What Is Zen?

[@svarog8126]

I feel at home with so much of this. Awareness is the first step

[@srrose777]

Thank you for this and other Dharma talks. Currently without a teacher in my community, so it's great to find one online that resonates with me.

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

You are welcome!

[@siewkonsum7291]

One's inner True Nature is "Zen". "Zen" is that which perceives all! It's eternal, bright and never dies! It's beginningless and endless! Neither moves nor stays; Neither comes nor goes! However most people don't know it; Thus never realize it in their lifetime!

[@cmgoodchild3047]

I stay present by watching my breath throughout my day. It doesn't matter if I achieve samadhi or anything. I am no worse for not. I only realize the eternal present. Anything else is just a bonus but really means nothing.

[@jacobhoppen1964]

Wonderful. I'll be back to listen to this one again.

[@morelius]

Thank you for this teaching. Cheers from Mexico _/\_

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

You are welcome!

[@siewkonsum7291]

Someone asked famed Zen master Prof. D.T.Suzuki during his Zen lecture at the Harvard University in USA - What is Zen? He replied - Zen is like a mosquito making love to an elephant! The entire hall of varsity students burst into a big loud hilarious laughter! That's it - that's ZEN !!!

[@gustavogu6974]

"Every single thing is food for practice''. I love Zen's down to earth approach to the most conventionally serious things in life. It equalizes the ''sacred and the profane'' in a nuclear fusion, and demonstrates opposites go together like husband and wife, and that no appearent cheating has the power to essentially unmarry them.

[@JacobScott0000]

I also find myself talking or saying something I regret, only to realise its too late...I was on auto pilot and now it's out. Conversations can be so impulsive and fast. I suppose its easy to get dragged along.

[@vapourmile]

If it's too late, then it's too late to wither yourself with regrets. ;-)

[@JacobScott0000]

Crescendo too true

[@DJSTOEK]

❤❤❤

[@marcdellorusso180]

I really enjoyed listening to this and connect with Zen philosophy, but I find zazen very difficult and not a very calming meditation. For one thing, I like to have my eyes almost closed when meditating. I find you become much more absorbed in it that way... My question to you is, what would you recommend I do in regards to meditation? Thank you.

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

Thank you! First, I'm not sure what you mean by absorbed? Absorbed in what? Already you are not separate from anything else. Regarding mediation, just keep you mind clear, like a mirror. Meaning, just perceive everything just as it is without adding anything to it.

[@ragestartzen4407]

Is zen effective outside of the monastic experience? Is it effective for the lay person?

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

It's effective for all of us. The Buddha said we all suffer from anger, desire, and ignorance.

[@ragestartzen4407]

Empty Gate Zen Center The reason I ask is that a man named sadguru asserted that zen is only beneficial when practiced in the monastic setting by monks/priests. So I decided to ask a question rather than make mean assumptions about him in my head.

[@ragestartzen4407]

Empty Gate Zen Center I'd like to be in the monastic setting, but it would seem that im too old for that now. Or atleast I think I am anyways. Maybe im wrong.

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

If you want to practice in a monastic setting, you could sit a 3 month retreat at our center Mu Sang Sa in Korea or at the Providence Zen center. Both hold yearly 3 month retreats.

[@siewkonsum7291]

Master Seung Sahn says, Zen practice is attaining our true self and how can we help the World by asking the question "What am I?" ❤

[@vapourmile]

Anyone who asks what Zen is should learn to hold their tongue!

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

Why are you still talking?

[@vapourmile]

Empty Gate Zen Center Why are you asking? :-P

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

For you!

[@vapourmile]

Empty Gate Zen Center Yeah... You Would say that! :-P

[@kennhiser]

the tongue is too slippery to hold - hold the mind and the tongue will follow...or will not, rather.

[@noself-onlykarma]

Isn’t it funny as we come from Korean Seon tradition but even as we explain in English, we have to use Japanese (Zen, zazen, etc) words and then translate it to English? Just thought it was funny...

[@kennhiser]

no words would be best, eh?

[@easyskankingdude]

nice beard

[@ProfessorCarvalho]

I stopped to watch when listen "oh shit".

[@johncoppola4636]

Whatever a Zen master tells you Zen is, it isn't. Zen isn't any thing.

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

Zen isn't anything and yet not anything.

[@johncoppola4636]

Any thing or anything is a thought and Chan is not a thought. Thought is nothing and Zen is not nothing.

[@EmptyGateZenCenterBerkeley]

Saying Chan is not a thought is a thought. Saying Zen is nothing is already making something and is also thought. How can you answer before words?

[@johncoppola4636]

Saying Chan is not a thought is a thought, is also a thought. Words are useless which is also a thought but a thought that is closer to non thought. What is full is also empty and what is empty is always full.

[@johncoppola4636]

YOu cannot be full until you are empty.