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Koans

 The Zen practice of contemplating a question or statement, the answer to which transcends dualistic thinking
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    It Was Worth It Paid Member

    By Dairyu Michael Wenger
    Case Seisen Fletcher was angered upon reading the Buddha’s statement that his allowing women to ordain would put Buddhism back 500 years. She went to Maezumi Roshi to ask him about it. After a few moments he said: “Well, it was worth it.”Commentary Taizan Maezumi Roshi (1931–1995) studied in and transmitted three teaching streams: the Soto Zen lineage of his father, the Rinzai Zen lineage of Koryu Osaka Roshi, and the Harada- Yasutani blend of Soto and Rinzai in which koan training is emphasized. He founded the Zen Center of Los Angeles in 1967 and had many disciples. He ordained Seisen Fletcher, who received dharma transmission from Tetsugen Glassman (a successor to Maezumi Roshi) in 1998. More »
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    Green Koans Case 61: The Naked Dharma Paid Member

    By Clark Strand
    CASE #61: The Naked DharmaShardza Tashi Gyaltsen taught: More »
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    Green Koans Case 57: Shakyamuni’s Ignorant Man Paid Member

    By Clark Strand
    CASE #57:    Shakyamuni’s Ignorant ManIn the Dhammapada, Shakyamuni Buddha says:The ignorant man is an ox.He grows in size, not in wisdom.BACKGROUND:Dhammapada     One of the best known texts in the Theravada canon, and embraced by a plurality of Buddhist sects in all traditions, the Dhammapada is said to contain the authentic words of Shakyamuni. Usually translated as Sayings of the Buddha, Dhammapada literally means Dharma Footsteps or Dharma Verses, the word pada suggesting both meanings, since the sayings are rendered in verse. Note that the Dhammapada, which concerns itself primarily with the individual human being, becomes an ecological text the moment we interpret its teachings on wisdom and folly as applying to the species as well. More »
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    Green Koan Case 53: Shakyamuni’s World on Fire Paid Member

    By Clark Strand
    CASE #53:    Shakyamuni’s World on FireShayamuni Buddha taught: “The world is always burning, burning with the fires of greed, anger and foolishness; one should flee from such dangers as soon as possible.”BACKGROUND:The world is always burning     The passage, which appears in the book The Teachings of Buddha, translated into many languages and distributed free of charge around the world by Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai (The Society for Buddhist Understanding), is an amalgam of statements made by Shakyamuni in diverse sutras. More »
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    Green Koans 46: A Tree Joins the Monastery Paid Member

    By Clark Strand
    CASE #46:    A Tree Joins the Monastery According to Buddhaghosa, the precept against injuring plants and trees came about in the following manner. Once when the Buddha had given permission for an assembly to dwell in the forest outside of the monastery, a certain monk decided to build himself lodging and, seeing a suitable tree for this purpose, began to cut it down. The spirit who inhabited the tree appeared to him carrying a child on her hip. “Please do not cut down my home,” she implored. But the monk answered, “This tree is perfect and I shall not be able to find another like it.” More »