Reflection on the Teachings of Man Gong

"To attain the result of your practice, you must extinguish the small “I”. You must stop checking and become like a rotten stump, then you can get rid of the “I” that thinks it exists.” The Teachings of Zen Master Man Gong

To become like a rotten stump means first of all to become like a tree that has been cut down. A tree that has been cut down is completely stripped of its trunk, branches and leaves. It can no longer take in energy from the sun. So this means to cut off whatever gives energy to your small self.

Sometimes you see a tree stump in the forest with new branches and leaves growing from it. This is because the roots are alive and continuing to draw nourishment from the soil. So if you want to attain your true self, you must become like a rotten stump, which means to let your roots die so that you stop feeding your small self.

Finally, a rotten stump nourishes the whole forest. Insects, reptiles and small mammals take refuge in it, and they feed each other and the birds and other animals. As the stump slowly decomposes it releases all the nutrients that were bound up in it and those leech through the earth enriching the soil, helping other plants to grow. This means that your practice is no longer for yourself but rather for all beings without discrimination.

 

April 24 Morning Practice Canceled

Due to the Midwest Sangha Weekend events in Chicago, we are canceling Saturday Morning Practice on April 24, 2010. We will resume our regular schedule on Tuesday Evening April 27th.

PBS Documentary BUDDHA April 7, 2010 @ 7:00 pm

Dick Marston sent this via e-mail:


On Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00pm in Kansas), PBS will bring to life Siddhartha and his journey in THE BUDDHA, a two-hour documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin.

“Buddhism is growing more and more popular in America,” said David Grubin. “But the Buddha himself remains a mysterious, exotic figure, the founder of a religion in a different key. The Buddha never claimed to be God, or his emissary on earth. He said only that in a world of unavoidable pain and suffering, he had found a serenity which others could find too. In our own bewildering times of violent change and spiritual confusion, the Buddha’s teachings have particular relevance.”

The film, narrated by actor Richard Gere, is undertaken in conjunction with Asia Society Museum, which has organized an exhibition entitled Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art, the first-ever exhibition examining artistic production inspired by sacred sites and the practice of Buddhist pilgrimage in Asia.

Grubin, who directed the critically acclaimed series of films on American presidents including “LBJ,” “FDR” and “Truman” as well as other award-winning series such as THE JEWISH AMERICANS, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE BRAIN and NAPOLEON, tells the story of the Buddha through ancient artwork that depicts the various stages of Siddhartha’s journey, contemporary animation that vividly portrays the legends surrounding the Buddha and contemporary footage of northern India, where many of the religious rituals from the Buddha’s time are still practiced today.

Experts on the Buddha, representing a variety of disciplines, relate the key episodes of the Buddha’s life and reflect on what his journey means for us today. They include His Holiness the Dalai Lama; poets Jane Hirshfield and W.S. Merwin; scholars Robert Thurman, Kevin Trainor and Dr. Max Moerman; astrophysicist Trinh Xuan Thuan; and psychiatrist Mark Epstein, as well as practicing Buddhist monastics.

“By continuing our exploration of the world’s religions, we are delighted to participate in broadening people’s understanding of Buddhism today with David Grubin’s moving portrait of the life of the Buddha,” said John F. Wilson, PBS senior vice president and chief TV programming executive. “This film exposes not just the man, but also his rich teachings, which we hope will spark a larger conversation about religion and spirituality.”

www.PBS.org/TheBuddha

Am I in a Cult? (Part 1)

I've spent some time over the past couple of days--too much time, probably--reading around at the Forum maintained by a guy named Rick Ross, a prominent anti-cultist. I started reading because Margaret said that there was quite a bit of negative information about Zen Master Seung Sahn (you can read it from start to finish here). I noticed pretty quickly that a member who calls himself "The Anti-Cult" was especially driven to attack ZMSS, but that much of what he said was unfactual or a massive distortion of the facts. I've written a response to him, but  after reading a thread started by someone calling himself "Dr Logic," I realized that there's no point in trying to reason with "The Anti-Cult"--or anyone on the Forum. Most of the posters seem locked into a very rigid perspective in which any disagreement with them constitutes an effort to manipulate, even brainwash them.

It was especially unnerving to watch the Forum members begin attacking "Dr Logic," whose protests were then construed as attacks for which he was eventually banned from the Forum. There were lots of other instances where the Forum members, especially The Anti-Cult, would accuse Dr Logic of doing exactly the thing they themselves were doing. It was kind of like watching a microcosm of American political discourse--but somehow sadder.

Public Dharma Talk in Manhattan

Tallgrass Zen 2010 Events Schedule

Consulting Interviews:
First Saturday of each month

YMJJ Retreat January 29, 30, 31, 2010
Dharma Talk on January 28, 2010

Midwest Sangha Weekend in Chicago
Ten Directions Zen Community
April 23 -25, 2010

Buddha’s Birthday
Friday May 21, 2009: Ceremony & Potluck
Day of Meditation & Interviews May 22

YMJJ Retreat June 24, 25, 26, 27, 2010

Sangha Day at Lake Wabaunsee July 2010 (TBA)

Retreat October 22, 23, 24, 2010
Dharma Talk on October 21, 2010

Buddha’s Enlightenment Day Activities 2010
Saturday December 11: Day of Meditation & Interviews with Evening Kido
Sunday December 12: Ceremony and Potluck

Buddha's Enlightenment Day is celebrated on the 8th Day of the 12th month. So this year on a lunar calendar it is December 23rd, on a solar calendar it is December 8th. Which do you like?

Saturday December 5, 2009: Tallgrass Zen Extended Morning Practice with Consulting Interviews 7:30 -9:30 am: Mercy Chapel - 1823 College Avenue - Manhattan, Kansas - Followed by Sangha Breakfast at a local restaurant

Sunday December 6, 2009: PrairyErth Zen: Buddha's Enlightenment Day Ceremony 10:30 am 2221 Edgewater -Topeka, Kansas. Followed by a Sangha Potluck.

Saturday December 19, 2009: Day of Meditation with Consulting Interviews 9am - 4:30pm. Deep Creek Community Center - Manhattan, Kansas. Bring a sack lunch. Potluck Dinner to follow before the Kido at 6:30 pm

Saturday December 19, 2009: Buddha's Enlightment Day Kido 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Deep Creek Community Center. Kido is means Energy Way - and we chant along with percussion instruments, so bring a moktak, drum, rattle. All are welcome.

For more information contact us at tallgrasszen@yahoo.com or call 785-537-8713