Opening the Hand of Thought (Chapter 8)

Shinmon Michael Newton helps unpack the final chapter of Kosho Uchiyama  Roshi's book, Opening the Hand of Thought, in which there are seven clear instructions on how to orient our lives to practice.

ZED talk - Relationship to Technology

Myokai Nik Bladey investigates artificial intelligence and dharma practice, asking us how we find union within the particularity of each moment of our lives, and challenging us to consider who is guiding our hands on the steering wheel.

Opening the Hand of Thought (Chapter 6)

Joko Claire Talbot explores how, given human beings live in the flow of impermanence and suffer the burden of thought, in what way does zen help us learn to enjoy every sandwich and every bike ride?!

Contemplating Ruins: Ireland and Impermanence

Myoshin Kate McCandless shares experiences from her recent pilgrimage to Ireland, and asks how we might reconcile human contradictions at the personal, national and global levels. How do we resolve the human koan in which we are all implicated?

Opening the Hand of Thought (Chapter 5)

Is zazen selfish? What is the self? Are we belligerent squashes or are we all in this together? Myosen River Shannon explores these and other questions in her talk on Opening the Hand of Thought chapter 5.

The images below, from Kosho Uchiyama’s book, are those referenced during the talk.

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Illustrations from Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama

A Look at Dongshan's Five Ranks

Daikan John Green shares a few thoughts about what could be considered a true teaching, and what might be conveyed or created by something else in the past. 

Perspectives on Zen Practice in North America from Rev. Gyokei Yokohama

Guest monk, Rev. Gyokei Yokohama, ponders what stays the same, what gets lost in translation, and what influences are shared back and forth between the way people practice in North America and the way people practice in Japan. 

Celebrating Being an Elder

Jakushin Todd Slobogean tames the relentless meandering of his neuro-diverse mind to bring us thoughts on the Kalama Sutra and the Island Sutra (the Attadiipaa Sutta - The Buddha’s Last Teaching).