Trying to understand the Mind with the mind is a big mistake. —Sengstan Be Still —It has been taught for centuries that the most expedient means of entering the Way…

One: For Contemplation: Some Verses on the Faith-mind by Sengstan The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love and hate are both absent, everything…

Words! The Way is beyond all language, for in it there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, no today.--Sengstan As I see it, beginning with the body: from conception to death…

Let's be clear --  a personal note from Seido, caretaker of Hokoku-An Zendo. I'm not a Zen Master; and as far as being a Rinzai Zen monk goes, I'm the first…

A monk asked Joshu: What is meditation?Joshu replied: Meditation is not meditation.The monk persisted: Why is meditation not meditation?Joshu replied: It’s alive! It’s alive! There are many so-called “methods of…

What follows is a non-sectarian approach to sitting still. It could be considered preparation for meditation. One: Breathing exercise for relaxation and focus; this exercise can be done seated in…

Someone asked me the other day, "Why do you meditate?" When I was a newly ordained monk and first started Hokoku-An Zendo I used to give a lot of Dharma…

For those of you trying to maintain a regular sitting practice at home -- please persevere; even if you sit for only 15 or 20 minutes a day, it's worth…

Maintaining a solo practice of zazen requires discipline, first and foremost. Becoming complacent with your practice leads to one end: no practice. Unfortunately it’s very easy to become complacent in…