This Sutra Book

is the Property of
Friends of Zen

Hollow Bones Order

www.hollowbones.org
Sutra Book

Clearly understand

Use wisely
 ~ Dedication ~

This sutra book is dedicated to

Abraham, Siddhartha Gautama, Nagarjuna,
Jesus, Patanjali, Lin Chi I Hsuan, Muhammad,
Mirabai, Mohandas Gandhi,
Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa
and all of our teachers minds
Prajnaparamita (Mother of all)

What is most essential is the practice of All Matriarchs, all Patriarchs

Dhyana, meditative mindfulness, which enables All Dhyana Lineage Holders
us to experience the Absolute Purity of our
deepest nature and to hold that transpersonal
truth in the complexity of Including
our personal lives. Bodhi Dharma,
Hakuin Ekaku, Soen Nakagawa
Jun Po and
Eido T. Shimano

All true Yogis

Including Krishnamacharya
BKS Iyengar and K.P. Jois
The Sufi poet Jelaluddin Rumi
Aikido O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba
And All True Teachers throughout time.
 ~ Table of Contents ~
Atta Dipa
You are This Light
Morning Service ~ Atta Dipa .................................... 1
Mission Statement & Purification ............................2 Leader:
Three Refuges ...........................................................3
Opening This Dharma. .............................................4
(You are this light) pure selfless awareness.
Great Wisdom Heart Sutra ........................................5
Dedication .................................................................7
Rely upon selfless awareness.
Pure Awareness Dharani ...........................................8 Do not rely upon concepts of self and other that
Awakened Ones Vow ...............................................9 appear.
Four Awakened Vows ............................................. 11 Do not depend upon beliefs, sensations, and
Tara Dharani ........................................................... 13 emotions, which arise and fall away.
Kanzeon Dharani..................................................... 14 Meditative awareness, clear intention, acting
Awakening Dharani ............................................... .15 wisely, compassionately and skillfully are this
Five Training Elements .......................................... 17 practice.
Meditation Instruction ............................................ 19 Rely upon this only!
Lineage Chant .........................................................25 Rely upon this ceaselessly!
Sacred Laughter Emotional Koan ..........................27
Meal Reflections ......................................................29
Four Awakened Vows .............................................30 Everyone:
Sacred Silence and Sacred Chanting....................... 31
Service Ceremony & Vows ......................................32 I am this light, pure selfless awareness.
Precepts ...................................................................33 I rely upon selfless awareness.
Lao-Tzu ...................................................................36
I do not rely upon concepts of self and other that
Hakuin .....................................................................37
Dokusan ~ Meeting of Minds.................................38 appear.
Song of Zazen ..........................................................39 I do not depend upon beliefs, sensations, and
Rinzai Roku ............................................................. 41 emotions, which arise and fall away.
Mumonkan ~ The Gateless Gate ............................43 Meditative awareness, clear intention, acting
Yoga Sutra Quotes...................................................45 wisely, compassionately and skillfully are this
Gospel of Thomas ...................................................46 practice.
Rumi ....................................................................... 47 I rely upon this only!
Einstein ...................................................................48 I rely upon this ceaselessly!
On Zen .....................................................................50

Page 1
Leader: Leader:

Mission Statement Three Refuges

Everyone: Everyone:

We are a sacred order I take refuge

bringing into being in the absolute purity
a harmonious and loving world, of this Awakened Mind!
through the practice
of meditative, compassionate awareness (Buddha)
and mindful stewardship.
I take refuge
in this practice
Leader: of pure selfless awareness,
wisdom, compassion
Purification and skillful means!

Everyone: (Dharma)

All of the deluded behavior I take refuge

ever manifested by me in this awakening community
because of my beginningless greed, and our realization in the truth
anger and ignorance, of the interconnection,
born of my body, speech and mind, interpenetration and interdependency
Through meditation and action of all sentient and insentient beings everywhere!
I now confess and purify.
(Sangha)

Page 2 Page 3
 Sutra Leader:
Leader: Great Wisdom Heart Sutra
Everyone:
Opening This Dharma Avalokitesvara, an Awakened One of great
compassion, experiencing the clear deep truth of the
Everyone: transcendent wisdom of meditative awareness, clearly
saw that all of the images, thoughts, feelings and
This Dharma, emotional states of ego mind are empty of any
incomparably profound permanent self-nature. Realizing this, he immediately
and minutely subtle, transcended mental confusion and ego suffering and
is rarely met with, told Shariputra:
even in hundreds Remember that all manifested forms are no other
of thousands than this emptiness. Emptiness is no other than all
of millions of eons. these manifested forms. Form is exactly emptiness,
We can now see this truth, emptiness is exactly form. All of our thoughts,
listen to this truth, feelings, concepts, conscious states and volitional
actions are also like this. We must remember that
accept and hold this truth.
even spiritual life and practice are fundamentally
May we completely understand empty. Within this deep meditative awareness, there
and actualize is no birth, no death, nothing can be defiled, nothing
this Enlightened Beings is pure, nothing can increase, nothing can decrease.
true meaning!
Hence, in this emptiness, there is no form, no
feeling, no thought, no volition, and no
consciousness. There are no eyes, no ears, no nose,
no tongue, no body, and no mind. There is no seeing,
no hearing, no smelling, no tasting, no touching, and
no thinking. There is no world of sight, no world of
consciousness. There is no ignorance and no end to
ignorance. There is no aging leading to old age and
death and no end to aging leading to old age and
death. There is no suffering, no craving, no
extinction, no path, no wisdom and no attainment.
Indeed, there is nothing to be attained.

Page 4 Page 5
 The Awakened Ones rely upon this transcendent Dedication
wisdom and experience no ego confusion or
hindrance in this mind. No hindrance, therefore, Sutra Leader:
no fear. Far beyond upside down views at last,
this enlightened mind we call Nirvana. Pure Awareness pervades the whole Universe,
revealing this Self, right here, right now.
Past, present and future, all Awakened Ones, Within this service, let us realize and unite with this
all compassionate ones, rely upon this transcendent infinitely compassionate universal life.
wisdom of meditative awareness and, therefore, Let us dedicate to:
experience the most supreme awakening:
Enlightenment.
Everyone:
Thus, know that transcendent wisdom is
the greatest dharani, the brightest dharani, Abraham, Siddhartha Gautama, Nagarjuna,
the incomparable dharani. This practice Jesus, Patanjali, Lin Chi I Hsuan,
can completely clear the mind and end all Muhammad, Mirabai, Hakuin, Mohondas Gandhi,
ego suffering. This is the truth, not a deception. Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa and all of our
teachers minds:
So embody this transcendent wisdom, manifest this All Matriarchs, all Patriarchs,
wisdom, proclaim this dharani and Awaken! Our pure meditative mind,
Our truly Awakened Mind,
Tadyatha!
Our heartfelt mind,
Gate, Gate, Para Gate,
Our truly compassionate mind,
Parasam Gate,
Our pure discernment mind,
Bodhi Swaha!
Our wisdom mind.
(Heart Sutra Dharani: the embodiment & manifestation of the Past, present, future all Awakened Minds.
teaching it containsSanskrit 100-300 C.E.)
Let true Dharma continue.
Pure Awareness is transcending, Let universal wisdom,
ever transcending, compassion and awakening
transcending transcendence, become complete.
transcending even the Throughout the ten directions
transcendence of transcendence. and the three times, all Awakened Ones,
This is Awakened Mind! venerable ones, compassionate ones,
Swaha! great ones rely upon this incomparable,
transcendent wisdom.
Lex Hixon

Page 6 Page 7
Sutra Leader: Sutra Leader:
Pure Awareness Dharani Awakened Ones Vow
Everyone: Everyone:
Look, look, Pure Awareness, When I, a Bodhisattva of no rank, look through
Pure Awareness yes! awakened eyes at the real form of this universe,
all that appears is the never-ending, never-failing
Pure Awareness is embodied, manifestation of the mysterious unfolding of truth.
is embodied, is embodied! In any event, in any moment, and in any place,
Pure Awareness, my awareness, none can be other than the marvelous revelation
your awareness, all awareness! of the interplay of this glorious light.
Pure Awareness, this awareness,
This realization has been the transformational moment
this awareness, this awareness. causing all of our masters and mentors, patriarchs
Awake! Swaha! and matriarchs, to experience true freedom and joy
beyond comprehension and to then extend tender
After last line, Everyone shout: care, with a worshipping heart, to all beings, beasts
Know/Nooooooooooo!!!!!! and birds, trees and flowers, even rocks and waters.
Chanting Instructions: This realization teaches us, reveals to us,
Chant the first line looking out with great that our daily food and drink, clothes and
intentional clarity. protections of life, are the very warm flesh and
Chant the second line feeling deeply
blood, the merciful incarnation of this ever-present
the fact of conscious embodiment. living, divine mystery.
Chant the third line while identifying the
Who then can be ungrateful or disrespectful, even to
consciousness in all three locations. senseless things, as well as to human beings? Even
Chant the fourth line in a state of appreciation, though some may appear to be fools or so-called
gratitude and celebration. Awake! Swaha! enemies, we will remember to be warm and
compassionate toward them.

If by chance they should turn against us,

abuse and persecute us, we will remember our
fearless heart, our path of wisdom, compassion,

Page 8 Page 9
 nonviolence, and skillful means. Before
we react, we will consider deeply our
personal and collective karma that brought Sutra Leader:
these conditions and circumstances upon ourselves. Four Awakened Vows
Then, with each moments arising flash
of our normal feelings and thoughts, Everyone:
we will simultaneously recognize within us
a field of pure awareness, wisdom, compassion However innumerable
and skillful means. all beings are,
I vow to serve and liberate them all!
All of our minds will now reveal a true Awakened One:
a Christ, a Buddha, a Tara, However deep and elusive
compassionately aware and ready, my shadow states are,
fearless and wise, I vow to experience and enlighten them all!
acting skillfully and appropriately.
Then, all of our combined actions However vast and difficult
will create a new world, true teachings are,
a world of love and caring, I vow to embody and master them all!
defended and ordered.
However endless
May we awaken and recognize this Mind my true path may be,
throughout the whole universe, I vow to awaken and follow forever!
so that we and all beings together
may experience maturity
in Awakened Mind wisdom! ( Four Bows)
Master Torei

Page 10 Page 11
Sutra Leader:
Tara Dharani
Everyone:

Om Tare, Tuttare, Ture Swaha

OM Homage to Tara
TARE .Quick One, Heroine
TUTTARE Liberator from all fears
TURE ..Granting all alms
SWAHA ...To this I bow, Hail!

Tara is universal awakened

compassionate feminine being, and yet far
beyond all gender (Avalokitesvara).
With this chant, we manifest this energy.

Page 13
 Invocation to Kanzeon Sutra Leader:
The Embodiment of Compassion
Awakening Dharani
Sutra Leader:
Everyone:
Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo Awake AHA! Awake OHO!
Everyone:
KAN ZE ON Direction Chakra Intention State Awareness
NA MU BUTSU
YO BUTSU U IN
YO BUTSU U EN Up Crown Enlightenment Spirit Consciousness
BU PO SO EN
Spirit
JO RAKU GA JO Center Heart Compassion &
Unconditional
CHO NEN KAN ZE ON Love
Soul
BO NEN KAN ZE ON
NEN NEN JU SHIN KI Down Root Subconscious Soul Conditional Love
NEN NEN FU RI SHIN

Translation:
Chanting Instruction:
Kanzeon! Salutation and devotion to Buddha!
We are one with Buddha (Awakened Mind) Chant from deep down in your abdomen. Inhale and
in cause and effect related to all Buddhas whisper AWAKE through a partially open mouth.
and to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Focus your inhalation in the center of your heart and
Our true nature is eternal, joyous, send a radiant compassionate vibration throughout
selfless and pure. every cell in your body. Extend this energy infinitely in
So let us chant every morning Kanzeon all directions. Look up, lift your chin, eyes, and open
with Nen! Every evening Kanzeon with Nen! your mouth. Look through pure spirit
Nen, Nen arises from Mind! (Pure Awareness).
Nen, Nen is not separate from Mind.

(Nen is pure Awareness!)

Page 14 Page 15
 Five Training Elements
Exhale AHA, contracting your lower abdomen Sacred Stewardship
and diaphragm. Clear the mind of any views. Inhale, What is sacred stewardship? What does this
whispering AWAKE through your partially open stewardship include? How am I as an individual
mouth. Focus your inhalation in the center of your fulfilling my commitment to stewardship, and am I
heart, bring your head back to center. Send radiant, acting with integrity in this chosen responsibility?
compassionate vibrations throughout every cell in How do the patterns of my consumption affect the
your body and infinitely in all directions. earth and environment I live within? On what do I
Exhale completely, mouth open. Bend forward at the spend my energy and money? How does
waist, lean your head toward your knees. Exhale stewardship relate to community? Does a good
completely, accentuating OHO! Direct this energy to steward have an organic standard?
enter deeply into your subconscious mind and release Do I take a stand? If so, where?
attachments to feelings and story.
Philosophical and Cognitive Re-indoctrination
Whisper AWAKE through your partially opened How do I, as a contemplative being who seeks to
mouth. Inhale deeply. Lift your head and return to understand and walk in conscious spirituality,
your beginning position, eyes closed. Focus your think differently? What are the core statements about
inhalation in the center of your heart. Send radiant, spirit and consciousness that I base my thinking
compassionate vibration throughout every cell in your upon? What story do I tell myself and others about
body, extending infinitely in all directions. Exhale the deepest qualities of spirit, and how does this story
AHA. . . . . . . . . . Repeat. influence behavior in my life? Do I choose the clarity
of wisdom and non-judgmental awareness and the
warmth of compassion over self-righteousness and
Intention: selfishness?

The purpose of this practice is to revitalize our body, Am I willing to change my mind?
refresh our mind and deepen our concentration with a Emotional Maturity and Integrity
short and quick technique of breath mantra practice. Am I capable of experiencing the deeper feelings of
This practice will not only re-establish mental clarity, fear, sadness, grief and compassion which
it can also penetrate into and loosen the shadow underlie my normal conditioned reactions of
aspect of ego. anger and shame ? Am I then willing to choose to
respond from the truth of compassion that this deeper
realization brings forth?

Page 16 Page 17
Do I realize that I choose my reactions to feelings, Meditation Instruction:
and am I willing to make other choices? Am I willing
to stay mindful and watch a negative reaction like Meditation Practice in our tradition follows the Koan
anger or shame manifest, and then skillfully and forms of our ancient Chinese and Japanese Zen schools.
compassionately choose another response? Do I ZEN is how the Japanese translate the word CHAN, the
realize the angst of negative emotional reactions as Chinese pronunciation of the Sanskrit word DHYANA.
liberating Emotional Koans, and embrace these Dhyana means effortless, empty compassionate
opportunities for Mondo Zen transformational awareness (Clear Deep Heart/Mind). Concentration/
practice?
Meditation leads to the realization and experience of this
Am I willing to enter into transformational awareness awareness and compassion. This realization is
and actually change the way I react and feel? accomplished in two linked stages of practice: Dharana
Conscious Embodiment and Dhyana. Samadhi (Unreasonable Enjoyment) is the
Am I comfortable and at ease in my body? Am I fit result of this practice realization.
and ready to respond as a warrior who might need to
defend his/her family? Do I delight in this body Concentration or Dharana is the first stage of meditation
enough to give a dance performance at the drop of a practice. Concentration practice is essential! We
hat? concentrate and bring the mind to a single point by
silently repeating a word. In this way, we can experience
Is it necessary to have a conscious embodiment
silent mindfulness, Clear Deep Heart/Mind, mind
practice to remain physically aware and fit?
deeper than whatever is arising within it. When we
Genuine Insight experience pure silence, we discover our true nature.
Have I tasted the pure, sweet truth of the Divinity Our concentration practices (dharana), although
within myself? Do I consider my personal insight and extremely valuable, are ultimately just preparatory. They
self-realization adequate? Have I experienced the
deliver us to our deeper goal, the realization of Deep
freedom that is promised and offered by all of the
Clear Heart/Mind (dhyana). Concentration practices
contemplative traditions?
without clear understanding can cause ego
Where could the kingdom of heaven really lie if not reinforcement and rigidity. Traditionally this problem of
within me? ego inflation and rigidity has been called Zen disease.
Three Cultural Poisons
When concentration and meditation are properly
Denial The environment is fine.
Cynicism What can I ~ one person ~ do? understood and practiced, we develop insight into the
Hypocrisy My behavior is exemplary. clear empty nature of our mind; hence, ego-deflation,
openness and compassion occur naturally.

Page 18 Page 19
Characterizing ego as a permanent separate entity that
must be annihilated is a common confused practice Samadhi or Unreasonable Enjoyment describes
view. Such a misunderstanding can lead to the trap of ordinary mind after experiencing philosophical
nihilism. Our Zen practice view is that an ego is just a re-indoctrination, genuine insight, and emotional
temporary arising self-reference point in a field of pure transformation. There is a new appreciation in
consciousness, a figment of divine imagination. experiencing the delightful quality of ordinary mind.
This deconstruction of our ego and consummate
Clear Deep Heart/Mind awareness or Dhyana (Zen) is experience of fearless emptiness effortlessly reveals
the second stage of meditation training. When we great compassion. In time, we ultimately recognize
achieve one-pointed concentration, there is a realization that Emptiness is form; Form is emptiness (Great
Wisdom Heart Sutra). Samadhi is called
of non-opinionated, imperturbable, effortless,
unreasonable because it is not caused, violated or
compassionate mind. This insight realization is a
confined by any thought, feeling, or sensing
knowing of ourselves deeper than our thinking, feeling experience. Samadhi is called enjoyment because
and sensing. In our meditation practice, we look out within this realization, we experience a subtle state of
from and directly into who we are beyond our senses - joy. This joy comes with the gift of life.
no one!
After realizing this, we can consciously and
This practice must not just accomplish an intellectual compassionately embrace all of the experiences of
speculative understanding. The insight within this our lives, not only the so-called good, but also the so-
practice must come from an actual realization. After this called bad. Clear Deep Heart/Mind does not react
profound visceral realization, we can transform our superficially but sees clearly everything as it is while
ordinary way of understanding ourselves and our world. remaining imperturbable and equanimous,
responding compassionately to our ever-changing
Through this practice we experience our ego as just a circumstances. After this realization and clarification
temporary, self-referencing process, a figment of divine of understanding, compassion and right action follow
imagination that arises in the pure silent space of spirit naturally. This state is not to be confused with
within us called Shunyata and Emptiness in the Zen dissociation, denial of life experience, or even some
tradition, and soul in the mystical Christian and state of manic bliss. This Samadhi allows us to be
Vedanta traditions. fully engaged in life while aware of our true nature.
This realization is the fruit of mature practice.
It is generally necessary to continue practicing Dharana Remember:
concentration to maintain a stable experience of
Dhyana, Clear Deep Heart/Mind. ORDINARY CLEAR DEEP HEART/MIND
IS THE WAY!

Page 20 Page 21
Meditation Form Instruction
With your in-breath, silently recite the word
Sit with your spine comfortably erect. If on a cushion, KNOW. Follow the word into the pure receptive
sit with your hips elevated slightly above your knees, silence within you. On the out breath recite NO.
weight on your sit bones, hips tilted slightly forward. Remember, this NO is not in opposition to
Let your eyes be softly open. Drop your gaze to the anything but a bringing forth and presenting the
floor three to six feet in front of you. Blink when deeper silence from within. Every time your mind
necessary. If you cannot sit in comfort perfectly still wanders off with distracting thoughts or feelings,
for thirty minutes, it is essential that you look deeply gently and firmly bring it back to the sensation of
into your psychology and conscious embodiment breath and the awareness in which the words
practices and discover why you cannot. Your KNOW and NO are arising.
psychology and body are telling you something!
This practice is a foundation for awakening. Stabiliz-
Place your hands in your lap and form the Dhyana ing our mind, realizing the openness, silence, fearless
mudra, the mudra of meditation hands in your lap, imperturbability, freedom and ultimate
thumb tips touching. Or place your hands palms emptiness of mind is Dhyana, Clear Deep
down on your thighs or knees, thumb and tips of Heart/Mind.
index fingers touching in the Gyan Mudra, the mudra
of Self knowledge. We call this two-hands-on-knees Inevitably, this Koan KNOW/NO! Becomes YES!
Gyan form the Mondo Mudra. Samadhi!
Soften and deepen your breath. Drop your chin. Have When you finally realize that all of the joy and sorrow
your tongue rest lightly on the upper palate just of your life is a sacred gift and that your ego is indeed
behind your teeth. Allow your attention to follow the just a temporary, value-weighting view, a figment of
flow of your breath perfectly. divine imagination, you will experience a new state of
freedom, gratitude, compassion and enjoyment of
Now begin Insight Koan concentration practice conscious being. This new enjoyable way of
with Tang Dynasty Chinese Zen master Joshus Mu understanding, feeling and being is traditionally
Koan, Does a dog have Buddha nature? Joshu called Samadhi, or Enlightenment.
answered, Wu (no in Chinese). The Japanese
answer, Mu; in English we answer, NO. We
practice this Koan using the words KNOW on the
in breath and NO on the out breath.

What did he mean Know/No?

Page 22 Page 23
 1.
1.

5.
4.
3.
2.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
Honest speech

Genuine Insight
Sacred Stewardship
Liberating Samadhi
Conscious livelihood
Compassionate action

Conscious Embodiment
Clear view/understanding

Page 24
Deep concentration/meditation

our following five training elements:

Precise purpose, thought/feeling

Emotional Maturity and Integrity

are the eight steps of this traditional path:

Great effort/determination and passion

Philosophical and Cognitive Re-indoctrination

These meditation practices form the last two steps

awakened, liberated and compassionate life. These

on our traditional eight-step Zen practice path to an

We address, walk, and accomplish this path through

Hollow Bones Rinzai Zen Lineage

GAUTAMA SAKYA MUNI

MAHA KASYAPA MUNI PU TI TA MO CHANSHI NAM PO SHO MYO ZENJI
ANANDA MUNI TAI TSU HUI KO CHANSHI SHU HO MYO CHO ZENJI
SANA VASA MUNI CHIEN CHI SENG TSAN CHANSHI KAN ZAN E GEN ZENJI
UPA GUPTA MUNI TA I TAO HSIN CHANSHI JU O SO HITSU ZENJI
DHRI TAKA MUNI TA MAN HUNG JEN CHANSHI MU IN SO IN ZENJI
MIC CHAKA MUNI TA CHIEN HUI NENG CHANSHI NIP PO SO SHUN ZENJI
VASU MITRA MUNI NAN YUEH HUAI JANG CHANSHI GI TEN GEN SHO ZENJI
BUDDHA NANDI MUNI MA TSU TAO I CHANSHI SEK KO SO SHIN ZENJI
BUDDHA MITRA MUNI PAI CHANG HUAI HAI CHANSHI TO YO E CHO ZENJI
PARSVA MUNI HUANG PO HSI YUN CHANSHI TAI GA TAN KYO ZENJI
PUNYA YASAS MUNI LIN CHI I HSUAN CHANSHI KO HO GEN KUN ZENJI
ASVA GHOSHA MUNI HSING HAU TSUN CHAING CHANSHI SEN SHO ZUI SHO ZENJI
KAPI MALA MUNI NAN YUAN HUI YUNG CHANSHI IAN CHISATSU ZENJI
NAGAR JUNA MUNI FENG HSUEH YEN CHAO CHANSHI TO ZEN SO SHIN ZENJI
KANA DEVA MUNI SHOU SHAN HSING NIEN CHANSHI YO ZAN KEI YO ZENJI

ARYA RAHULATA MUNI FEN YANG SHAN CHAO CHANSHI GUDO TO SHUKU ZENJI
SANGHA NANDI MUNI SHIN SHUANG CHU YUAN CHANSHI SHIDO BUNAN ZENJI
GAYA SATA MUNI YANG CHI FANG HUI CHANSHI DO KYO E TAN ZENJI
KUMA RATA MUNI PAI YUN SHOU TUAN CHANSHI HAKUIN E KAKU ZENJI
JAYATA MUNI WU TSU FA YEN CHANSHI TO REI EN JI ZENJI
ZENJI

ZENJI
ZENJI
ZENJI
ZENJI

ZENJI
ZENJI

Sacred Laughter Emotional Koan

Practice responding to fear with laughter rather than

all Awakened Ones, venerable ones, compassionate ones, great ones,

SO ZAN GEN KYO

reacting with anger or shame. Use an Emotional Koan.

KA SAN ZEN RYO
SO HAN GEM PO
TAKUJU KOSEN

GEM PO GI YU
SO EN GEN JU

First Round - Remember a recent incident where you

GASAN JITO

reacted to fear with anger or shame. Realize how

foolish, how painful this has always been. Laugh to

rely upon this incomparable transcendent wisdom.

Throughout the ten directions and the three times,
express this realization. Not with derision, but
recognizing the ignorant choice made in expressing,
with anger or shame, the deep concern underlying the
emotion . This has always been a foolish and ignorant
CHANSHI
CHANSHI
CHANSHI

CHANSHI

CHANSHI
CHANSHI
CHANSHI

choice. Heartily acknowledge this folly with joyous

all Matriarchs, all Patriarchs,

insight. We have been deliberately but unintentionally
expressing our clear, innocent and compassionate
awareness with such a lack of integrity. This is amusing.
Get the Joke!
SUN YUAN CHUNG YUEH
HU CHIN SHAO LUNG

Second Round - Close your eyes and look into your

MI AN HSIEN CHIEH

HSU TANG CHIH YU

YUAN WU KE CHIN

body and remember an incident, a reaction to the

YING AN TAN HUA

emotion fear with anger or shame. Feel the visceral

YUN AN PU YEN

contraction. As feeling arises, recognize the empty sharp

clarity of mind the feeling is arising in. Feel the concern
within that clarity. Now draw your awareness into your
Clear Deep Heart/Mind center. Slowly, open your eyes,
inhale deeply and, as you begin to exhale, express this
shame or anger with laughter. Experience the difficulty
of responding with laughter instead of reacting
violently, habitually. Stay connected with anger and
MUNI
MUNI

MUNI

MUNI
MUNI
MUNI

MUNI

choose your response. Release the physical and

emotional contraction. Observe the quality of your
consciousness during and after the process. Enjoy
HAKLE NAYA SAS

yourself! Get the joke! No one has ever made you angry.
VASU BANDHU

PUNYA MITRA
PRAJNA TARA
MANO RHITA

You have chosen anger.

ARYA SIMHA
BASIA SITA

Third Round - Laugh from the depth of your being for

no reason other than joy, start with a subtle smile
connected to the realization of the fearless core of being.

Page 27
Intention Meal Reflections
The intention of sacred laughter is to use an Emotional Before:
Koan to transform our negative emotional reactions into
conscious responses. When we see the truth that we are Let us reflect upon our work
choosing to react with violence or deliberate avoidance, and the whole process and efforts
this realization frees us to make other choices. We now of those who brought us this food.
know that we have always chosen our reactions to
feeling. Practicing sacred laughter as an Emotional Let us be aware of the quality of our deeds
Koan is a foundation for Mondo Zen Emotional Koan and the purity of this food
transformational practice. Practicing sacred laughter, as we receive this meal.
we realize the freedom of expression underlying the
sacred gift of our emotional awareness.
What is most essential is the practice
Meditation alone will not transform these negative of mindful awareness, which enables us
reactions to feelings. These unconscious reactions must to understand, transform and transcend
be made conscious, and this process requires adding a greed, anger and ignorance.
skillful means to accomplish this transformation. It is
essential that psychological re-education and practice We deeply appreciate this food, this warm flesh and
be done along with meditation to finally realize that, blood of life, which sustains
Feeling is information. In deep dhyana meditation, the good health of our bodies and minds.
the feeling of fear is experienced as excitement and
opportunity, and anger is experienced as intense clarity In order to continue the life of true
of mind and deep caring. Violent projections of anger awareness, wisdom, compassion, and skillful means,
externally or shame internally become inconceivable.
for all beings, we accept this offering.
We have discovered a skillful method for transforming
negative reactions into positive compassionate After:
responses. We no longer need to react habitually,
foolishly or immaturely. We do not need to repress these Having finished this meal, we give thanks and
wonderful, rich energies. We need neither fear nor deny remembrance. May all beings be happy, may all
them. We can use them to kill or to liberate, to be beings be loved and well fed,
violent or loving. Through this practice we transform may all beings awaken to find their ways.
and then:

Our angst becomes our liberation.

Page 28 Page 29
 Sacred Silence
Four Awakened Vows When we sit in silent contemplation, we are
experiencing the empty depth of our ordinary minds.
However innumerable all beings are, We need only become perfectly still and inquire
I vow to serve and liberate them all! within in order to experience this truth. Within
ourselves, beyond our sense of ego, there is selfless
However deep and elusive purity.
my shadow states are, Realizing this causes us to delight in all things.
I vow to experience and enlighten them all! Anything that arises in our mind is welcome.
We are imperturbable, from the very beginning
However vast and difficult at peace with this world. Our true nature primal
true teachings are, consciousness illuminates our senses; our feelings
I vow to embody and master them all! and thoughts arise spontaneously.
However endless my true path may be, What does this illumination look like and feel like?
I vow to awaken and follow forever! Where within us does this illumination take place? If
you know this, how do you recognize that you know?
Sit In Silence!
Sacred Chanting
Dharani chanting is the embodied experience of an
actual state of insight and intention manifested
through language as a state of being. It is not just
reciting words. It is the spirit presentation of Zazen
wisdom and compassion, embodying Samadhi
physically and emotionally within the chanting.

Chant with your whole heart,

mind, body and will!

Page 30 Page 31
 Service Ceremony and Vows Precepts
We are conceptual beings. The language we use 1. Affirm Life ~ I respect all sentient and insentient
defines and limits our experience. We embody our beings and always act with compassion towards
thoughts. At the foundation of our ego lie core beliefs them. In order to live, it is necessary for me to take
about who we think we are. The language used in our life. I do so with reverence for the life taken. In
service, ceremonies, practices and vows is a process gratitude, I do not take my own life for granted.
of philosophical re-education used to enlighten a
confused ego-view. 2. Act Generously ~ I act with generosity and open-
handedness. I receive only things that are freely
The statements we make during our services and given to me. I remember that clinging and
practices introduce new language, a philosophical, attachment are the root of suffering.
psychological and cognitive reorientation reflecting
3. Be Loving ~ I am conscious and loving in all
the attitude of an Awakened being. This new view is
of my relationships. In sexuality, I discern
understood and felt as deeply as possible. In this way
the difference between love and lust and do not
we are experiencing how a disciplined awakening
take advantage of other human beings.
mind thinks and feels. Our new language reflects and
I transform the arising of lust into true loving.
maintains the experience of Genuine Insight and
sacred ritual in our daily lives. This change of view is 4. Manifest Truth ~ I honor honesty and truth.
essential if we are going to interrupt our egos I speak with integrity from the depth of my heart.
immediate habitual response. Un-awakened ego 5. Respect Clarity ~ I act at all times with
exploits new experiences for the sake of self-inflation mindfulness and clarity. I do not abuse my body
by incorporating those new experiences into a or cloud my mind with the misuse of intoxicants.
familiar view.
6. Honor Silence ~ I remember the preciousness of
silence. I see the perfection in others and refrain
Listen as you never have before! from gossip and frivolous conversation. I remain
Articulate, state, thoughtful and mindful of the effects of my
ordain and understand! speech.
Make these statements 7. Celebrate Others ~ I rejoice in the good fortune of
from your pure heart! others. I do not, through my thoughts, words or
actions, separate myself from others through
coveting, envy or jealousy.

Page 32 Page 33
8. Be Giving ~ I give generously of myself, sharing
freely my love, my gifts, my talents and my A poem by the Sufi poet Rumi best sums up the idea
abundance for the benefit of all. I do not selfishly of taking and breaking of precepts and vows:
withhold. I do not add any more suffering to the
world.
9. Embody Compassion ~ I recognize and
Come, come, whoever you are.
enlighten my greed, anger and ignorance. I Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
transform my negative emotions and act with Ours is not a caravan of despair.
equanimity, sympathetic joy, compassion and Come, it does not matter
loving kindness. if youve broken
10. Steward the Earth ~ I hold sacred this planet your vow a thousand times.
Earth. I seek to understand Natures Still, come, and yet again come!
interconnections and celebrate my own
interdependency. I work toward achieving a After the taking of sincere precepts or vows, we will
lifestyle that gives more back to this Earth than I be amazed to find that it was only our doubt, our lack
take from it. of invincible true faith and our lack of unalterable true
commitment that obscured our clear vision of
11. Manifest this Way ~ I hold precious compassionate Awakened Heart Mind. These doubts
this Sangha and the sacred life we embody, acted like the dark clouds that block the bright sun
especially these three treasures: from our view. We have now been informed, educated,
empowered, initiated and set firmly upon the path.
This absolute purity Our Awakened Mind, our true woman or man of
of our Awakened Mind! no rank, has always been here waiting for us. Right
(Buddha) here
within us!
This life filled with wisdom,
compassion and skillful means!
(Dharma) Awake Swaha!

This neverending mystery

of life unfolding!
All brothers, all sisters, all beings!
(Sangha)

Page 34 Page 35
 Lao Tzu Hakuin
Empty your mind of all thoughts. The ogre outside shoves at the door, the ogre inside holds
Let your heart be at peace. it fast;
Watch the turmoil of beings, Pouring sweat from head to foot, battling for their very
But contemplate their return. lives,
Fighting on all through the night, until the dawn appears
and laughter fills the early light.
Each separate being in the universe They were friends from the start!
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
A boundless unencumbered place, perfect, open, still;
Earth and hills and rivers, are but names, nothing more.
If you dont realize the source, The Mind may be quartered, and Forms lumped into one,
You stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from, But theyre both still just echoes in empty ravines.
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother, Its clearly ungettable within the Three Worlds
dignified as a king. An empty sky swept clean away. Not a particle left.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you, On the zazen seat, in the dead of night, cold as steel;
and when death comes, you are ready. Moonlight through a window, bright with shadows of
plum!

Page 36 Page 37
 Dokusan Song of Zazen
Interview ~ Meeting of Minds
Sentient beings are from the very beginning Buddhas.
Interviews a genuine meeting of two minds. In It is like ice and water: apart from water,
these meetings both individuals are asked to bring No ice can exist. Outside sentient beings,
their deepest insight with the sincere intention of Where do we find the Buddhas?
sharing their understanding of these teachings. There
are really no masters of Zen! Yet, there is sometimes Not knowing how near the Truth is,
an insightful and well-trained teacher who can hold We seek it far away. What a pity!
up the correct mirror. In this mirror, we can find We are like a person who, in the midst of water,
reflected our true spiritual image, our own spiritual Cries in thirst so imploringly.
truth and being that is beyond our conceptual ego We are like the child of a rich house
view; this is our true woman or man of no rank. Who has wandered away among the poor.
This special kind of meeting with a teacher can be
extremely effective at clarifying understanding. The The cause of our circling through the six worlds
more honest and challenging the inquiry, the broader Is that we are on the dark paths of ignorance;
and more profound the realization. Going astray further and further in the darkness.
When are we able to be free from birth and death?
Mutual realization true awakening is possible for
all of us when we are ready and willing for it to occur. As for Zazen practice of the Mahayana,
Mind to mind, heart to heart, being to being! It is beyond all our praise.
The virtues of perfection such as charity, morality
Interview with a lineage holder is called Dokusan, And the invocation of the Buddha's name,
with a priest or teacher is called Daisan. Confession and ascetic discipline,
And many other good deeds of merit,
All these return to this!
Bring yourself pure!
Even those who have practiced meditation
Bring yourself with an Empty cup!
For just one sitting,
Will see all their twisted karma erased.
Bring yourself with Hollow Bones! Nowhere will they find twisted paths,
But the pure land will be near at hand.

Page 38 Page 39
 Rinzai Roku
Those of you who wish to discipline themselves in
With a reverent heart, if we listen to this Truth Buddhas Dharma must seek true understanding.
Even once, and praise it and gladly embrace it, When this understanding is attained, you will not
be defiled by birth and death. Whether walking or
We will surely be blessed most infinitely.
standing still, you will be your own master.
Even when you are not trying to achieve something
If we concentrate within extraordinary, it will come to you all by itself.
And testify to the truth that self-nature is
no-nature, All followers of the Way, from olden times each
We have really gone beyond vain words. of my predecessors had his own way of training
his disciples. As to my way of leading people,
The gate of the oneness of cause and effect is open. all that they need is not to be deluded by others.
The path of non-duality and true clarity runs Be independent and go your own way whenever
Straight ahead. you desire; have no hesitancy.
Do you know where the disease lies which keeps you
To regard the form of no-form as form, learners from reaching True Understanding? It lies
Whether going or returning, where you have no faith in your Self. When faith in your
We cannot be any place else. Self is lacking, you find yourself hurried by others in
To regard the thought of no-thought as thought, every possible way. At every encounter you are no
Whether singing or dancing, longer your master; you are driven about by others this
We are the voice of the Dharma. way and that.
All that is required is all at once to cease leaving
How boundless the clear sky of Samadhi! yourself in search of something external. When this
How transparent the perfect moonlight of the is done, you will find your Self no different from
Fourfold Wisdom! the Buddha or the Patriarch/Matriarch.
Do you want to know who the Buddha is? Buddha is
At this moment, what more need we seek?
no other than the one who is, at this moment, right
As the Truth eternally reveals Itself,
in front of me listening to my talk on the Dharma.
This very place is the Lotus Paradise! You have no faith in yourselves and, therefore, you are
This very Body is the Buddha! in quest of someone else somewhere outside. And what
will you find? Nothing but words and names, however
excellent. You will never reach the moving spirit in the
Master Hakuin Buddha, or Patriarch/Matriarch. Make no mistake.

Page 40 Page 41
Followers of the Way, one who is a renouncer of home, Mumonkan The Gateless Gate
must indeed study the Way. Take me, for example. In
bygone days, I devoted myself to the vinaya (precepts) by Mumon Ekai Zenji
and also delved into the sutras (written teaching) and
sastras (commentaries on sutras). Later, when I realized A monk asked Joshu, Has a dog Buddha nature?
that they were medicines for salvation and displays of Joshu answered: MU! (NO!)
doctrines in written words, I once and for all threw
Mumon Comment:
them away, and searching for the way, I practiced
In order to master Zen, you must pass the barrier of
meditation. Still later I met great Teachers. Then it was,
with my Dharma eye becoming clear, that I could the Patriarchs. To attain this subtle realization, you
discern all the old teachers under heaven and tell the must completely let go of your attachment to
false ones from the true. It is not that I understood from thinking/feeling. If you do not pass the barrier and
the moment I was born of my mother, but that, after do not let go of your attachment to thinking/feeling,
exhaustive investigation and grinding discipline, in an then you will be like a ghost clinging to the bushes
instant I knew of myself. and weeds. Now I want to ask you, what is the barrier
of the Matriarchs/Patriarchs? Why, it is this single
Virtuous monks, dont use your minds mistakenly. The word MU/NO! That is the front gate to Zen.
great sea does not need dead bodies. But all you do is Therefore, it is called the Gateless Gate of Zen. If
rush about the world carrying them on your shoulders.
you pass through it, you will not only see Joshu face
You yourselves raise the obstructions that impede your
to face, but you will also go hand in hand with the
minds. When the sun above has no clouds, the bright
heavens shine everywhere. When there is no cataract on
successive Patriarchs, entangling your eyebrows with
the eye, there are no imaginary flowers in the sky. theirs, seeing with the same eyes, hearing with the
same ears. Isnt that a delightful prospect? Wouldnt
Followers of the Way, if you wish to be Dharma as is, you like to pass this barrier?
just have no doubt. Spread out, It fills the entire
Dharmadhatu; gathered in, the smallest hair cannot Arouse your entire body with its 360 bones and joints
stand upon It. Distinctly and radiantly standing alone, and its 84,000 pores of the skin; summon up a spirit of
It has never lacked anything. No eye can see It, no ear great doubt and concentrate on this word No. Carry it
can hear It then by what name can It be called? The continuously day and night. Do not form a nihilistic
man of old said, To speak about a thing is to miss the conception of vacancy or a relative conception of has
mark. or has not. It will be just as if you swallow a red hot
Just see for yourselves: What is there? I can keep on iron ball, which you cannot spit out even if you try.
talking forever. Each of you must strive for yourself. All the illusory ideas and illusive thoughts
Take care of yourselves. accumulated up to the present will be liberated, and
when the time comes, internal and external will be
spontaneously united.

Page 42 Page 43
 Yoga Sutra Quotes
You will know this, but for yourself only, like a
dumb man who has had a dream. Then all of a
sudden a remarkable awakening will occur, and you
Tantric Yoga
will astonish the heavens and shake the earth.
Of what consequence are all the processes
It will be as if you snatch away the great sword of of meditation? In spite of them, you have to
the valiant general Kanu and hold it in your hand. die alone and in pain. Take leave of all the elaborate
When you meet the Buddha, you kill him; when you practices of yogic control (bandha) and false hope for
meet the Matriarchs/Patriarchs, you kill them. On the deceptive supernatural gifts, and accept the side
the brink of life and death, you command perfect of voidance (shunyata) to be your own.
freedom. Among the six-fold worlds and four modes Lohipada of the Sahaja School
of existence, you enjoy a merry and playful Samadhi.
Hatha Yoga
Now, I want to ask you again: How will you
accomplish this? Employ every ounce of your Lightness resulting from breath control (pranayana),
energy to work on this NO. If you hold on without perception of the Self from meditation (dhyana), and
interruption, behold: A single spark, and the holy the untainted [state] from ecstasy (samadhi) this
candle is lit! last state is undoubtedly liberation (mukti)
Gheranda-Samhita Sutra (1.11)
Note
The Japanese word MU is the first koan practiced in Classical Dualist Yoga
our Rinzai Zen tradition. The actual word spoken by
Joshu was the Chinese word WU. Both of these The mind is said to be two-fold:
words mean NO. But it is obvious that the dog pure or impure.
exists. Isnt all that exists part of Buddha nature? It is impure from contact with desires,
What then is meant by this answer? This answer is a Pure when free from desires.
universal KNOW/NO.
When one has liberated the mind from sloth and
This KNOW/NO is absolute. This KNOW/NO
heedlessness and made it immovable and then attains
cuts through any conceptual attachment. What part
to the mindless state, this is the supreme estate.
of NO do you not understand? This KNOW is
Maitrayaniya-Upanishad
beyond comprehension. This NO in time becomes
Know and then, YES!

This is the Know/No of Not-Knowing!

Page 44 Page 45
 Gospel of Thomas Rumi
(1st-2nd Century)
Praise to the emptiness that blanks out existence;
The disciples said to him, Tell us who you are, so this place made from our love
that we can trust you. Jesus said, You search for me of that emptiness! Yet somehow comes emptiness,
through heaven and earth, but you dont know the this existence goes.
one who is right before your eyes because you dont Praise to that happening, over and over!
know how to search into this very moment.
For years I pulled my own existence out
The disciples said to him, Tell us what our end will of emptiness. Then one swoop, one swing
be. Jesus said, If you havent found the beginning, of the arm, that work is over. Free of who I was, free
why ask about the end? For where the beginning is of presence, free of dangerous fear, hope, free of
the end is also. Blessed are those who stand at the mountainous wanting.
beginning, for they will know the end, The here-and-now mountain is a tiny
and they will not taste death. piece of straw blown off into emptiness.

Jesus said, Recognize what is in your sight, and These words I am saying so much begin to lose
what is hidden will become clear to you. meaning: existence, emptiness, mountain, straw.
Words and what they try to say sweep out the win-
Jesus said, When you see the one who dow, down the slant of the roof.
was not born of a woman, bow down and worship
him. That one is your father.

Jesus said, If you bring forth what is inside you, I have lived on the lip of insanity, wanting to know
what you bring forth will save you. reasons, knocking on a door. It opens. Ive been
If you dont bring forth what is inside you, what you knocking from the inside.
dont bring forth will destroy you.

Jesus said, Whoever believes that the all

is deficient, are themselves deficient. Out beyond ideas of wrong and right doing, there is a
field. Ill meet you there. When the soul lies down in
that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas,
language, even the phrase each other, dont make
any sense.

Page 46 Page 47
 Einstein
The true value of a human being can be found in the
degree to which he has attained liberation from the
self.

A human being is a part of the whole that we call the

universe, a part limited in time and space. He
experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as
something separated from the rest a kind of optical
illusion of his consciousness. This illusion is a prison
for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to
affection for only the few people nearest us. Our task
must be to free ourselves from this prison by
widening our circle of compassion to embrace all
living beings and all of nature.

The most beautiful and profound emotion we can

experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the
sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is
a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt
in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is
impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as
the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty,
which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their
primitive forms this knowledge, this feeling, is at the
center of true religion.

Avalokitesvara

Page 48
 On Zen
There is a reality prior to Heaven and Earth.
Indeed, it has no form, much less a name.
Eyes fail to see it;
It has no voice for ears to detect.

To call it Mind or Buddha

Diamond Sutra
Violates its nature, for it then becomes
Like a visionary flower in the air.
It is not Mind or Buddha;
Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world:
Absolutely quiet, and yet illuminating
In a mysterious way, A star at dawn, a dewdrop in the morning sun,
It allows itself to be perceived A bubble in a mountain stream;
Only by the clear eye. A flash of lightning in a summer cloud;
A flickering lamp, a shadow, a phantom, and a
It is Dharma dream.
Clearly beyond form and sound;
It is Tao having nothing to do with words. And they are thus to be regarded!
Wishing to entice the blind,
The Buddha has playfully let words Siddhartha Gautama
Escape his golden mouth;
Heaven and Earth are ever since When the Buddha finished this discourse,
Filled with entangling briars. the venerable Subhuti and all attending
were filled with joy by his teaching,
All my good worthy friends gathered here, and taking it sincerely to heart
If you desire to listen they went their separate ways.
To the thunderous voice of the Dharma,

Exhaust your words, empty your thoughts,

For then you may come
To recognize the One Essence.

Daio Kokushi

Page 50
Never doubt the imperturbability of your true pure
awareness!
Never doubt the invincible compassion of your true,
pure heart!

Jun Po