https://youtu.be/DgK_spzSOGQOleh Sokuzan

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Whatever arises in your life, in your mind and in your relationships, receive that. It’s so important, but we miss it by the impulsive reaction to the perception. As soon as the leading edge of the negativity shows up, do nothing with it. It might just fall apart without your participation.https://youtu.be/D9H05PZhBFo…

We take for granted the life of the buddha. We have to acknowledge that there are not many ways to verify the accuracy of the story, and there are also many iterations of how the buddha has been presented over time.https://youtu.be/pPDsx0TCcJYOleh Sokuzan

https://youtu.be/Xw1Xd20jAy0The emotional dynamic that shows up as negative or useless feelings that we call depression can mean completely different things to people. You may need a psychiatrist or a therapist. It could also, possibly, be addressed by sitting down, holding still and watching the mind is doing.…

Enlightened means awake or realized. An outflow is usually seen as something negative that happens when we react to something we don’t like with anger and blame because all we see is the simple cause and effect. Don’t do anything unless you have to. You’re going to have to train your mind to see this.https://youtu.be/tsUJYW8l_Os…

What is the universality of the guru? First you need a living teacher who inspires you. They introduce you to your world, the one you’ve been covering up with your ideas, opinions, your hope and fear, etc.. If you’re able to do that then everything becomes your teacher.https://youtu.be/A2um5JkHYTQOleh Sokuzan

Sokuzan was introduced to this practice in 1974 by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche starting with a 10 day solitary retreat. We continue this tradition for varying lengths of time as an opportunity to look at our mind without interruptions.https://youtu.be/f5wdiZs7KHMOleh Sokuzan

When we return to stillness, we see how crowded the whole thing is and how the mind is overflowing with subconscious gossip. Just watch the thoughts come and go. A willingness to not know is the space that shows up around the thoughts.https://youtu.be/M7uHfNSwKZYOleh Sokuzan

We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The emphasis in this talk is on the Buddha; relating to a teacher. Buddha represents the immediate, living quality of awakening. It’s not something unique, but something universal. Every form is the body of Buddha.https://youtu.be/kE3G5yrSTysOleh Sokuzan

There is a deep cluster of lies that support an artificial self. Just receive whatever arises without comment. Whatever occurs needs to be seen. You can’t see all of it, but you can see the leading edge - you have to see it yourself.https://youtu.be/_ROrpU1jeEoOleh Sokuzan

We’re always looking for causation. The ego wants to know why. Stop asking why questions. A “what” question stops at whatever it is you’re questioning. This is done with your awareness.https://youtu.be/BjucTupxJLsOleh Sokuzan

There are many examples of skillful disruption in our lineage. Sometimes the disconnect can be so strong that the gap between concepts and seeing can’t be bridged through intellect. The disruption that the teacher causes to our conditioned experience with an erratic word or function is meant to bridge that gap.https://youtu.be/rGeoy72_YVY…

We’re looking for any reference point by which to gauge our meditation practice and try to derive meaning. Thoughts are so addicting and seductive, we feel we need to do something with them. Regardless of what happens, our intention is to observe. When we return to the intention we see we can’t fail in meditation.https://youtu.be/4l2kyf6UUtU…

Stop blaming others for what you think and feel. You don’t know what causes anything. Don’t leave what’s in front of you for what you think about it. By intending to follow the vow to be with all things, the consciousness begins to open up and see.https://youtu.be/q6d8JdiH2gEOleh Sokuzan

In some Korean and Zen traditions there are very intense controls. Be responsible for your own practice as soon as possible. Instead of holding the form no matter what, there should be some flexibility in how we observe the standard. You will not even know the way in which your mind is trained.https://youtu.be/bSaBnjtLT8U…

Shikantaza is a Japanese word meaning ‘ just precisely this.’ It means that whatever shows up in your mind is your object of meditation. Shamatha practice is about focusing on one thing, or following the breath. One way of practicing is not superior to the other.https://youtu.be/XBuwvekU4w0Oleh Sokuzan

This talk is about encouraging you to work with your awareness to see what’s in front of you without reaffirming your ideas, opinions or emotions. ‘Don’t step out’ is another way of teaching patience. Receive the karma that is your business; the comments are extra.https://youtu.be/N4UPmw4plZkOleh Sokuzan

The paramita of meditation carries a lot of weight; it’s the vehicle for our practice. Without this practice we tend to do mental gymnastics, but unlike other practices, meditation doesn’t provide a safety net.https://youtu.be/7r8bi_CmVeEOleh Sokuzan

https://youtu.be/_UNoDgeRB5IOleh Sokuzan

“Don’t waste your time” comes from the last lines of the Sandokai. How this shows up for each person will be so different. Maybe it’s working at a job you hate, or a relationship you think you can’t get out of. Sitting meditation over time will help you get closer to the very area where you are probably wasting your time.https://youtu.be/mB8tqc_K3x…

https://youtu.be/CRwXazx3s8YOleh Sokuzan

https://soundcloud.com/sokukoji-buddhist-temple/where-thoughts-arise-04-10-24-with-sokuzan-sokukojiorg?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=202e21e817e64fe5a0cc368a7dab4b86https://youtu.be/v3OKQKAr6JwOleh Sokuzan

We can do both; have a life and a family, and be a fully ordained monk. The reason I say it this way is so we don’t confuse the mundane with the spiritual path. The important thing on the spiritual path is to just intend. The goal that I recommend is to see the truth yourself.https://youtu.be/9KESGDMo7w4…

Patience acknowledges anger more than anything else. The Buddha paid special attention to anger. Patience is our willingness to be with the loneliness and pain that can arise on the path and to be without resentment.https://youtu.be/d4jiZHX_bWoOleh Sokuzan

Prajna is sometimes called mirror-like; it’s reflecting back the mystery of the whole thing. You can’t know what this is. Everything that’s showing up in your life is unreal. You can continue to look at everything and just receive it.https://youtu.be/DAKI8feFhxkOleh Sokuzan

The inspiration of the bodhisattva path is at the core of our practice. Chiezan talks about ground, path and fruition, and the first paramita of generosity. We are beginning to transition from a poverty mentality to a mentality of abundance.https://youtu.be/0B2jCWLKpKc?si=QWFHuwB75Ci4vcWPOleh Sokuzan

We are conditioned to make assumptions. We live in a consensus reality. The Buddhist path encourages us to begin to look beyond the reasonable aspects of our phenomenal world, to see non-duality, beyond the fear of groundlessness or spaciousness.https://youtu.be/wXCl9ZbA0FcOleh Sokuzan

https://youtu.be/T5EfdwVKTEEOleh Sokuzan

Be responsible for your mind stream without adding your personal condiments to everything. Grasping comes out of desire, which stops the awareness, the wisdom mind. The response is just to include and observe the desire. There is no formula or standard there.https://youtu.be/DCRwdQrI87cOleh Sokuzan

This is a way of looking at not attaching to what arises. Don’t buy in, but also don’t dismiss or reject it. Don’t take any position on anything. This is very difficult to do. Have some consideration for the energy that’s moving around in your kitchen or in your mind stream. If you’re training your mind, you will know if you need to do something.ht…

The fundamental issue is the suffering, anxiety and difficulty we run into, sometimes with no apparent cause. We are trying to squeeze some happiness out of samsara. You can’t fix it. This is the illusion you need to see. If you see this, nothing will be running your life.https://youtu.be/kL1GDEqPOS4…

https://youtu.be/hFsLWvYa-boOleh Sokuzan

Pre-order Sokuzan's newest book, Sixty Second Sokuzan: 52 one-minute Zen Buddhist teachings HERE:https://www.sokukoji.org/product-page/sixty-second-sokuzanVideo-link of this talk:https://youtu.be/y_G5Bnewd6cOleh Sokuzan

We tend to believe what shows up in our minds; it feels safer and more comfortable. The teaching here is that it’s an illusion. Just believing that this is an illusion doesn’t mean that it won’t continue to delude you. The two fundamental areas we need to see clearly are belief in a self as a separate being and belief that there is an other. It nee…

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Instead of trying to do things out in the world, go within. Slow down, sit still, and watch the continued, very subtle movement in your mind stream. Everything is dependently arisen.https://youtu.be/GY_RGOZW3hsOleh Sokuzan

This talk title is a line from a classical text in Soto Zen literature: verse 20 in the Book of Serenity. You don’t have to know anything, but you have to study and receive everything. Stop responding out of some kind of interpretation based on your conflicting emotions about the nature of reality.https://youtu.be/UyazzC2VUIY…