Zen Master Hyon Ja: Hakuin’s Baby (Dharma Note)

Zen Master Hakuin lived in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. He is said to have created the now-famous question: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” Hakuin believed that the understanding arising out of practice…

Zen Master Hyon Ja: Inside Outside: Who knows? (Dharma Note)

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Have you noticed that we often talk about Buddha as someone else? Strange to talk about yourself as if you are talking about someone else. Buddha is not someone you will someday be If you only practice hard enough maybe you will then be the…

Zen Master Hyon Ja: Sangha (Dharma Note)

Sangha is a community of people sincerely wishing to find their true nature. We pay homage to the Buddha, The Dharma and the Sangha. Each a precious valuable jewel. Sangha is where all of us together fit. Buddha is your true nature. Dharma…

Zen Master Hyon Ja: Two in one: Who is the true one? (Dharma Note)

A very interesting Kong-an that we sometimes work on in the interview room is called: Chong Nyo’s Soul leaves. Oh Jo asked a monk: Chong Nyo and her soul are separated. Which is the true one? In this Kong-an we look at two things: Chong…

Zen-Meisterin Hyon Ja: Keine Antwort darauf, warum wir leiden (Dharma Note)

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Ein zentrales Thema im Zen ist das Leiden. Der Buddha lehrte uns, dass es drei Hauptgründe für unser Leiden gibt: Begierde, Wut und Unwissenheit. Aber warum gibt es überhaupt Leiden in unserer Welt, auf unserem Planeten? Wie hat es begonnen?…

Zen Master Hyon Ja: Change (Dharma Note)

Some things never change— even change itself never changes. No stopping, beginning or ending. It just flows along. Buddha named this phenomena impermanence and pointed to this as a fundamental principle of existence. But even if the Buddha…
Vienna Zen Center / Dharma NoteCreative Commons

Jan Sendzimir JDPSN: When April Stays Wild All Year Long – Dharma Note, April 2023

  Spring came early this year, announced by the first white flowers of fruiting trees. And suddenly snow comes on a cold wind, pulling us back into Winter. Rocking back and forth between the seasons, we are reminded of the old saying:…
What is caring about ourselves, and what is caring about others?National Museum of Korea, Public Domain

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Take Care! – Dharma Note, February 2023

  Some time ago, somebody asked if we should take care of ourselves first, or if we should care for others first. Often we hear Buddhist quotes like “first get enlightened, then help all other beings”. Should we really care about…
Jan Sendzimir JDPSN© Foto Fally

Jan Sendzimir JDPSN: Where is Home? (Dharma Note)

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Inka Speech, September 03, 2022*   Home is Not Home. Not Home is Home! (Hit) No Home. No not home! (Hit) Home is Home. Not Home is not-home, which one of these statements is correct? KATZ! Bright faces shine in the morning light.   Where…
Vienna Zen Center/Zen Zentrum Wien© czz für VZC

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: What is that? (Wild Ducks) – Dharma Note

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  There is a well-known story from China about Zen Master Ma Jo (Mazu in Chinese) and his famous student Baek Jang (Paichang in Chinese). Ma Jo lived in the 8th century and was one of the most famous Zen Masters of the Tang dynasty. One…