From this month’s Zen words in Japanese site of Rinzai-Obaku Zen.
If it is not A it is B, if it is not B it is A. This is the last thing you found in Zen teaching. Then eventually you will become able to see, accept and act upon things as they are.
From this month’s Zen words in Japanese site of Rinzai-Obaku Zen.
It is a misconception that Zen or Buddhism in general is a religion or a philosophy of apathy or stoicism. It is true Zen teaches the unfruitfulness and vanity of ordinary attachments and desires. However, it also teaches there are true sources of attainments and hopes despite at the first glance they may seem as iron trees or stone bamboo shoots.
From this month’s Zen words in Japanese site of Rinzai-Obaku Zen.
In understanding Zen maxim you cannot get away with simple interpretations. Some Zen masters state that desires and passions manifest enlightenment. This maxim is a very good example. Can you see some tranquility within this expression of restlessness?
From this month’s Zen words in Japanese site of Rinzai-Obaku Zen.
Death is one of the four sufferings in Buddhism. As the enlightenment in Buddhism means extinguishing all the sufferings, overcoming the fear of death is a natural part of it.
In this Zen maxim, the death is represented by the lightning splitting spring wind. It seems like a big event for human, it is just a part of the natural cycle. Aren’t we put too much focus on a specific event instead of the whole cycle of this universe?