Clouds, Barriers and Hidden Gates by Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN

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Clouds, Barriers and Hidden Gates What gets in the way of kong-an practice – and what is behind it What is a kong-an, anyway? Kong-an means "public case." It can be a story, a short dialogue, a question. Zen Master Seung Sahn said its…

How Old Are You, Really?

Old Age These two words, old age, carry a lot of weight of meaning, assumptions, and sometimes a lot of fear. When people ask us how old we are, we usually won't say, "Why are you making me old?” In most societies, birthdays are cherished…
"House": Painting by Liam, 6 years old.© Liam

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Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Four-String Guitar (2025)

Dharma talk and Q&A after Zen Day on January 28, 2025 in Vienna. Thank you all for practicing together! The first question was about achieving strong concentration. This has to do with the energy we generate because, after a retreat,…
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

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  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…
Vienna Zen Center/Zen Zentrum Wien© czz für VZC

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

  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…
Dharma Note © Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN© Knud Rosenmayr

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Why does the airplane cut the sky in half? (Dharma Note)

  Recently I was walking through the vineyards in Lower Austria. As I was walking I heard a sound above and when looking up I saw an airplane crossing through the blue sky. I took a picture and walked on. From below, it just looked as…
Japanese Armor (Gusoku), 17th century (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art © Met, CC 1.0, Public Domain). CC 1.0, Public Domain

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Kwan Seum Bosal! (Dharma Note)

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  There is so much violence and conflict going on at the moment. It echoes and screams out of the news and from people’s reports. Unthinkable things suddenly become a bare reality, showing us what human beings are capable of doing.…
Watanabe Seitei: ​​Picture Album of Birds and Flowers (detail).Metropolitan Museum of Art © Met, CC 1.0, Public Domain

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Try, try, try! (Dharma Note)

  ➾ Download full text One time Zen Master Wu Bong was asked “What is most important? He said ‘to try’”. We often hear and read about this trying, but what does it really mean? A few drops Here is a story about it: One…
"House": Painting by Liam, 6 years old.© Liam

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Painting inside (Dharma Note)

  ➾ Download full text   In these days of the pandemic, there is a strong connection between us humans that can be felt. Of course, on one side we may notice it on a superficial level, but also deep down there is a close bond. We…