“Good” and “bad” have no self-nature;
“Holy” and “unholy” are just empty names;
At the doors of our senses is the land of stillness and quiet;
Spring comes, grass grows by itself.”

Zen Master Seung Sahn (1927-2004)

(Source: capture-the-silence)

One of my favorite teachings, and something which fired my practice from the earliest days, as I decided to become a monk, and fires me still.  An excerpt from “Starter’s Mind,” by Master Won Hyo (Shilla Dynasty, Korea):

Words of admonition can be endless, yet craving is not extinguished. By saying, “Next time, next time,” attachment is not cut off. The things that keep us busy are interminable, so why not simply throw away all worldly affairs? Plans also have no limit, so why not just cut off the thinking mind?

Today never ceases to come, but in each “today” more karma is created. Tomorrow also comes without fail, but few “tomorrows” are given to good actions. This year never fails to come, but defilements are endless. Next year always arrives too, but still you do not seek Bodhi.

Moment succeeds moment, and thus day and night are soon past. One day succeeds the next; months slip away. Month follows month–soon next year is here. Years pass rapidly, and you find yourself at death’s door. A broken vehicle cannot run; an old man cannot practice.

Lying down you are idle; sitting up, your mind is confused. For how many lifetimes will you fail to practice, and waste away your days and nights? You spend your life without practice, but do you think you will be able to make this empty body retain its life? This body will inevitably come to its end. Then what will the next body be? Isn’t this matter urgent? Isn’t this a matter of the greatest importance for your mind?

(drawing: “Subway, No. 1 line, NYC,” bamboo and ink, by Gregory Muenzen)

mountvision

Breakfast, Dresden Zen Center, Dresden, Germany, May 2, 2012.  Sincere practitioners take some simple repast after waking up early and committing several hours of focused meditation work.  You want world peace? Try the discipline that these regular folks do — and they do it, every single day, with busy jobs and concerns, and they pay for the expensive rent and utilities and food costs, right out of their own pockets, without donations.  Nothing special. Maybe better than monks.

The great practitioners of Dresden Zen Center, Dresden, Germany, after morning practice, Wednesday, May 2, 2012. What serious vows and intentions they have! How sincere and pure are their great efforts…  We should all find a way to support their practice.  If anyone has a wish to offer some support to these true students of the Way in Dresden, please contact. There are several members who could benefit from support to practice more deeply the teachings of Korean Zen.

Morning chanting, Dresden Zen Center, Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Very strong and clear practice with such a sincere group of practitioners, after several days of intensive Ashtanga workshop… As a monk, it is so inspiring to see people with such busy lives committing themselves so faithfully and selflessly to the work of waking up! It shames me to think of them on days when I don’t give it the absolute effort, and to see how easily prepared things are for us monastics to practice, and yet, sometimes we don’t try nearly as hard as these!

Three monks.  The meeting of the great Dok Hyon Sunim, and Hae An Sunim, and me, in a train at Munich Hbf, just moments prior to their departure for Frankfurt.  A wonderful mellow day of salad, and green tea, and simple talk about the Dharma which motivates and moves our lives.  Two truly great friends — guys I have known for over 13 years.

With my Teacher, the legendary Zen Master Seung Sahn.  He had very strong diabetes.  For the last several years of his life, he could not teach actively.  Yet people continued to come to the temple for him! The flow of visitors for his Dharma was endless, yet his physical capacity to transmit it was not endless.  In 2003, after a 90-day intensive Zen retreat at Song Gwang Sah, I was summoned to his bed.  He appointed me as his official representative for his teachings at Hwa Gye Sah Temple for the next four years, until he died.  I was charged to meet the endless flow of people and politicians and intellectuals and artists who came for his teaching — an unbelievable burden and responsibility.

This photo is from one of our daily walks to the temple’s Buddha halls.

Gangsters of Zen: My most recent 90-day intensive in Korea, already several years ago.  On the last day of the 90-day intensive, sitting for a portrait on the steps of the Zen Hall, with older monk brothers Chol U Sunim (center left) and the fearsome Head Monk, Boep Ung Sunim (center right).  Behind us, two young attendant monks.  My most recent 90-day total silence retreat — not a single spoken word for three months.  What bliss it was, not to speak and converse for three whole months!  Bong Am Sah Temple, South Korea, February 2009.

A walk in the park, with Boep Ung Soen-Sa, February 28, 2012.  Photos by artist and photographer Sven Mahr   www.sven-mahr.de