Dharma Winds Zen Sangha

08/11/2021

This Sunday 7th November four new clergy brothers have received Novice Priest Ordination, completing their initial study and practice and marking their entry into our sangha's clergy.

We warmly welcome:

Br. ShenDao 深道 - Profound Way
Br. ShenHai 深海 - Profound Ocean
Br. ShenFa 深法 - Profound Dharma
Br. ShenZhi 深智 - Profound Wisdom

May those new Novice Priests be the future pillars of the tradition as the dedication of merits of the ordination ceremony says so well.

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2021/11/08/november-2021-ordination-announcement/

31/12/2020

28/10/2020

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2020/10/27/a-conversation-with-hsu-yun-by-john-blofeld/

Excerpt: "in reality there is nothing but the One Mind. You may choose to regard it as in you or out of you, but “in” and “out” have no ultimate significance whatever – just as you, Mr P’u, and I and Amida Buddha have no real separateness"

A Conversation with Hsü Yün After living with Uncle for a few months and continuing my lessons to private students, I felt a great urge to travel again, if only for a few days. I had just been read…

01/09/2020

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2020/09/01/the-four-ennobling-truths-and-the-four-immeasurable-vows/

Excerpt:
"When one develops some interest in the Buddhist teachings, one of the first teachings he’ll find will be the one called the “Four noble Truth”. And we must say it is probably the most shared one of the whole Buddhist spectrum..."

The Four Ennobling Truths and the Four Immeasurable Vows When one develops some interest in the Buddhist teachings, one of the first teachings he’ll find will be the one called the “Four noble Trut…

23/07/2020

Excerpt: " Heaven, earth, sun, moon, mountains, rivers, this vast world is in truth the Grand Kasaya of the Buddha. "

Song of the Open Door to Dharma Winds Heaven, earth, sun, moon, mountains, rivers, this vast world is in truth the Grand Kasaya of the Buddha. Every day, however, you enter through the six doors, …

23/07/2020

Excerpt: "Some seek « true Zen » by discriminating against other traditions for what they do or do not do, say or do not say. To be right or wrong, however, does not make sense in Zen. Only the fact of manifesting the truth matters. The one that is lived, chewed and re-chewed, the one that everyone experiences and expresses differently"

« True Zen » Some seek « true Zen » by discriminating against other traditions for what they do or do not do, say or do not say. To be right or wrong, ho…

20/06/2020

The Maxims of Master Hanshan Deqing
(from Journey to Dreamland)

16. Why are certain material objects so treasured? A gem is virtually useless and a gilded scabbard is no better than a plain one.

Man decides that gold is valuable because it is rare and enduring and brilliant. He then thinks that if he possesses gold he, himself, will become rare or unique, that his individual worth will endure, and that he also will be considered a rather brilliant fellow. So obsessed he may become with these foolish notions that in trying to obtain gold, he will destroy the very life he is trying to embellish.

In the darkness of delusion the unenlightened believe that they can glorify themselves by reflecting the qualities they have assigned to their possessions. Those who live the enlightened life readily discern that the qualities of an object are not transferred to its possessor. A heap of treasures piled in their path will not obstruct their vision. They can see right through them. Gold in the pocket is not gold in the character.

17. Look at people who keep tigers as pets. Even while they’re laughing and playing with them, in the back of their minds they’re afraid their pet will suddenly turn on them. They never forget how dangerous tigers are.

But what about people who lust after possessions, indulging themselves with one acquisition after another. They remain completely unaware of any danger.

Yet, the tiger can eat only a man’s flesh. Greed can devour his soul.

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2017/12/12/the-maxims-of-master-hanshan-deqing/

For the entire Autobiography of Master HanShan Deqing translated by the founders of our Chan Order

http://zbohy.zatma.org/common/downloads/TheAutobiographyAndMaximsOfHanShan.pdf

The last chapter of a very important text of our Zen Order, the Autobiography of master Hanshan Deqing by our two founders JyDin Shakya and my late Dharma Teacher MingZhen Shakya. These Maxims of H…

14/06/2020

The Maxims of Master Hanshan Deqing
(from Journey to Dreamland)

13. The heart’s weather should always be clear, always sunny and calm. The only time the weather could turn bad is when clouds of lust and attachment form. These always bring storms of worry and confusion.

14. A single speck in the eye blurs good vision, we see double or triple images. A single dirty thought confounds a rational mind. Many errors in judgment can arise from it. Remove that speck and see clearly! Remove that dirty thought and think clearly!

15. Great accomplishments are composed of minute details. Those who succeed in attaining the Whole have attended carefully to each tiny part. Those who fail have ignored or taken too lightly what they deemed to be insignificant. The enlightened person overlooks nothing.
https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2017/12/12/the-maxims-of-master-hanshan-deqing/

For the entire Autobiography of Master HanShan Deqing translated by the founders of our Chan Order

http://zbohy.zatma.org/common/downloads/TheAutobiographyAndMaximsOfHanShan.pdf

The last chapter of a very important text of our Zen Order, the Autobiography of master Hanshan Deqing by our two founders JyDin Shakya and my late Dharma Teacher MingZhen Shakya. These Maxims of H…

18/05/2020

The Maxims of Master Hanshan Deqing
(from Journey to Dreamland)

5.True Dharma seekers who live in the world use their daily activity as a polishing tool. Outwardly they may appear to be very busy, like flint striking steel, making sparks everywhere. But inwardly they silently grow. For although they may be working very hard, they are working for the sake of the work and not for the profits it will bring them. Unattached to the results of their labor, they transcend the frenetic to reach the Way’s essential tranquillity. Doesn’t a rough and tumbling stream also sparkle like striking flints – while it polishes into smoothness every stone in its path?

11. Put a fish on land and he will remember the ocean until he dies. Put a bird in a cage, yet he will not forget the sky. Each remains homesick for his true home, the place where his nature has decreed that he should be.

Man is born in the state of innocence. His original nature is love and grace and purity. Yet he emigrates so casually without even a thought of his old home. Is this not sadder than the fishes and the birds?

12. Those who pursue money are always rushed, always busy with urgent matters. Those who pursue the Dharma, go slow and easy. “Boring” you say? Maybe. Maybe it’s downright dreary to stop and smell a flower or listen to a bird. Maybe a glint of gold is really more dazzling than the sight of one’s Original Face. Maybe what we need is a better definition of “treasure”.

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2017/12/12/the-maxims-of-master-hanshan-deqing/

For the entire Autobiography of Master HanShan Deqing translated by the founders of our Chan Order

http://zbohy.zatma.org/common/downloads/TheAutobiographyAndMaximsOfHanShan.pdf

The last chapter of a very important text of our Zen Order, the Autobiography of master Hanshan Deqing by our two founders JyDin Shakya and my late Dharma Teacher MingZhen Shakya. These Maxims of H…

11/05/2020

The Maxims of Master Hanshan Deqing
(from Journey to Dreamland)

9. With one small fulcrum, a lever can move tons of weight. With one greedy thought, years of integrity can be corrupted. A greedy thought is the seed of fear and confusion. It will grow wildly. The material gain that a greedy act brings is a small gain indeed. To act without greed and lose some material benefit is also, therefore a small loss. But to lose one’s integrity! That is an immense loss! The enlightened person stands in awe of the fulcrum.

10. What do people strive for? Money, or fame, or successful relationships, or the Dharma. Well, one man may become very rich but be hated by his family. Another man may be loved by everyone but not have a penny to his name. Still a third man may be hailed as a hero by his countrymen and then find himself with neither funds nor loving family. Usually, so much effort is put into achieving one goal, that the other goals cannot be attained. But what about the man who strives to attain the Dharma? If he succeeds he has gained in that one goal far more than the other three combined. He who has Dharma lacks nothing.

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2017/12/12/the-maxims-of-master-hanshan-deqing/

For the entire Autobiography of Master HanShan Deqing translated by the founders of our Chan Order

http://zbohy.zatma.org/common/downloads/TheAutobiographyAndMaximsOfHanShan.pdf

The last chapter of a very important text of our Zen Order, the Autobiography of master Hanshan Deqing by our two founders JyDin Shakya and my late Dharma Teacher MingZhen Shakya. These Maxims of H…

04/05/2020

The Maxims of Master Hanshan Deqing
(from Journey to Dreamland)

7.Our mind and body are by nature pure; but we sully them with sinful thoughts and deeds. In order to restore ourselves to our original purity, we need only to clean away the accumulated dirt. But how do we proceed with the cleansing process? Do we put a barrier between us and the occasions of our bad habits? Do we remove ourselves from the places of temptation? No. We cannot claim victory by avoiding the battle. The enemy is not our surroundings, it is in ourselves. We have to confront ourselves and try to understand our human weakness. We have to take an honest look at ourselves, at our relationships and our possessions, and ask what all our self-indulgence has gotten us. Has it brought us happiness? Surely not.

If we are ruthlessly honest we’ll have to admit that it was our own foolish egotism that soiled us. This admission is painful to make. Well, if we want to melt ice we have to apply heat. The hotter the fire, the quicker the ice melts. So it is with wisdom. The more intense our scrutiny, the quicker we will attain wisdom. When we grow large in wisdom we dwarf our old egotistical self. The contest is then over.

8. There are times when we act with unshakable faith in the Dharma even though we don’t understand the situation we’re in. There are other times when we understand our situation but are afraid to be completely faithful.

In one instance, we have heart; and in the other we have mind. We must put these two together! Understanding AND faith!

https://dharmawindszensangha.org/2017/12/12/the-maxims-of-master-hanshan-deqing/

For the entire Autobiography of Master HanShan Deqing translated by the founders of our Chan Order

http://zbohy.zatma.org/common/downloads/TheAutobiographyAndMaximsOfHanShan.pdf

The last chapter of a very important text of our Zen Order, the Autobiography of master Hanshan Deqing by our two founders JyDin Shakya and my late Dharma Teacher MingZhen Shakya. These Maxims of H…

29/04/2020

We just published an article, called "My Buddha is better than yours".

Excerpt: "My Buddha is better than yours! My practice beats yours! No way your silly thing rides you to enlightenment before me… and we could go on and on. Of course, we never hear that per se. But that is what we can ‘read’ between the lines sometimes, both in others that we may interact with… and in us, lets be honest.

There is a natural tendency in each of us to think that our choices and references are better than the ones that people around us assume. That is a crucial part of our practice: doubting. Not staying on any position or thought. But its easy to say, not so easy to do… how to do that anyway?"

Link:

My Buddha is better than yours Informal discussion on the practice of Huatou in our lineage   My Buddha is better than yours! My practice beats yours! No way your silly thing rides you to enli…