Washing the bowl - Zen talk with Daizan Roshi

One day a new monk came to Zen master Joshu and said “I am a new trainee in the temple, can you give me some teaching?” Master Joshu said, “Have you eaten?” and the monk said “yes”, Joshu replied “then wash your bowl”. In this talk, Daizan Roshi explains some of the ways that this famous but very simple little interchange can be looked at, in terms of digesting and cleaning the ’stuff’ accumulated in our life, and how it can nourish us. He goes on to discuss some of these views in relation to the life story of his Zen teacher in Japan, Shinzan Roshi.
Zenways (www.zenways.org) promotes and encourages activities and practices that enhance human wellbeing, balance and awakening (satori or kensho - the enlightenment of Zen) in the many different situations we find ourselves in. Over many years of strict training, in Japan and the west, Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi received dharma transmission and permission to teach in both the Rinzai and Soto lineages of Zen. He now teaches at the Yugagyo Dojo in London, UK. May these recordings help you and those around you to find and realise the truth.

[@haikuargentina1108]

Brillant Dharma talk. Thank you 🙏

[@Zenways_zen]

You're very welcome.

[@aattaresoufyane8836]

Thanks you ❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@Zenways_zen]

You're very welcome

[@hounenida]

“There is no limit to how extraordinary your life can become!” 🙏🏻

[@Zenways_zen]

Exactly.

[@AngelOne11]

i love the sound of the rain :)

[@aaronfreeman6352]

Excellent

[@40somethingvlogger74]

Loving your talks Daizan! I just discovered them a few days ago and am wandering my way through. Many thanks for offering them here. I wonder the following: Joshu is the Japanese name for Zhaozhou Congshen, who was born in 8th century China. I don't know if this applies to that era, but in contemporary Chinese the question "have you eaten?" is a customary way to greet someone, like we would say "how are you?" or "are you well?" To reply "yes" means something like "I'm doing fine." If this was also the case back in Joshu's time, I wonder what meaning "then wash your bowl" might take on.

[@Zenways_zen]

Great insight. Thank you so much. A whole other dimension (:

[@edgepixel8467]

Sounds to me like one of those sermons where the preacher takes one Bible verse and then proceeds to tell something entirely different.

[@anonymousprivate116]

To exhaust wanting and simply sit Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in Arkansas is a great place :)

[@Authormarkvanburen]

What was the name of the book you mentioned your teacher read?