Empty Gate Zen Center - Latest Comments

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

Deepak Menon — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:04:58 -0000

So much to learn from the wisdom of the sages - and they tell us that the comparison with the two headed dragon is an example of gaining authenticity in this little life of ours by gaining the wisdom to learn the consequences of our actions as well as the compassion to direct all our actions towards helping our mother earth in all its myriad manifestations .
QUOTE "In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, enlightenment is depicted as a two headed dragon of wisdom and compassion UNQUOTE!
That was very very illuminating and thank you for sharing - I have also shared this on my facebook page
Deepak from New Delhi

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

Vijendra1331 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:09:23 -0000

so thankfull for your post.

Re: Zen is Not Self Improvement

garagestudio — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:25:06 -0000

Thank you for this reminder...again and again, I notice my mind looking for systems to ensure my perpetual "enlightened" behavior, to justify my view of the world, to be right about anything and everything!

Always the beginning...

Re: Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule

Joseph — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:29:31 -0000

These dates are not correct

Re: One Thing

ds — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:50:51 -0000

the fist joins all the fingers of the hand in a powerful shape, so - all sutras' meanings are united in the same way into a powerful "one thing": the nondual nature of the world...

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

Bonnie Matthews — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:21:14 -0000

I learned so much reading this. thank you!

Re: One Thing

Guest — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:25:03 -0000

katz!

Re: Just Hear The Bell

EGZC Abbot — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:16:11 -0000

Was that bell sound inside or outside your mind? ;-)

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

EGZC Abbot — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:14:24 -0000

Anytime!

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

EGZC Abbot — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:14:03 -0000

_/\_

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

EGZC Abbot — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:12:59 -0000

_/\_

Re: Why Be In This Moment?

Abbot — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:10:19 -0000

The door is always open :-)

Re: Why Be In This Moment?

Edith — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:32:20 -0000

'Ha', i said to myself, ' the answers are behind the door!' I clicked on it but it wouldn't open - bummer. Edith

Re: Just Hear The Bell

Koke — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:36:39 -0000

Diiiinnng...

Re: Notes on Suffering

Clarke Mclarke1 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 08:58:37 -0000

Bless the frying pan and allow it its space- rather than getting rid of stuff I find that the stuff is part of my experience and by allowing it to be it just dissolves with out effort .the effort is in staying with the uncomfortable feeling or experience the bumps! and not allowing it/ them to enter back into thinkin- does that make sense!

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

Susan — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:24:43 -0000

I've been trying to remember or re-understand what true self is and why the discovery of it and the unfolding is the goal we should seek. This explanation has helped a great deal. Thanks.

Re: Just Hear The Bell

Lynnmonk2 — Sun, 29 May 2011 11:18:30 -0000

like this

Re: Just Hear The Bell

Oh Jok — Tue, 24 May 2011 01:49:43 -0000

Don't think. Don't do.
Just be.
Only this.
If I am the Sound..I am the Bell.
One can not be without the Other.
Mind makes Both.
A Man With One Hand Hits The Floor.
If nobody strikes The Bell, what then?

Re: Just Hear The Bell

koke — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:34:56 -0000

What is the sound of one hand clapping? Just listen and you are the sound of the bell. Don't think, just do it.

Re: The Teaching of Zen Master Man Gong Workshop

Ross — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:48:38 -0000

Hope ZMDK does this workshop again. Sorry I missed this first one.

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

Sue — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:04:07 -0000

As I sit at my computer reading this teaching, I experience it in a new way. So many times I have heard similar words and each time I hear and learn from them in new ways. Today this feels clear.

Re: True Self, Authentic Self

luke — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:53:22 -0000

I just came back from my walking meditation, where i tried to learn to observed the "earth, wind, fire, water" in this body, the world and the moment. I decided to check out the web site of the "empty gate" Zen center. I was blown away by the fresh perspective and the clear/direct language that break down these understandings to bite size. Namo-a-yee-da-phat.

Re: Notes on Suffering

Oh Jok — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:13:17 -0000

"maintaining and often increasing.."

Yes, we create and usually perpetuate most of our suffering. It's like walking around hitting yourself on the head with a frying pan and never taking time to look at the bumps on your head...I make the choice..so..who is the " I " that is choosing?

It is not so much even this (choice) as it it is conditioned behavior..so..how do we break the frying pan cycle?

Thinking Mind Creates Suffering..so..Don't pick up the Frying Pan. Let it be and let the True I emerge..then..no more Headaches!

Re: New Resident, Jason Quinn

Les — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:47:52 -0000

Kwan Sahn Sunim;

A monk that does not age.

He plays guitar, but it makes no sound

What song is it?

Don't know.

Re: Notes on Suffering

kevin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:21:27 -0000

I have a small spiked wooden ball I call my happy thought. Whenever I cling to my happy thought I notice it is quite painful and the tighter I hold on to it the more painful it becomes. Eventually I must let go of my happy thought to let the pain subside. But alas after sitting for a while I get a twinkle in my eye. Because I know I will just pick up my happy thought again.