Category: Personal Development
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Tassajara Summer Retreats 2025
Photo by Ty Greenstein San Francisco Zen Center is pleased to announce that Tassajara will be offering an inspiring array of retreats this summer! These Zen meditation and interdisciplinary arts retreats are geared towards guests who are interested in immersing in practice and nature under the guidance of some of our most established teachers.…
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An Update on Zentatsu Richard Baker from Abbot David Zimmerman
Note from the editor: For the past few weeks, Zentatsu Richard Baker and his Dharma heir Tatsudo Nicole Baden have been visiting City Center where both Nicole and Richard gave a Dharma talk. They moved to Green Gulch Farm over last weekend and the plan was for Nicole to give the talk there on…
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Toward a Naturalistic, Pragmatic, Eudaimonic, and Cosmopolitan Buddhism
The Buddha lived prior to the discoveries of modern physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and astronomy. There are lots of things we know now—cell biology, genetics, evolutionary theory, relativity, quantum mechanics, astrophysics—that the Buddha had no way of knowing. On the other hand, during the Buddha’s lifetime there was active speculation and debate about the…
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Zhaozhou’s “Wash Your Bowl!”
Last week I had to share my understanding of Book of Serenity Case 39 and defend it in dharma combat as part of a shuso hossen ceremony. I am particularly fond of Case 39, and thought I would share some thoughts about it here: Case: A monk asked Zhaozhou, “I have just entered the monastery:…
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98. Zen Lessons from the Mississippi River
It is said that the origin of the great Mississippi River is actually a tiny spring.Growing from that source it eventually becomes a huge mass of water sometimesresembling a lake at it’s widest points along the way. Of course we all know that the mighty Mississippi’s ultimate destination is theocean. Once entering there atmospheric conditions…
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97. Trying To Suppress Thoughts Is A Mistake
There is an interesting and productive way to view and digest the conundrum ofthinking in meditation. Sometimes it can become a hindrance, while at other times,thinking is a necessary function and integral part of being human. Let’s explorethis in the following manner: Begin by noting that when you are doing anything, whether it be physical…
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Living Intelligence expressed through these books | Wisdom Teachings of Sambodhi Padmasamadhi (Volumes 1-70)
~ ∞ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi – Infinite Quantum Zen ~ ∞ ~ This is the preface and introduction for a 70-volume series called “Wisdom Teachings of Sambodhi Padmasamadhi.” Due to their length, the text has been divided into multiple parts. Here is the full list of contents for your convenience. • Preface. • Dear…
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Gathering of the Spirit (Omūno-verse, Edūnī-verse, Vedūnī-verse) | Wisdom Teachings of Sambodhi Padmasamadhi (Volumes 1-70)
~ ∞ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi – Infinite Quantum Zen ~ ∞ ~ This is the preface and introduction for a 70-volume series called “Wisdom Teachings of Sambodhi Padmasamadhi.” Due to their length, the text has been divided into multiple parts. Here is the full list of contents for your convenience. • Preface. • Dear…
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A Cosmic Shower of Qi
I was standing there under what felt like a waterfall of cosmic energy. I could feel it cascading down from the top of my head to my feet. I’ve never been a religious person, but this experience felt undeniably spiritual. This was years ago when I first learned a qigong technique called the Cosmic Shower.…
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The History of Two Finger Shooting Zen
I wanted to share some thoughts about One Finger Shooting Zen and its elusive cousin, Two Finger Shooting Zen. I’ve never written about this before, so grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s your thing), and let’s dive in! Where It All Began: One Finger Shooting Zen I originally learned One Finger Shooting…