Guen Mai Rice Soup Guen Mai is the rice soup consumed every morning after the first zazen. The preparation of this traditional dish from Zen monasteries is an excellent exercise in attention and concentration. After the morning meditation, we can have tea, and then get to work. Keep in mind that the total cooking time…
The Gakudō Yōjinshū, or Ten Foundations of Zen, is a work written by Eihei Dōgen, a 13th-century Japanese Zen master and founder of the Sōtō Zen school in Japan. This text is primarily addressed to monks and Zen practitioners and offers guidance on how to live a life of proper Zen practice. Foundations of Dōgen’s…
The Principle of “Mind Itself Is Buddha” The principle of “mind itself is Buddha” is well known in Zen, but many people have misunderstood it. They think, “if our mind here and now is Buddha, then our behavior must always be correct, and therefore we don’t need to make any effort to understand or realize…
Origin of the Zen Kesa The origin of Zen kesa sewing dates back to the time of Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. According to tradition, when Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, he began teaching his disciples. At that time, the disciples lived in community and wore the kesa to practice zazen, just as we do…
