"Well, the ones who love so much to quote the words of Kodo Sawaki in their kusen, why don't they have the idea to imitate sometimes his acts?

"Well, the ones who love so much to quote the words of Kodo Sawaki in their kusen, why don't they have the idea to imitate sometimes his acts? Himself, he precisely received the shiho of the successor of his master, old time fellow-student. Despite the fact that in his youth there was a relationship of competition, he did it with humility, as he...

Is the awakening conditioned to the seated position?

When we say that zazen is the practice-realization of the awakening, this awakening remains conditioned to the seated position? Is it different from the Awakening realized by Masters when they are not on the zafu (during the Transmission of the lineage or in an answer to a phenomenon stemming from nature)? Is the Awakening impermanent? ...

Summer camp

I've been practising zazen irregularly, and not lately, anyway.Do you think that attending an eight day session without being much prepared is realistic?I'm afraid I would feel like a stranger, even bother, because I would not know the protocol, the etiquette, the good manners, in a way. . .I've read the testimony of a practitioner ...

Goals

We are advised to practice zen without any goal, since it is the path, the process and practice themselves that should be the center and it is through them that we attain our goal. Is it the same in life at large? Should I abandon my goals in life and concentrate on what life gives me?
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Life expectancy of a Zen Master.

There is a doubt which always challenges me when I think of the Zen Masters, here it is: the number of them who died relatively young (kind in the sixty years), while they were sick: Deshimaru, Suzuki, Katagiri etc. ...however I thought that this way was to lead humans to live old and in good health… when one compares it with karate for ...



The shiho looks to me to be something intimate and to make a celebration of it does not look right to me.

HISTORY OF EVENTS(Twenty years ago already Master Rempo Niwa zenji, the highest authority of the Japanese zen who was about to become Zenji of the temple of Eiheiji, temple founded by Master Dogen zenji himself, came in person to transmit the shiho - the transmission of the dharma - to three of the closest disciples of Master Taisen ...


Funeral rites.

Hello, I create funeral urns and I am recently interested in Buddhism. I would like to know a little better the course of a Buddhist funerary ceremony in particular to know if ashes are given in a urn, are they particular? Which are the rituals practised in France and in modern societies in general at the time of the incineration? Thank you in ...

Ego

I've learned by getting interested in zen that the ego was an illusion from the mind, because it was deluded that phenomenon are separated. But phenomenon are interdependent. And you answered a visitor who asked about how he could abandon the ego, that he should totally integrate it. But if I integrate the ego, I integrate the illusion ...


Who realizes?

Not an easy task to find the right words. If there is nobody to experiment nor observe, who realizes? Not the individual. Or at least, not individual consciousness, since it itself disappears. Sorry not to be able to state my meaning more clearly. Thanks for your presence.
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Motivation

Master Kosen, Some people have an innate motivation and need little effort to practice, while for others, it is just the other way round. How can one develop a strong motivation? Thanks.
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The impression of being in Japan.

Kan ji zaï bo satsu. Gyo jin han...why sing that, what does it mean? In the dojo, why do I have the impression of being in Japan? I am not Japanese. I speak better Japanese than Breton! Zazen is very good. Thank you
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Daily living

How do we live a spiritual life with so much dysfunction around us? I feel it is much like my practice. Sitting without wanting an outcome but wanting an outcome none the less
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The crossing of the legs.

Hello dear Master. I wanted quite simply to ask you whether it is important to change the legs when the lotus is made, I ask you this because it is normally said that one must put the right foot on the left thigh and then the left leg on the right thigh, but somebody said to me that to keep it balance it is important to just make the reverse ...



The normal state of mind.

My question is the following: It is said that it is necessary to return to the normal state of mind, which is your definition of the normal state of mind (or of spirit)Thanks in advance..
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Awakening

Is it normal to feel despondent and forlorn whereas you're on the Way? I frequently feel separate from the world because of a great internal confusion and fears that bother me and keep me off the present moment. I'm sometimes feel I'm going mad. . .
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Selecting because of money.

Dear Kosen Master,How someone who recieves money from the government for being poor, for example, can follow his Master around various countries and continents?I believe to have understood that everything was Buddha. But would the selection because of money thus be done also on the way????Great respect for the freshness of your teaching.Very ...

Humor?

MASTER KOSEN, I WANTED TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHT ON THE SENSE OF HUMOR IN ZEN, BY THE WAY: GOING THROUGH THE PHOTO GALLERY I BELIEVE THAT SOME BALD MEN HAVE FOUND THEIR DREAMY PLACE TO SOLVE THEIR "BALD" COMPLEX JE.. JE
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What do you mean with balance the polarities?

What do you mean with balance the polarities? And how "to react" facing the duality? "Idiot" example: I have a strong joy, must I benefit from it completely? Me, I would say yes. I have a strong sorrow, must I live it completely? Or avoid it? ... The balance in all that what is it? Nothing to live completely? Live everything completely? One ...

Just a greeting

Good morning Master, I have nothing interesting to ask you today. I just want to respectfully greet you. Your teaching helped me a lot. Though there is no dojo in my vicinity, and though I was able to attend only one sesshin till now, I try to manage following your teaching. I deeply appreciate what you do. I only know this way to communicate ...

I prefer hell to paradise

Master Deshimaru said: “ I prefer hell to paradise; there, at least, you can freely have a drink with your friends. This is what Mushotoku is about. People who fear the infernal cycle of transmigration are so boring.”However, Buddhism, and more particularly Tibetan Buddhism, says that being afraid of transmigration and of being ...

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