Appamada

2022-01-25 | Precepts Program 7 | Todd Bankler by Appamada

“Listen to the sound of raindrops at midnight. The raindrops have the power to pierce not only moss but rock.” Dogen reflecting on Guishan Winter Poem ~ Nikki Giovanni Once a snowflake fell On my brow and I loved It so much and I kissed It and it was happy and called its cousins And brothers and a web Of snow engulfed me then I reached to love them all And I squeezed them and they became A spring rain and I stood perfectly Still and was a flower

2022-01-24 | Depth In Practice | The Light That Shines Through Infinity | Katagiri by Appamada

2022-01-17 | Depth In Practice | Ordinary Wonder | Joko Beck by Appamada

Feeling out a Channel ~ Saigyo Ice wedged fast In the crevice of the rock This morning begins to melt Under the moss the water Will be feeling out a channel For a New Beginning ~ John O’Donohue In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready for it to emerge. For a long time it has been watching your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. It watched you play with the seduction of safety And the grey promises that sameness whispered, Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent, Wondered would you always live like this. Then the delight, when your courage kindled, And out you stepped onto new ground, Your eyes young again with energy and dream, A path of plentitude opening before you. Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening. Unfurl yourself into the grace of be

2022-01-16 | Day 4 | Head Student Entering Ceremony plus Closing Reflection/ and Circle of the Jan 2022 Intensive 'Silent Illumination' Book Recommendation - Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Guo Gu

2022-01-16 | Day 4 | Silent Illumination | Peg Syverson and Flint Sparks - A Conversation Book Recommendation - Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Guo Gu

2022-01-15 | Day 3 | Silent Illumination | Peg Syverson Book Recommendation - Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Guo Gu

2022-01-14 | Silent Illumination | Day 2 | Flint Sparks Book Recommendation - Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Guo Gu

2022-01-13 | Silent Illumination | Day 1 | Flint Sparks and Peg Syverson Book Recommendation - Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Guo Gu

May all awakened beings extend with true compassion their luminous mirror wisdom. May the merit and virtue of our Inquiry, along with our everyday practices, extend to all beings everywhere. May all be relieved of suffering, free from fear, longing, aversion, and ignorance, and may the Way of Awakening go on endlessly.

2022-01-10 | Depth in Practice | Ordinary Wonder | JokoBeck by Appamada

2022 - 01 - 09 Dharma Talk | Vimalakirti And Tears | Joel Barna by Appamada

A link to the talk by Lynne Moore - We Are All Sand Walkers https://soundcloud.com/appamada-europe/gmt20211202-201148-recording

2022-01-03 | Depth in Practice | Ordinary Wonder | JokoBeck by Appamada

2021 - 12 - 19 Dharma Talk | Jijuyu Zammai | Laurie Winnette by Appamada

For Light ~ John O’Donohue Light cannot see inside things. That is what the dark is for: Minding the interior, Nurturing the draw of growth Through places where death In its own way turns into life. On the glare of neon times, Let our eyes not be worn By surfaces that shine With hunger made attractive. That our thoughts may be true light, Finding their way into words Which have the weight of shadow To hold the layers of truth. That we never place our trust In minds claimed by empty light, Where one-sided certainties Are driven by false desire. When we look into the heart, May our eyes have the kindness And reverence of candlelight. That the searching of our minds Be equal to the oblique Crevices and corners where The mystery continues to dwell, Glimmering in fugitive light. When we are confined inside The dark house of suffering That moonlight might find a window. When we become false and lost That the severe noon-light Would cast our shadow clear. When we love, the dawn-light Would lighten our feet

2021-12-20 | Depth in Practice | OrdinaryWonder by Appamada

Empty-handed I entered the world Barefoot I leave it. My coming, my going – Two simple happenings That got entangled. Kozan Ichikyo, a Zen monk who died in 1360 at the age of seventy-seven This human body truly is the entire cosmos Each breath of mine, is equally one of yours, my darling This tender abiding in “my” life Is the fierce glowing fire of inner earth Linking with all pre-phenomena Flashing to the distant horizon From “right here now” to “just this” Now the horizon itself Drops away— Bodhi! Svaha. (Myogen Steve Stucky) December 27, 2013 (died December 31, 2013) to what shall I liken this life? moonlight, reflected in dewdrops shaken from a crane's bill —Dogen I got trouble in my mind lord, I believe I'm fixin' to die I got trouble in my mind lord, I believe I'm fixin' to die Well I don't mind dyin', I just hate to leave my children cryin' -- Blind Lemon Jefferson

2021-12-12 Dharma Talk | Rohatsu | Joel Barna by Appamada