Effective this coming Saturday, May 29, Saturday morning services will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by zazen at 9. This schedule will remain in effect through August.
Author Archives: Treetop Zen Center
Chih Men’s Lotus Flower, Lotus Leaves
Blue Cliff Record, Case 21
A monk asked Chih Men, “How is it when the lotus flower has not yet emerged from the water?”
Chih Men said, “A Lotus flower.”
The monk said, “What about after it has emerged from the water?”
Men said, “Lotus leaves.”
Reflections
This is a koan of transformation. A koan of birth and death. This is a koan of before and after. This koan is similar, but not quite, to the koan, “Show me the face you had before your parents were born.” Or, “What is that plant before it has risen from the earth?” Continue reading
National Teacher Chung’s Seamless Monument
Blue Cliff Record, Case 18
Emperor Su Tsung asked National Teacher Hui Chung, “After you die, what will you need?”
The National Teacher said, “Build a seamless monument for me.”
The Emperor said, “Please tell me, Master, what the monument would look like?”
The National Teacher was silent for a long time; then he asked, “Do you understand?”
The Emperor said “I don’t understand”
The National Teacher said, I have a disciple to whom I have transmitted the Teaching, Tan Yuan, who is well versed in this matter. Please summon him and ask him about it.”
After the National Teacher passed on, the Emperor summoned Tan Yuan and asked him what the meaning of this was. Tan Yuan said:
South of Hsiang, north of T’an;
(Hsueh Tou added the comment, “A single hand does not make random sound.”)
In between there’s gold sufficient to a nation.
(Hsueh Tou added the comment, “A rough-hewn staff.”)
Beneath the shadowless tree, the community ferryboat;
(Hsueh Tou added the comment, “The sea is calm, the rivers are clear.”)
Within the crystal palace, there’s no one who knows.”
(Hsueh Tou added the comment, “He has raised it up.”) Continue reading
Bodhidharma Comes from the West
Blue Cliff Record, Cases 17 and 20
Note: I am compiling a database of koans. So far there are 1,616 koans in the database. The koan which asks, in one way or another, the question “Why did Bodhidharma (or the Patriarch) Come from the West,” turns up thirty-two times. Besides our two entries in the Blue Cliff Record, the koan-question appears in the Wumenkuan, the Rinzairoku, the Record of Layman Pang, the Dentoroku, the Record of Dongshan, and the Iron Flute. Thirteen of these entries involve Chao-chou. I will include the Chao-chou koans in the discussion about this case.
First, from the Blue Cliff Record:
Case 17
A monk asked Hsiang Lin, “What is the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West?
Hsiang Lin said, “Sitting for a long time becomes tiresome.”
Case 20
Lung Ya asked Ts’ui Wei, “What is the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West?”
Wei said, “Pass me the meditation brace.”
Ya said, “Since you hit me I let you hit me. In essence though, there is no meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West?”
Ya also asked Lin chi, “What is the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West?”
Chi said, “Pass the cushion.”
Ya took the cushion and handed it to Lin Chi; Chi took it and hit him.
Ya said, “Since you hit me I let you hit me. In essence though, there is no meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West?”
Christian-Buddhist Dialogue
On Saturday, March 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Margaret Barragato, one of the teachers at Treetop Zen Center, will present a Christian-Buddhist Dialogue workshop at the Living Water Spiritual Center in Winslow, Maine.
Reading sacred texts from both traditions, Margaret will explore ways the two religions complement and inform each other. Attendees will also experience meditation and chanting from both traditions. The intent is to broaden understanding of both traditions and to deepen the experiences of one’s own faith.
Cost to attend is $45, and includes the program, snack breaks, and lunch. Please pre-register early to confirm and hold your reservation. This fee is nonrefundable unless the program is cancelled by Living Water Spiritual Center. Registrations are accepted through March 12.
For more information, visit www.e-livingwater.org, or view the program brochure.
Margaret Barragato is both a Zen Buddhist teacher and priest, and a Roman Catholic. She has been practicing meditation in both traditions for more than thirty years. She currently teaches at Treetop Zen Center in Oakland, Maine.
Special Sangha Meeting
A special Sangha Meeting will be held after the regularly-scheduled zazen session this Wednesday, March 3, to discuss an important proposal that could affect the future of Treetop Zen Center. All are welcome to attend. Zazen begins at 7 p.m.
I’m Nobody
I’m nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there’s a pair of us — don’t tell!
They’d banish us, you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
– by Emily Dickinson
Yun-Men’s Upside-Down Statement
Blue Cliff Record, Case 15
In a previous talk I spoke about Case 14 of the Blue Cliff Record. I will focus on Case 15 in this talk. I will use both the translations of Thomas Cleary and J. C. Cleary, The Blue Cliff Record, as well as Katsuki Sekida, in his book Two Zen Classics Mumonkan & Hekiganroku.
I am going to follow an outline of study that I sometimes use to work with koans. The outline has seven sections.
- The Case. This is what would be quoted in daisan.
- Analysis and understanding.
- Key Word
- Rewrite of the case in my own words
- Teaching of the case
- A poem that presents or expresses my understanding of the teaching of the case.
- The Presentation in daisan.
The Case
(Cleary translation)
A monk asked Yun Men, “When it’s not the present intellect, and it’s not the present phenomena, what is it?”
Yun Men said, “An upside-down statement.”
(Sekida translation)
A monk asked Ummon, “What is it when no thought is stirring and nothing presents itself?”
Unman said, “No preaching on Oneness.” Continue reading
Paradise Below Zero
Peter Seishin Wohl will lead the next Deep Ecology retreat, Paradise Below Zero, over the weekend of March 6 through March 8. In addition to serving as one of the teachers at Treetop Zen Center, Peter is a Registered Maine Guide. Those wishing to participate in this retreat must register by February 15. A deposit of $50 is due at the time of registration. For more information, email peterwohlmaine@gmail.com or call 207-465-7563.
The Music of What Happens
You are invited to a day with the Zen of Emily Dickinson and W.S. Merwin
Saturday, February 6th, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $25, lunch included
Place: Treetop Zen Center, Oakland, Maine
For directions, visit www.treetopzencenter.org
Facilitator: Peter Harris*
Emily Dickinson never heard of Zen, but her poetry is shot through with Zen-like insights. Pulitzer Prize winner W.S. Merwin is a Zen student who shuns the label of Zen poet. We’ll read some of their poems, talk about what they have to offer, and write a little in response. No experience with Dickinson, Merwin, or Zen is necessary. Just bring pen and paper. Please email muisensei@earthlink.net if you plan to attend.
*Peter has been teaching literature and writing at Colby College since 1974, and practicing Zen since 1994. He is an ordained priest at Treetop Zen Center.