As we work our way through the ten steps of the How To Practice Zen program, we will gradually begin to understand what the Augustinian monk Abraham of Santa Clara meant when he said: “He who dies before he dies does not die when he dies.” Abraham’s quote echoes the words of the Buddha: “All that… Continue reading The Goal Of Zen Practice
Category: Enlightenment
The Zen bunny that cooked itself
The story about the rabbit that cooked itself indicates that the rabbit was already enlightened when it did its famous (among those of us who read Jataka stories) deed. Although the term “Zen” is usually translated as “meditation,” the actual practice of sitting meditation is just part of Zen practice. Zen meditation is not the same thing… Continue reading The Zen bunny that cooked itself
Zen And The 4th and 5th Fetters
Sense desire is the fourth fetter and ill will or hatred is the fifth of the ten fetters. Thus we wonder why there are Five Hindrances and Ten Fetters. These fourth and fifth fetters are the same as the first two hindrances. According to the Pali canon, if we can break the first three fetters… Continue reading Zen And The 4th and 5th Fetters
Zen Practice And The Eighth Fetter
The eighth fetter, conceit, seems at first to be a lot like the first fetter, sakkaya ditthi, the wrong view of self. The eighth fetter, however, is more subtle. We may acquire the right view of self yet still feel distinctiveness, i.e., we may compare ourselves with others and find ourselves to be superior, equal,… Continue reading Zen Practice And The Eighth Fetter
Zen Practice and Sakkaya Ditthi
Spirit Rock, pictured, is a Theravada practice center. However, we use Zen in its meaning of meditation and these practitioners are sitting in meditation. This is a copy of an email I received June 14, 2010 from the Contact Us page of the old static html How To Practice Zen.com website, and my reply which I… Continue reading Zen Practice and Sakkaya Ditthi