March 25, 2015

Spring 2015 Koan Series

Dear Bodhisattvas,
Andrew and I have had a wonderful weekend meeting with the two other senseis of the Open Source: Tenney Nathanson, from Tuscon, and Megan Rundel, here in the Bay area.  We sat together, talked, walked among green hillsides bedecked with California poppies, ate delicious food together, sat some more, took in some of the wonders of the Asian Museum, and even were able to meet together with Joan Sutherland, who is very deeply engaged in the continuing work of translations and commentaries of the koan collections for the use of all of us and of wayfarers to come, on into the unforeseeable future.  On Sundayevening we sat with Megan’s group in Oakland, and yesterday evening with David Weinstein’s group at Rockridge.  Rich connections in the Dharma!  Andrew’s on his way home. Tomorrow morning, early, David and I will visit the Berkeley Zen Center, and then I’ll be on my way home, too, and looking forward to seeing you.

This Sunday we’ll begin our Spring Koan Series.  It seems fitting to start with this:

Blue Cliff Record, Case 36 : Changsha Goes Picnicking

One day Changsha went off to wander in the mountains. When he returned, the director of the temple met him at the gate and asked, “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been strolling about in the hills.”
“Which way did you go?”
“I went out following the scented grass and came back chasing the falling flowers.”
“That’s exactly the feeling of spring,” said the director.
“It’s better than autumn dew falling on the lotuses,” said Changsha.

(Xuedou : “I’m grateful for your reply.”)

For this koan, you can read, then reread very slowly, phrase by phrase, read again,  sit a little, read again, read before sleeping, carry in your pocket,

Maybe come back to it later and see if an image is especially calling you and bring that one deep into meditation.  Doodle, sing it, act it, …..it won’t break!

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday,
Sarah