Zen: Doing One's Utmost in Practicing the Way

Roshi Jeff Albrizze (PasaDharma.org), The Bendowa, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

"He knows not where he's going / For the ocean will decide -- / It's not the DESTINATION... / ...It's the glory of THE RIDE." (Zen Dog/edwardmonkton.com)

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Weekly Zen practice in Pasadena, California is led by Jeff Albrizze.

• American Zen: Free zazen, walking meditation in redwood courtyard, reading and discussion, Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm (Neighborhood Unitarian Church). This week continues a short segment of the Bendowa in translations with Q and A.

(Antaiji Antaiji) Mui's Dharma talk on Shobogenzo Zuimonki 1:21, September 19, 2015.

In the Zendo

Dogen taught: Students of the Way, you must be very careful on several levels in giving up worldly sentiment. Give up the world, give up your family, and give up your body and mind. Consider this well.

Even among those who retreat from the world and live secluded in the mountains or forests, there are some who fear that their family, which has continued for many generations, will cease to exist, and who become anxious for their family members or their relatives.

"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone" - Blaise Pascal. Zen Humor: the philosophical felines are at it again (joy-of-cartoon-pictures.com).

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Self and Selflessness (Matthias Giesen)

Although some people depart from home and give up family or property, they have not yet given up their bodies if they think that they should not do anything physically painful and avoid practicing anything which may cause sickness, even though they know it to be the Buddha-Way.
 
Further, even if they carry out hard and painful practices without clinging to their bodily lives, if their minds have not yet entered the Buddha-Way and if they resolve not to act against their own will even if such actions are the Buddha-Way, they have not yet given up their minds.

• VIDEO: American Zen Master and punk rocker Brad Warner: How often should one sit for meditation to make progress?
• Shōbōgenzō: Treasure House of the Eye of the True Teaching
• Dogen: "Your very mind is the Buddha"? (TheZenSite)