The Daily Zen Teisho

The Activity of the Reality of Life

Daily Zen — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:46:50 +0000

Uchiyama Roshi begins with a powerful line that stops us right at the very beginning of this reading. To live the reality of true fluidity existing between ourselves and the world is a profound experience in anyone’s life and practice.

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A Lotus in Fire

Daily Zen — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

This collection of letters written to teachers, students, and lay people reveals a side of Yuanwu that is personable and easily understood. He is better known as the author of the famous Blue Cliff Record, which offers challenges to students at all levels of practice.

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Mud and Water 1

Daily Zen — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:25:48 +0000

We live in very different times from those in Japan in the 1300s, but the search for a true teacher or master beckons to students in every century. Bassui’s quest began the way it does in any person strong enough to question for themselves.

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A Single Handful

Daily Zen — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Perhaps we should begin at the beginning, where Buddhadhasa starts with the fundamental principles in the first chapter of this teaching, because in the above piece, he alludes to the handful of teachings that are all we need, but what are they?

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The Teachings of the Fourth Chan Patriarch Tao-shin

Daily Zen — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

There is something for everyone in this profound teaching. We don’t know who the questioner is, but really it is us. Who hasn’t asked these questions in their own time? And how many have had the Fourth Patriarch to hang out with and ask questions to?

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On Cultivating the Mind

Daily Zen — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:44:49 +0000

Nothing much to grab onto here, not even instructions to meditate! However, we realize that a Zen master is teaching meditation; how else does one learn to turn the light around and look inside?

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Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – Part 2

Daily Zen — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Each journal presents a way into a larger perspective, and each piece speaks to us uniquely. There are teachers we easily connect with, and others that demand more of a stretch to understand their style.

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Absorption in the Treasury of Light – Part 1

Daily Zen — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It is rare to hear in Zen anyone state exactly what meditation is; there are a lot of questions asked, and a little technique discussed, but originally, students just sat and found out for themselves.

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Essential Teachings of the Stone Lion: Instructions for Meditation

Daily Zen — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In Zen, there are many styles of meditation taught through the various schools; each person has to find the approach that strikes a chord within them, one they can spend enough time to realize the fruits of their efforts.

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Essential Teachings of the Stone Lion: Stages of Meditation

Daily Zen — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Fall and Spring are both potent times to evaluate our practice; without judgment, just look to see if there are any adjustments to be made.

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The Eight Qualities of a Great Person – Part 2

Daily Zen — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:00:29 +0000

As with any translation of a very ancient teaching, and one that was passed on orally rather than written down, we are often stopped wondering what was actually transmitted.

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The Essential Gateway to Truth by Means of Instantaneous Awakening

Daily Zen — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

If the questions seem to flow too precisely and neatly along, it is because this is a format Hui Hai used to communicate these principles.

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The Eight Qualities of a Great Person – Part 1

Daily Zen — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

This was the last teaching of both the Buddha and Dogen before they died. For Dogen, it was part of his intention to rewrite all his work, and he had completed 11 chapters prior to this new piece.

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Tsung Ching Record of Hui Hai

Daily Zen — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The stubborn intellect can be crafty and tends to want “answers” and concepts to hold onto, and naturally, as students, we would appreciate a little help here. However, our idea of help and a true teacher’s is rarely the same.

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Making the Altruistic Vow

Daily Zen — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Making the Altruistic Vow…serves to focus on our intentions and purpose here and now. What have we committed to? What better time of year to contemplate this lofty vow than now?

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Constancy

Daily Zen — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Constancy – it has a lovely ring to it and actually is similar to one of the paramitas in Buddhism. Seeking the right phrase or word to express any spiritual concept can be challenging.

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Blood Stream Sermon – Part 3

Daily Zen — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

This piece is profoundly deep and vast in its scope. It’s as if all the true essentials of Buddhism and Zen are laid out right before us.

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Dream Conversations On Buddhism and Zen

Daily Zen — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Muso is touching on points we have covered many times over the years. It is so easy to fool ourselves with our understanding. Too often, there is confusion in thinking that knowing the meaning of a word equals the experience and manifestation of that principle.

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Transmission of Mind -Questions from the Wan Ling Record – Part 10

Daily Zen — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The ability to stay focused on a train of thought, a task that takes days to complete, or a conversation that goes beyond things right in front of us is becoming a lost art in our times.

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Since I Became a Buddha – Part 2

Daily Zen — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The sheer beauty and simplicity of this piece speak for itself. Especially now when the times seem so extreme, and we are overstimulated to react, to be able to pause and remember to practice always returns us to center.

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West Mountain Evening Talk – Part 3

Daily Zen — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Depending on how long one has practiced, at some point, we all realize the dead end of intellectual understanding. That doesn’t mean there is no value in “words and letters.” What is criticized above is the substitution of meditation time with what can become the distraction of reading one more teacher’s instructions, one more sutra, and how about that new school of Zen?

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Awakening

Daily Zen — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Most of us have read the story of the Buddha’s life and awakening, but few of us have read a first-person account like the one above.

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Since I Became a Buddha – Part 1

Daily Zen — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

As with many other writings, there are always parts that stop us in our tracks. Is it the translation or my lack of understanding?

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Wake-up Sermon – Part 1

Daily Zen — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:48:48 +0000

Listening to this sermon of Bodhidharma’s is similar to swallowing the ocean in one gulp, overwhelming in some places. As with floating on the water, rather than struggling to stay up, it’s best here just to relax and let the teachings flow under, over, and through us.

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Wake-up Sermon – Part 2

Daily Zen — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:30:00 +0000

Not all Zen teaching is immediately easy to grasp. This is classic Zen delivered to us by the very famous patriarch of Zen, Bodhidharma. However, it is like riding through rapids down the River of No Return and holding on for dear life!

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