The Fox in Zen Stories To understand the koan of the fox, it is helpful to begin with this story. Once, while a Zen master was walking through the forest, he encountered a wild fox. The fox begged him to accept her into his community so that she could become a nun and study the…
Origin of the Lotus Sutra The Lotus Sutra is a fundamental text in Mahayana Buddhism and is considered one of the most important scriptures in this tradition. It comprises several chapters and presents the Buddha’s teachings on topics such as Enlightenment, emptiness, and the inherent Buddha-nature within all beings. A key concept highlighted in the…
What is a koan? In the zazen shin koan meditation, we will introduce the koan “polishing a tile.” A koan is a riddle used in Zen practice to help students transcend logic and attain a deeper understanding of reality. Koans are part of Zen teaching and serve as tools to provoke an experience of enlightenment…
The meditation with koan “Mu” is one of the most well-known koans within the Zen tradition. A koan is a kind of riddle or paradoxical question used in Zen practice to induce the awakening of the mind. The koan “Mu” has its origin in a dialogue between Master Joshu and one of his disciples. Koan…
Once upon a time, there was an old Zen master who lived with his community in a small temple deep in the mountains. The emperor, aware of his wisdom, invited him to a grand Buddhist festival where participants recited sutras for several days and enjoyed abundant and exquisite meals prepared by the palace chefs. The…
Zen Master Dogen (1200-1253) is one of the most influential figures in Japanese Buddhism, particularly within the Sōtō school of Zen. He is best known for introducing and establishing the practice of zazen (seated meditation) and writing the profound work Shōbōgenzō, a collection of his teachings. Dogen’s life and teachings have shaped the foundation of…
In the history of Zen, there have been especially brilliant masters. One of them is Keizan Jokin, a revered master for his crucial role in the expansion of the Soto Zen school in Japan. His legacy is both spiritual and literary, leaving an indelible mark on the practice of Japanese Zen. In 2025, the 700th…
Kodo Sawaki (1880-1965) was an influential Japanese Zen master, known for revitalizing the practice of Sōtō Zen in Japan in the 20th century. He was born in Tsu, Japan, and orphaned at an early age. Despite a difficult childhood following the death of his mother, Sawaki became interested in Zen Buddhism with the vocation of…
Lluís Nansen Salas: Mindfulness Zen. La consciència de l’ara, edicions Viena, Barcelona, 2018. The origin of Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist practice based on the Anapanasati Sutra (mindfulness of breathing) and the Satipatthana Sutra (the four foundations of mindfulness). The book Mindfulness Zen teaches us how to apply mindfulness in daily life. This means learning…
The book Autobiography of a Zen Monk in its Catalan edition: Taisen Deshimaru, Autobiografia d’un monjo zen. Translation: Natàlia Barenys. Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat, Barcelona 2010. “If a sincere desire for redemption were to manifest universally, this could once again awaken the spiritual source that already exists within each one of us. Isn’t the…
