Hello <<First Name>>, enjoy your newsletter. It's best if you do display images (they are safe), and be sure to look for the note about the donated t-shirts and bumper stickers.
Nyorai Zen
From an interview with
Joshu Sasaki Roshi (1907 - 2014)
Q. Could you lay out the main tenets of Nyorai Zen?
 A. If you really see into the tenets of Nyorai Zen, then you won't have to ask about it. If you want to say it as simply as possible, the fundamental teaching of Nyorai Zen is understanding how the incomplete self is born and how the complete self is born. The teaching of that and then putting that principle you've been taught into practice. To make teaching, learning and putting into practice one, that is Zen practice. For example, did you hear this sound? (He pops his hand over the mouth of a tea cup) The koan is, "When you were hearing this sound, did you believe in God? When you were hearing this sound, where is God?" This is a koan in our system. If you really pass through that first koan, there's another koan waiting for you: "After that sound ended, where did God go?" Our practice is clearly formulated along these principles.
So we can say the fundamental aspect of Nyorai Zen is the manifestation of wisdom. The manifestation of wisdom that understands, not the wisdom based on "I am," that is Zen practice. But there is this incomplete self, which is unconditionally affirmed and there are times when I cannot deny that self and affirm that self and teach to that kind of self. There are those who, without running away from that sort of teaching, shave their heads and come to Mt. Baldy and stay for two or three or four or five years. To speak frankly, I've been here for over 30 years. It's only in the last 10 years that I really have true disciples. If you want to look at the first 20 years, the teaching was kind of useless. The people who were being taught didn't understand and my teaching didn't seem to sink in.
|
|
Beginner's Instruction Saturday 8:15AM
Wear loose clothes, bring a friend, come early for a cup of coffee or tea. Also, the beginners instruction is a great refresher if you have been away for a while.
probably not zero ...
this week at AZC ...
gassho (sincerest thanks) to our visitors ...
Nancy M, Rolando H, Juan M, Easter B
 A member donated some bumper stickers. Be sure to stop by and pick one up.
Zazen in an AZC t-shirt ... priceless.
We are always looking for short articles and first-person stories, from both AZC members and non-members alike. (700 words, plus or minus would be great - please include pictures if you can.) Please send to Jim Redel.
Got a favorite AZC photo? We'd be happy to include it.Please send to Jim Redel.
 We are now registered with the Amazon Smile programs, where they will donate a percentage of certain purchases to AZC. Please consider this the next time you shop at Amazon.(You can clock on the image to check it out.)
At AZC, we depend entirely upon the donations of our sangha members and the support of those who strive, as we do, to help others see their worlds a bit more clearly. If you've found a photo or link or article that you feel may help to inspire others, we welcome your support.
|
|
|
Center
