Practice as Rain Drops

Chanting plays a key part in Japanese Soto Zen, but for the Western student, even if you can find the Japanese words set out in English characters, it can be difficult to know how to pronounce them and the correct cadence to use. In this short recording, Shundo David Haye chants three important Zen texts: the Bodhisattva Vow, the Robe Chant and the Heart Sutra in Japanese to allow you to see how the chant should correctly be done.

In this interview, Wimbledon Zen sits down with Shundo David Haye to discuss his life in Zen. We discuss how he found the practice, teachers who have influenced him, his favourite pieces of Dogen and common mistakes that Zen students make. We also discuss how Zen can become more inclusive, opening itself up to a more diverse reflection of our communities.

Handout available at: http://podcast.wimbledonzen.co.uk/2017.07.08/handout.pdf In this talk we look at Bussho (Buddha Nature) - widely regarded as one of the most important fascicles of Dogen's Shobogenzo but - for various reasons - often over-looked by modern students. This talk examines the history surrounding the concept of Original Enlightenment and how this philosophy has been very controversial in Buddhism. It also looks at the innovative and unique ways that Dogen twisted the words of previous teachings to more fully reflect how he saw the idea of Buddha Nature. The talk concludes by asking how a modern practitioner should look to use the fascicle. How is it relevant to us now?

In this talk, Martin asks whether there is room for 'hope' in Zen. Drawing again on his background in end of life care, he asks what 'hope' actually is and looks at its relationship to faith. Is hope merely a refusal to be with things as they actually are? Does hope hinder our ability to cultivate compassion for ourselves and for others?

The teaching of anata (no-self) is one of the most frequently misunderstood of Buddha's teachings. In this talk, Alan uses the analogy of a garden to explore what Buddhists actually mean by no-self. He also compares the different ways that schools of Buddhism, such as the Theravada, Yogacara and Madhyamaka, have traditionally advanced this teaching. The talk concludes with looking at practical ways that we can try and explore anata in our daily lives.

In this talk, Martin asks 'Why do we sit?'. He offers a personal reflection on our desire to want to acheive 'something' in our zazen and talks about spiritual materialism. How should we approach our natural inclination to want to know if our practice is making a difference to our lives?

In this beautiful talk Martin talks about the Buddhist practices of Bearing Witness and Not Knowing. Martin works in the field of hospice care and, using his work as a background, he discusses how we act when we are confronted with a challenging situation, especially one where we are unable to change what is happening. How do you stand shoulder to shoulder with someone when you cannot act to relieve their suffering? This inspiring talk has relevance for everyone facing today's world.

'Rhythms of Practice: Settling Within and Expression in the World' Taigen Dan Leighton is a Soto Zen priest and teacher, academic, and author. He is an authorized lineage holder and Zen teacher in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki, and is the Founder and Guiding Teacher of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Soto Zen Centre in Chicago. Taigen was ordained as a Zen priest in 1986 and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2000. He lived in Japan between 1990-1992 and is a translator (together with Shohaku Okumura) of Dogen's 'Eihei Koroku' and other Dogen texts. He holds a PHD from Berkley. He is also the author of numerous books, including 'Zen Questions: Zazen, Dogen, and the Spirit of Creative Inquiry', 'Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression', 'Just This Is It: Dongshan and the Practice of Suchness' and 'Visions of Awakening Space and Time: Dogen and the Lotus Sutra'. He was also asked to provide the forward to John Daido Loori's classic compendium on Zen meditation 'The Art of Just Sitting : Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikan Taza' Taigen has long been active in various US Engaged Buddhist programs for social justice, including Environmental and Peace activism. He is on the International Advisory Council of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. He is frequently asked to speak on how Buddhists can engage in protest and activism whilst maintaining the Buddhist principles of no-harm and kind speech.

'Rhythms of Practice: Settling Within and Expression in the World' Taigen Dan Leighton is a Soto Zen priest and teacher, academic, and author. He is an authorized lineage holder and Zen teacher in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki, and is the Founder and Guiding Teacher of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Soto Zen Centre in Chicago. Taigen was ordained as a Zen priest in 1986 and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2000. He lived in Japan between 1990-1992 and is a translator (together with Shohaku Okumura) of Dogen's 'Eihei Koroku' and other Dogen texts. He holds a PHD from Berkley. He is also the author of numerous books, including 'Zen Questions: Zazen, Dogen, and the Spirit of Creative Inquiry', 'Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression', 'Just This Is It: Dongshan and the Practice of Suchness' and 'Visions of Awakening Space and Time: Dogen and the Lotus Sutra'. He was also asked to provide the forward to John Daido Loori's classic compendium on Zen meditation 'The Art of Just Sitting : Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikan Taza' Taigen has long been active in various US Engaged Buddhist programs for social justice, including Environmental and Peace activism. He is on the International Advisory Council of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. He is frequently asked to speak on how Buddhists can engage in protest and activism whilst maintaining the Buddhist principles of no-harm and kind speech.

'Rhythms of Practice: Settling Within and Expression in the World' Taigen Dan Leighton is a Soto Zen priest and teacher, academic, and author. He is an authorized lineage holder and Zen teacher in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki, and is the Founder and Guiding Teacher of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Soto Zen Centre in Chicago. Taigen was ordained as a Zen priest in 1986 and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2000. He lived in Japan between 1990-1992 and is a translator (together with Shohaku Okumura) of Dogen's 'Eihei Koroku' and other Dogen texts. He holds a PHD from Berkley. He is also the author of numerous books, including 'Zen Questions: Zazen, Dogen, and the Spirit of Creative Inquiry', 'Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression', 'Just This Is It: Dongshan and the Practice of Suchness' and 'Visions of Awakening Space and Time: Dogen and the Lotus Sutra'. He was also asked to provide the forward to John Daido Loori's classic compendium on Zen meditation 'The Art of Just Sitting : Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikan Taza' Taigen has long been active in various US Engaged Buddhist programs for social justice, including Environmental and Peace activism. He is on the International Advisory Council of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. He is frequently asked to speak on how Buddhists can engage in protest and activism whilst maintaining the Buddhist principles of no-harm and kind speech.