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Editorial
By Michael
To study the buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualised by myriad things. When actualised by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of realisation remains, and this no trace continues endlessly.
Eihei Dogen Genjo Koan.
This late winter issue of Mountain Silence appears as the 'enlightenment' of our northern hemisphere as it rolls into Spring becomes more evident. Here in the countryside of Devon the snowdrops appeared several weeks ago, on some sunny banks daffodils are pushing their green blades upwards and hazel catkins are dancing in the breeze. With such miracles constantly around us it becomes perhaps a trifle easier to forget the self and allow the mind to rest and to be actualised by these myriad things. As Dancing Mountains and its associated sanghas blossom we are offered many opportunities in more formal settings 'to study ourselves'.
In this issue we have news of the new Dancing Mountains centre in Glastonbury which has been manifested by the faith, hard work and perseverance of Bev Eatwell and her partner Gez. In Totnes Francis and Bernadette have built a new zendo which will be ready for Ingen's retreat 23 to 26 February and IngenJi Ingen’s temple in County Clare has already hosted a number of sesshins and retreats including a Rohatsu from 1st to 8th December, 2016. Reb will be at Zenvagen Sweden for his usual international retreat 12 to 20 August. I cannot remember such a rich time in the history of Dancing Mountains, a fulfilment of Reb's suggestion at Gaia House in 2008 when he encouraged us to let ‘cells,’ of practice develop throughout the UK.
Article
Rohatsu Sesshin IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
By Michael
Rohatsu at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
Rohatsu the Sesshin that takes place betw... Read more
Poetry
The Priest Saigyo (12c)
By Saigyo Hoshi
Overcome with pity for this world
My... Read more
Article
Meditation and Ageing
By James Kingsland Guardian 3 March 2016
Does Meditation Help to Keep Us Young?
Do people who meditate age more slowly? It seems ... Read more
Article
Itinerant Monk Seeks Home
By Myo Yu Shin Chi
After his residential training at San Francisco Zen Centre, our beloved MYO YU SHIN CHI has returned, but is now desperately in need of somewhere to stay for a sh... Read more
Poetry
Chiyono's Enlightenment poem,
By Chiyono
Chiyono's Enlightenment poem,
In this way and that I have tried to... Read more
Article
Silent Illumination
By Michael
SILENT ILLUMINATION By Hung Chih Cheng-Chueh (1091-1157)
Silently and serenely, one forgets all words,
Clearly and vividly, it appears b... Read more
Poetry
My Heart was Forged
By Francoise Elvin
My heart was forged in an ancient fire
Before Hellenic tragic-comic gesture
birthed language from
Layered lisping limpid
Geometry.
... Read moreArticle
Driving Through the Fog
By Ross Charnock
Approaching the retreat brought a whole mixture of guilt and shame, trying to fathom out how, when, why or what I might be entirely res... Read more
Poetry
A Rohatsu Poem
By Clare Hanna
Rohatsu at Ingen-ji
On h... Read more
Article
Waking up to the power of Zazen
By Angyu Devin Ashwood
It was a stretch to put a weekend aside to take part in the very first retreat (sesshin) arranged at the new meditation room (zendo), skilfully and most generously bui... Read more
