Partipants spend a second week discussing Case 14, Attendant Huo Offers Tea: Attendant Huo asked Deshan, “Where have all the past saints gone?” // Deshan said, “What? What?” // Huo said, “I gave the command for an excellent horse like a flying dragon to spring forth, but there came out only a lame tortoise.” // Deshan was silent. // The next day, when Deshan came out of the bath, Huo served him tea. // Deshan passed his hand gently over Huo's back. // Huo said, “This old fellow has gotten a glimpse for the first time.” // Again, Deshan was silent.

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-01-16 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 14 Attendant Huo Offers Tea-2

The Depth in Practice group discusses the following koan: "Where have you come from?" // Yangshan said, "From the rice field." // Guishan said, "How many people are there in the rice field?" // Yangshan thrust his hoe into the ground and stood with his hands folded on his chest. // Gusishan said, "There are a great number of people cutting thatch on the South Mountain." // Yangshan took up his hoe and left immediately.

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-01-23 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 15 Yangshan Plants His Hoe-1 | Thomas Cleary

The Depth in Practice group continues to discuss the following koan: "Where have you come from?" // Yangshan said, "From the rice field." // Guishan said, "How many people are there in the rice field?" // Yangshan thrust his hoe into the ground and stood with his hands folded on his chest. // Gusishan said, "There are a great number of people cutting thatch on the South Mountain." // Yangshan took up his hoe and left immediately.

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-01-30 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 15 Yangshan Plants His Hoe-2| Thomas Cleary

Depth in Practice discusses the following koan: Magu, ringed staff in hand, came to Zhangjing; he circled the meditation seat three times, shook his staff once, and stood there at attention. // Zhangjing said, Right, right.” // Magu also went to Nanquan, circled the meditation seat three times, shook his staff, and stood there at attention. // Nanquan said, “Wrong, wrong.” // Magu said, “Zhangjing said ‘right’ — why do you say ‘wrong’?” // Nanquan said, “Zhangjing is right—it’s you who’s wrong. This is something that can be blown by the power of the wind—it inevitably disintigrates.” //

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-02-05 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 16 Magu Shakes His Staff | Thomas Cleary

The Depth in Practice group discusses the following case: Fayan asked Xiushan, “A hairsbreadth's difference is as the distance between heaven and earth'-- how do you understand?” Xiushan said, “A hairsbreadth's difference is as the distance between heaven and earth.” Fayan said, “How can you get it that way?” Xiushan said, “I am just thus--what about you?” Fayan said, “A hairsbreadth's difference is as the distance between heaven and earth.” Xiushan thereupon bowed.

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-02-12 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 17 Fayan's Hairsbreadth | Thomas Cleary

The Depth in Practice group continues discussing Case 18: A monk asks Zhaozho, "Does the dog have Buddha Nature?" // Zhaozho says, "Yes." // The monk says, "Since it has, why is it then in this skin bag?" // Zhaozho replies, "Although he knows better he deliberately transgresses." // Another monk comes along: "Does the dog have Buddha Nature?" // "No," Zhaozho says. (The Japanese word "Mu" means " no.") // The monk says, "All beings have Buddha Nature, why not this dog?" // "Because he still has a mind," Zhaozho answers. //

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-02-26 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 18 Dog and Buddha Nature | Thomas Cleary

The Depth in Practice group discusses Case 19: A monk asked Yunmen, “Not a single thought arises: is there any fault or not?” // Yunmen said, “Mt. Sumeru.” // [According to Jain cosmology, Mount Meru (or Sumeru) is at the center of the world surrounded by Jambūdvīpa, in the form of a circle forming a diameter of 100,000 yojans. (description from Wikipedia)]

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-03-11 | Depth In Practice | Book Of Serenity-Case 19 Mt. Sumeru | Thomas Cleary

The Depth in Practice group discusses Case 20: Dizang asked Fayan, "Where are you going?"// Fayan said, "Around on pilgrimage." // Dizang said, "What is the purpose of pilgrimage?" // Fayan said, "I don't know." // Dizang said, "Not knowing is most intimate." //

Depth in Practice meets virtually at Appamada every week. Anyone is welcome to join the group! If you are interested in joining, please go to the calendar at appamada.org to find the link for the group. If you would like to donate to Appamada, please go to appamada.org and click on the contribute button at the bottom of the page.

2024-03-18 | Depth in Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 20 Not Knowing, part 1 | Thomas Cleary

2024-10-14 | Depth In Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 29 Fengxue's Iron Ox | Thomas Cleary

2024-10-21 | Depth in Practice | Book of Serenity-Case 30 Dasui's “Aeonic Fire” | Thomas Cleary

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