Soken
@soken.bsky.social
Zen monk living between NYC, NC, and Kyoto, Japan.
Writing on life, literature, and Buddhism:
https://bodhiheart.com/zen-reflections/
Writing on life, literature, and Buddhism:
https://bodhiheart.com/zen-reflections/
“What is no form? No form means detaching from form while having a form.” (Danjing)
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 PM
“What is no form? No form means detaching from form while having a form.” (Danjing)
“Whatever, if it has a form it is false.” — Vajracchedika-prajnaparamita-sutra, chapter 5
October 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
“Whatever, if it has a form it is false.” — Vajracchedika-prajnaparamita-sutra, chapter 5
“Even though this Dharma is abundant in each person, if one does not practice it, it doesn’t appear, it doesn’t become true in existence.”(Bendo wa [Essay on Studying the Way])
October 16, 2025 at 10:17 AM
“Even though this Dharma is abundant in each person, if one does not practice it, it doesn’t appear, it doesn’t become true in existence.”(Bendo wa [Essay on Studying the Way])
“Seeking purity is the high wish. Seeking name and profit is low.” —Komo yowa by Yoshida Shoin
October 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
“Seeking purity is the high wish. Seeking name and profit is low.” —Komo yowa by Yoshida Shoin
“The kasaya-donning monk who has penetrated through the thorny thicket is like a snowflake in a burning furnace.” Yuanwu’s Introduction, Biyan-lu Case 69
September 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
“The kasaya-donning monk who has penetrated through the thorny thicket is like a snowflake in a burning furnace.” Yuanwu’s Introduction, Biyan-lu Case 69
“Raising the wave when there is no wind. It is better to know. Useless is the boat wrecked on the land. No way to know the essence without examining it.” -Yuanwu’s comment, Biyanlu case 69
May 8, 2025 at 10:49 AM
“Raising the wave when there is no wind. It is better to know. Useless is the boat wrecked on the land. No way to know the essence without examining it.” -Yuanwu’s comment, Biyanlu case 69
“Inside of suchness is like wood or stone. It doesn’t move, it doesn’t sway, and outside it is like the empty sky which has no blockages, no obstacles,
which has no active or passive role, has no direction, has no form and figure, and has no loss and gain.”—Chuanshin fayau, written by Huangbo Shiyun
which has no active or passive role, has no direction, has no form and figure, and has no loss and gain.”—Chuanshin fayau, written by Huangbo Shiyun
April 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
“Inside of suchness is like wood or stone. It doesn’t move, it doesn’t sway, and outside it is like the empty sky which has no blockages, no obstacles,
which has no active or passive role, has no direction, has no form and figure, and has no loss and gain.”—Chuanshin fayau, written by Huangbo Shiyun
which has no active or passive role, has no direction, has no form and figure, and has no loss and gain.”—Chuanshin fayau, written by Huangbo Shiyun
“Letting free Kueishan’s working cow.
Nobody puts a bit in the mouth and
nosepiece on him,
On the riverbank the spring wind blows
with green willows and fragrant
grasses,
It lies down and sleeps away freely.”
—Gatha by Gida Dachi (1290-1366)
Nobody puts a bit in the mouth and
nosepiece on him,
On the riverbank the spring wind blows
with green willows and fragrant
grasses,
It lies down and sleeps away freely.”
—Gatha by Gida Dachi (1290-1366)
February 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
“Letting free Kueishan’s working cow.
Nobody puts a bit in the mouth and
nosepiece on him,
On the riverbank the spring wind blows
with green willows and fragrant
grasses,
It lies down and sleeps away freely.”
—Gatha by Gida Dachi (1290-1366)
Nobody puts a bit in the mouth and
nosepiece on him,
On the riverbank the spring wind blows
with green willows and fragrant
grasses,
It lies down and sleeps away freely.”
—Gatha by Gida Dachi (1290-1366)
“Without entering the weeds how can we see the essence? The place where there is no charm has another charm.” Yuanwu’s comment on Shyuedo’s Gatha, Biyanlu Case 67: Bodhisattva Fu Lectures on a Sutra
December 19, 2024 at 11:50 AM
“Without entering the weeds how can we see the essence? The place where there is no charm has another charm.” Yuanwu’s comment on Shyuedo’s Gatha, Biyanlu Case 67: Bodhisattva Fu Lectures on a Sutra
Sakyamuni Buddha upon seeing Venus, came to the great realization and said: “I, together with the great earth and all sentient and insentient beings, am simultaneously accomplishing the Way.” (Denko roku, vol. 1)
December 7, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Sakyamuni Buddha upon seeing Venus, came to the great realization and said: “I, together with the great earth and all sentient and insentient beings, am simultaneously accomplishing the Way.” (Denko roku, vol. 1)
Dōgen Zenji:
The Primary Face
Spring is flower,
Summer is Cuckoo,
Autumn is Moon,
Winter is snow, pure and cold.
The Primary Face
Spring is flower,
Summer is Cuckoo,
Autumn is Moon,
Winter is snow, pure and cold.
November 28, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Dōgen Zenji:
The Primary Face
Spring is flower,
Summer is Cuckoo,
Autumn is Moon,
Winter is snow, pure and cold.
The Primary Face
Spring is flower,
Summer is Cuckoo,
Autumn is Moon,
Winter is snow, pure and cold.
The bodhisattva’s practices:
November 27, 2024 at 1:00 AM
The bodhisattva’s practices:
Yunmen: . . . there is one treasure
Yuanwu: . . . Light issues forth.
Yuanwu: . . . Light issues forth.
March 14, 2024 at 1:04 PM
Yunmen: . . . there is one treasure
Yuanwu: . . . Light issues forth.
Yuanwu: . . . Light issues forth.
Yunmen said in his sermon, “In the world within universal space hidden in a mounded shape there is one treasure. Proceeding to the Buddha Hall with a lantern, and bringing the temple gates to the lantern."
March 13, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Yunmen said in his sermon, “In the world within universal space hidden in a mounded shape there is one treasure. Proceeding to the Buddha Hall with a lantern, and bringing the temple gates to the lantern."
"bring to action the wonderful function of no artificiality" —from Yuanwu's introduction to biyan lu case 62
March 13, 2024 at 10:06 AM
"bring to action the wonderful function of no artificiality" —from Yuanwu's introduction to biyan lu case 62
South Hill temple road. WNC
January 19, 2024 at 12:38 PM
South Hill temple road. WNC
Bodhidharma One Mind Precept
“Our Nature is divine and beautiful. True suchness is all over. We shouldn’t raise greediness for even a single form.”
“Our Nature is divine and beautiful. True suchness is all over. We shouldn’t raise greediness for even a single form.”
January 19, 2024 at 12:35 PM
Bodhidharma One Mind Precept
“Our Nature is divine and beautiful. True suchness is all over. We shouldn’t raise greediness for even a single form.”
“Our Nature is divine and beautiful. True suchness is all over. We shouldn’t raise greediness for even a single form.”
Spring roses in Greenwich Village, NYC
January 16, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Spring roses in Greenwich Village, NYC
“To have a body is to suffer.” —Bodhidharma, *Outline of Practice*
January 16, 2024 at 11:51 AM
“To have a body is to suffer.” —Bodhidharma, *Outline of Practice*
Great Teacher Shyuansha (Shyuansha Tzungyi) hearing the sound of swallows [while delivering] the lecture, said: “They tell the profound meaning that is True form. They preach very well what is the essence of Dharma.” And he descended his lecture seat. —*Liandeng hueiyau*, vol. 23
January 14, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Great Teacher Shyuansha (Shyuansha Tzungyi) hearing the sound of swallows [while delivering] the lecture, said: “They tell the profound meaning that is True form. They preach very well what is the essence of Dharma.” And he descended his lecture seat. —*Liandeng hueiyau*, vol. 23