At Home with The Zen Gateway

    A series of live-streamed Dharma talks given on Facebook and posted up on YouTube during the COVID-19 lockdown. The talks were based on stories from The Wisdom of the Zen Masters by Irmgard Schloegl.

    Sojiji Temple, of the Soto Zen school, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan

    © wikipedia.commons

    The following live-streamed talks were designed for a bit of 'spiritual uplift' during the lockdown for the coronavirus. The video talks cover a wide range of teachings many showing how problems were faced and overcome in the light of a little 'Zen Wisdom'.

    Master Kendo has a sordid secret revealed.

    In this story Master Obaku is asked why he is worshiping? What is he after? His simple response points to some of the most profound teachings of Mahayana Buddhism.

    Master Rinzai asks a pertinent question.

    A lonely old gentleman comes to Master Taian for help. The master helps him to re-connect with his happiness once more.

    Master Yoka cautions against getting rid of things and clinging to emptiness

    Master Gensha and the blind, deaf mute. How to help him?

    A young man who suffered a disappointment in life asks for advice. As a result he nearly loses his head!

    Master Sessan said three things are needed for our daily lives, pressing the palms together as in prayer, bowing as in worship and charity.

    Master Sessan said that in order to see clearly we need to take off our 'coloured spectacles'

    Rebirth v. Reincarnation?

    This time a quote from Master Sosan who admonishes his hearers not to grasp at anything.

    How to create a sense of intensity in Zen practice and why that is important.

    Continuing our topic of mindfulness of the emotional household.

    The passions are the Buddha nature; the Buddha nature is the passions.

    Master Rinzai talks about the Buddha's supernormal powers.

    This week the story of Master Ikkyu and the lightning.

    More from Gateway Talks

    S E R I E S

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    E P I S O D E  53

    Why do you worship?

    Worship in Zen is not the worship of a god, a self or even a transcendent self, it is the laying down of 'I'.

    Kyogen’s Real Poverty

    There is a barrier that obstructs enlightenment, what will we need to break through it? For Master Kyogen it was just a pebble hitting a bamboo trunk.

    S E R I E S

    Gateway Talks
    E P I S O D E  27

    Daito Kokushi's Admonition

    Before his death he gave his admonition to his monk which gives the essence of his teaching and points to just that which is most important for the training of his monks.

    Why do we Bow?

    Fundamentals of Zen

    Martin Goodson explains why ‘the bow’ is such important part of Zen practice.