird, or insect is aware. More likely I may notice my own awareness but not so much how another sentient being might be aware in...
by SJZC Administrator | Aug 31, 2025
From Mushin: The practice of samu was introduced during the Tang Dynasty by Zen Master Baizhang Huaihai into Zen training in Buddhist monasteries. Samu moved them from being solely dependent on wealthy patrons and state sponsorship towards more independent...
by SJZC Administrator | Aug 24, 2025
From Mushin: Making a wholehearted effort or diligence is another of Dogen Zenji’s Eight Awakenings of Great Beings. Anybody who follows the Buddhadharma with sincere intention to live it out, to embody its wisdom, learns how to live steadily and completely. You...
