Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Master Tong'an Changcha's Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth (7)

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle poem number eight, called The Revolving Function. The short texts says:  8. The Revolving Function It is still dangerous even inside the castle of nirvana. Strangers come across each other without appointment. People call someone who provisionally puts on a dirty robe “a buddha.” But if someone wears precious clothes, what should you call him? In the middle of the night, the wooden man puts on shoes and leaves. At dawn, the stone woman puts on a hat and goes home. An ancient emerald pool, the moon in the empty sky. Screening and filtering over and over to catch the moon, for the first time you will really know. This talk was given during the Treeleaf Monthly Zazenkai. For more information, visit treeleaf.org

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle two more of the talks, the sixth and seventh, called The Song of Returning Home and The Song of Not Returning Home. The short texts says:    6. The Song of Returning Home Don’t be distracted by the King of Emptiness when you are still on the Way. You must drive your staff forward, moving on until you reach home. If you travel for a long time like clouds and water, don’t get attached to it. Even in the deep recesses of snowy mountains, don’t forget your mission. Ah! I regretted that in past days my face was like jade. And I lamented that at the time of my return my hair had turned white. Returning to my old home with dangling arms, there was no one who recognized me. Also, I had nothing to offer my parents.   7. The Song of Not Returning Home Having the intention of going to the source, of returning to the origin, is already a mistake. Essentially, there is nowhere to settle down, no place to call one’s home. The ancient path through the pines is covered with deep snow. The long range of mountain peaks is furthermore blocked by clouds. When host and guest are tranquil and serene, everything is incongruous. When lord and vassal are united, there is wrong in the midst of right. How will you sing the song of returning home? In bright moonlight, the dead tree is blooming in front of the hall.   The talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai, on August 7th, 2026. More information on treeleaf.org

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle the fifth of the talks, called Bukkyo, or Buddhist teachings. The short text says:  The Three Vehicles spoke golden words one after another. But the buddhas of the past, present, and future only declared the same thing. In the beginning, when they expounded the reality of skandhas and then complete emptiness, everyone grew attached to it. Later, when they negated both reality and emptiness, everyone discarded it again. The complete treasury of sutras in the Dragon Palace is meant to be prescriptions. Even the Buddha’s last teaching does not reach the unfathomable. If even one deluded thought arises in the world of true purity, This already means spending eight thousand years in the world of human beings. The talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai, on July 3rd, 2026. More information on treeleaf.org

This is part four of our examination of the ten unfathomable talks by master Tong'an Changcha, moving on to the one called The Transcendent within Dust and Dirt. The text says:   "That which is impure is impure by itself; that which is pure is pure by itself. Highest wisdom and delusion are likewise empty and even. Who could say that nobody can appreciate Bianhe’s jade? I say that the jewel of the black dragon shines everywhere. Only when the myriad dharmas disappear does the whole thing appear. The Three Vehicles split up and assumed only provisional names. Truly outstanding people have determination that knows no bounds. Do not try to go where the buddhas have already gone."    This talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly zazenkai, on June 6th, 2026   For more information, visit treeleaf.org

We continue our examination of the ten unfathomable talks by master Tong'an Changcha, moving on to number three, The Unfathomable Function. The text says: "You cannot rely on looking far ahead to the end of the universe. And why would you tie yourself down to tainted worldliness? Essentially, the miraculous body is not bound anywhere. It is already throughout the whole body, so what other traces could there be? A single efficacious word transcends the multitudes. It is far beyond the Three Vehicles and does not require cultivation. hake off your hands and get away from the sages of all ages. Then your path of return will resemble an ox in the midst of fire."  This talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly zazenkai, on May 1st, 2026 For more information, visit treeleaf.org

We continue our Treeleaf Zendo Podcast with a new episode from the series based on master Tong'an Changcha's little-known "Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth". Sekkei Harada Roshi relfects that "These Ten Verses of Unfathomable Depth ... written by Master Tong’an Changcha and represent a work of pure Sōtō Zen. The first five verses set forth the principles of Sōtō Zen, while the second five are concerned with matters of practice. Thus, taken together, these verses encapsulate the whole teaching of Sōtō Zen." We will explore the second of the ten talks. (Translation by Daigaku Rumme) This talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai. For more information about practice at Treeleaf Sangha, please visit treeleaf.org

This episode of the Treeleaf Zendo Podcast marks the beginning of a new series, based on master Tong'an Changcha's little-known "Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth". Sekkei Harada Roshi relfects that "These Ten Verses of Unfathomable Depth ... written by Master Tong’an Changcha and represent a work of pure Sōtō Zen. The first five verses set forth the principles of Sōtō Zen, while the second five are concerned with matters of practice. Thus, taken together, these verses encapsulate the whole teaching of Sōtō Zen." This talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai. For more information about practice at Treeleaf Sangha, please visit treeleaf.org

To welcome and celebrate an auspicious new year, we will look through the beautiful and meaningful words of our 'Dedication of Merit', or Eko, as it is called in Japanese. The eko is recited during services, after the chanting of sutras and verses, directing the merit, or good will, good aspirations, to all beings or for specific causes.  For more information on Treeleaf Sangha teachings, practice and offerings, please visit treeleaf.org

In this month's episode, we look into what is probably the earliest Ch'an writing, attributed with a certain amount of confidence, directly to master Bodhidharma. This is the "Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices". For more information on these talks and how to attend them live, please visit here »

This month, we continue with more of Master Dogen's advice on living wisely and well in this day-to-day life, from Hachi Dainin Gaku 八大人覺 'The Eight Realizations of the Great Person Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: October Monthly Zazenkai »