Hokoku-An Zendo https://hokoku-an.org/ Offering Zen Meditation in Columbia, Missouri Mon, 13 Nov 2023 13:43:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5 Entering the Way of Meditation https://hokoku-an.org/2023/11/13/entering-the-way-of-meditation/ https://hokoku-an.org/2023/11/13/entering-the-way-of-meditation/#respond Mon, 13 Nov 2023 13:38:41 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=165 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…

The post Entering the Way of Meditation appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2023/11/13/entering-the-way-of-meditation/feed/ 0 Informal Talks Given at Westbury Retirement Home https://hokoku-an.org/2022/06/14/informal-talks-given-at-westbury-retirement-home/ https://hokoku-an.org/2022/06/14/informal-talks-given-at-westbury-retirement-home/#respond Tue, 14 Jun 2022 19:51:55 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=160 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…

The post Informal Talks Given at Westbury Retirement Home appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2022/06/14/informal-talks-given-at-westbury-retirement-home/feed/ 0 Words and the Stories We Tell: How Our Narratives Shape Reality https://hokoku-an.org/2022/01/23/words-and-the-stories-we-tell-how-our-narratives-shape-reality/ https://hokoku-an.org/2022/01/23/words-and-the-stories-we-tell-how-our-narratives-shape-reality/#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2022 16:33:19 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=124 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…

The post Words and the Stories We Tell: How Our Narratives Shape Reality appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2022/01/23/words-and-the-stories-we-tell-how-our-narratives-shape-reality/feed/ 2 Once and For All https://hokoku-an.org/2021/12/15/once-and-for-all/ https://hokoku-an.org/2021/12/15/once-and-for-all/#respond Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:44:00 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=126 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…

The post Once and For All appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2021/12/15/once-and-for-all/feed/ 0 Basic Zen Meditation https://hokoku-an.org/2021/11/01/basic-zen-meditation/ https://hokoku-an.org/2021/11/01/basic-zen-meditation/#respond Mon, 01 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=82 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…

The post Basic Zen Meditation appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2021/11/01/basic-zen-meditation/feed/ 0 A Basic Introduction to Sitting Still https://hokoku-an.org/2021/09/20/a-basic-introduction-to-sitting-still/ https://hokoku-an.org/2021/09/20/a-basic-introduction-to-sitting-still/#respond Mon, 20 Sep 2021 17:00:42 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=78 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…

The post A Basic Introduction to Sitting Still appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2021/09/20/a-basic-introduction-to-sitting-still/feed/ 0 Why Sit? https://hokoku-an.org/2020/10/25/why-sit/ https://hokoku-an.org/2020/10/25/why-sit/#respond Sun, 25 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=128 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…

The post Why Sit? appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2020/10/25/why-sit/feed/ 0 Correct Posture for Meditation https://hokoku-an.org/2020/09/24/correct-posture-for-meditation/ https://hokoku-an.org/2020/09/24/correct-posture-for-meditation/#respond Thu, 24 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=130 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…

The post Correct Posture for Meditation appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2020/09/24/correct-posture-for-meditation/feed/ 0 Some Notes on Practicing Alone https://hokoku-an.org/2020/03/20/some-notes-on-practicing-alone/ https://hokoku-an.org/2020/03/20/some-notes-on-practicing-alone/#respond Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:10:00 +0000 https://hokoku-an.org/?p=84 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…

The post Some Notes on Practicing Alone appeared first on Hokoku-An Zendo.

]]> https://hokoku-an.org/2020/03/20/some-notes-on-practicing-alone/feed/ 0