Dosho@Vine of Obstacles Zen
@dosho.bsky.social
Support for discovering deep joy through the subtle profundity of the Zen Way. Writing about Zen practice from the One School perspective. Original translations, koan commentary, and the whole works.
https://www.vineobstacleszen.com/
https://www.vineobstacleszen.com/
What's the big idea in Buddhism? What's the price of gas at the local station. More about that here:
dosho.substack.com/p/qingyuans-...
dosho.substack.com/p/qingyuans-...
September 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
What's the big idea in Buddhism? What's the price of gas at the local station. More about that here:
dosho.substack.com/p/qingyuans-...
dosho.substack.com/p/qingyuans-...
A Brief Debrief on the "Zen: One School, One Mind Workshop"
More photos below
www.vineobstacleszen.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
My new post about death practice, open to all subscribers, free and paid:
www.vineobstacleszen.com/why-is-the-l...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/why-is-the-l...
Why is the Long, Last Moment So Important?
"There is what we might call 'deathbed logic,' the idea that the last thought is so powerful as to override the wrongdoings of a lifetime, enabling a superior rebirth or even liberation itself."
www.vineobstacleszen.com
July 21, 2025 at 5:14 PM
My new post about death practice, open to all subscribers, free and paid:
www.vineobstacleszen.com/why-is-the-l...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/why-is-the-l...
New post up on Substack - one of the classical work-throughs of Bodhidharma’s Just Clarity, No Holy - one of the foundational stories and koans in the Zen tradition. If you are interested in Zen practice, I hope this won’t give you a toe hold.
dosho.substack.com/p/bodhidharm...
dosho.substack.com/p/bodhidharm...
Bodhidharma’s “Just Clarity”
Record of Going Easy, Case 2, in Full
dosho.substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:12 PM
New post up on Substack - one of the classical work-throughs of Bodhidharma’s Just Clarity, No Holy - one of the foundational stories and koans in the Zen tradition. If you are interested in Zen practice, I hope this won’t give you a toe hold.
dosho.substack.com/p/bodhidharm...
dosho.substack.com/p/bodhidharm...
The present post is my first in a series in which I hope you'll find inspiration and methods for your own death. I’m kicking off the series with this post about a great practitioner from the 20th - Hongyi. This is at our Ghost site and is open for everybody.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/hongyis-long...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/hongyis-long...
Hongyi's Long, Last Moment
"The future's uncertain and the end is always near." The Doors
www.vineobstacleszen.com
July 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The present post is my first in a series in which I hope you'll find inspiration and methods for your own death. I’m kicking off the series with this post about a great practitioner from the 20th - Hongyi. This is at our Ghost site and is open for everybody.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/hongyis-long...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/hongyis-long...
Oh, this great koan! What Meido Moore Roshi calls “ridiculously, shockingly direct pointing.” I recommend that you read slowly from the belly of the breath so that your can appreciate it with body-breath-mind. Comments welcome.
Just Clarity, No Holiness
Record of Going Easy, Case 2, in Brief
open.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Oh, this great koan! What Meido Moore Roshi calls “ridiculously, shockingly direct pointing.” I recommend that you read slowly from the belly of the breath so that your can appreciate it with body-breath-mind. Comments welcome.
A great new book about women waking up through wholehearted practice. You’ll find this goes strongly against the grain of much of what is thought about dharma practice today (e.g., shame ain’t so bad after all). This post is on Ghost and is open to all.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/soto-zen-wom...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/soto-zen-wom...
Soto Zen Women Wake Up: A Review of "In This Body, In This Lifetime"
Awakening Stories of Japanese Soto Zen Women
www.vineobstacleszen.com
June 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
A great new book about women waking up through wholehearted practice. You’ll find this goes strongly against the grain of much of what is thought about dharma practice today (e.g., shame ain’t so bad after all). This post is on Ghost and is open to all.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/soto-zen-wom...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/soto-zen-wom...
I'm excited to have just posted my first podcast - an interview with James Myoun Ford Roshi. You are invited to check it out - open to everyone:
dosho.substack.com/p/opening-th...
dosho.substack.com/p/opening-th...
Opening the World: A Conversation with James Myoun Ford Roshi
Listen now | Case 1: The World-Honored One Ascends the Seat
dosho.substack.com
June 3, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I'm excited to have just posted my first podcast - an interview with James Myoun Ford Roshi. You are invited to check it out - open to everyone:
dosho.substack.com/p/opening-th...
dosho.substack.com/p/opening-th...
What happens after an initial awakening? Here's an example from the received tradition.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/falling-thro...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/falling-thro...
Falling Through No-Wall and Waking Up: Muso Soseki and Nurturing the Sacred Womb
"No mind smashes the bones of the empty sky."
www.vineobstacleszen.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
What happens after an initial awakening? Here's an example from the received tradition.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/falling-thro...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/falling-thro...
Examine! Look!
Case 1: The World-Honored One Ascends the Seat
dosho.substack.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Dosho’s Substack
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
Dosho’s Substack | Shake Out Your Sleeves And Go | Substack
Support for discovering deep joy through the subtle profundity of the Zen Way. Click to read Dosho’s Substack, by Shake Out Your Sleeves And Go, a Substack publication. Launched 4 days ago.
dosho.substack.com
May 20, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Dosho’s Substack
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
A new post about an old verse. This one is open to all. If you enjoy it, I invite you to subscribe.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-most-exc...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-most-exc...
The Most Excellent Peace: Yunyan's Verse on the "Three Lingering Contaminations"
In all the mountains and rivers under heaven,
this is the most excellent peace.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
May 19, 2025 at 1:16 PM
A new post about an old verse. This one is open to all. If you enjoy it, I invite you to subscribe.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-most-exc...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-most-exc...
My new Substack welcome video! You are welcome to check it out and subscribe. Thank you.
open.substack.com/pub/dosho/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/dosho/p/...
Welcome to Shake Out Your Sleeves And Go
And what's coming soon
open.substack.com
May 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
My new Substack welcome video! You are welcome to check it out and subscribe. Thank you.
open.substack.com/pub/dosho/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/dosho/p/...
Registration Now Open for ZEN: ONE SCHOOL, ONE MIND A Special Practice Weekend with Dosho Port Roshi and Meido Moore Roshi
at Korinji in Wisconsin, August 8-10!
www.vineobstacleszen.com/zen-one-scho...
at Korinji in Wisconsin, August 8-10!
www.vineobstacleszen.com/zen-one-scho...
Zen: One School, One Mind Workshop
Registration Now Open for ZEN: ONE SCHOOL, ONE MIND
A Special Practice Weekend with Dosho Port Roshi and Meido Moore Roshi
www.vineobstacleszen.com
May 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Registration Now Open for ZEN: ONE SCHOOL, ONE MIND A Special Practice Weekend with Dosho Port Roshi and Meido Moore Roshi
at Korinji in Wisconsin, August 8-10!
www.vineobstacleszen.com/zen-one-scho...
at Korinji in Wisconsin, August 8-10!
www.vineobstacleszen.com/zen-one-scho...
On the important work of doing the important work. This post is for subscribers (free and paid).
www.vineobstacleszen.com/linji-turns-...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/linji-turns-...
Linji Turns the Light
Don't do you as a brand, as a commodity. Just turn the light around and see self nature.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
May 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
On the important work of doing the important work. This post is for subscribers (free and paid).
www.vineobstacleszen.com/linji-turns-...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/linji-turns-...
A new post about the essential method of Zen - turning the light around. This is open to all. Your subscription, free or paid, would be appreciated.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/how-can-we-c...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/how-can-we-c...
How Can We Carry the Jewel Close to Our Heart?
If you are not clear about this, turn the light around to illuminate, and then you'll know with great relief that the luminous jewel is what you are.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
April 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A new post about the essential method of Zen - turning the light around. This is open to all. Your subscription, free or paid, would be appreciated.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/how-can-we-c...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/how-can-we-c...
Dosho’s Substack
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
Dosho’s Substack | Shake Out Your Sleeves And Go | Substack
Support for discovering deep joy through the subtle profundity of the Zen Way. Click to read Dosho’s Substack, by Shake Out Your Sleeves And Go, a Substack publication. Launched 8 months ago.
dosho.substack.com
April 27, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Dosho’s Substack
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
dosho.substack.com?r=2riogw&utm...
I recently completed a big translation project. Here's the story in brief.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/shoyoroku-su...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/shoyoroku-su...
On Completing the Translation of the Record of Going Easy
Hongzhi and Wansong's purpose, shared across time through the Shoyoroku, was to catalyze the awakening and post-awakening processes of people in the future - people like us.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I recently completed a big translation project. Here's the story in brief.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/shoyoroku-su...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/shoyoroku-su...
Great Hands Off Protest today in Duluth. MN AG Keith Ellison gave a great speech, ending with an appeal for solidarity. They said 2500 but seemed much bigger to me.
April 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Great Hands Off Protest today in Duluth. MN AG Keith Ellison gave a great speech, ending with an appeal for solidarity. They said 2500 but seemed much bigger to me.
What do Mother Theresa and the Sixth Ancestor have in common? Not the main point, but still....
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-key-barr...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-key-barr...
The Key Barrier to Practicing Awakening
We must meet the barrier with that same direct, simple, subtlety.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
March 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
What do Mother Theresa and the Sixth Ancestor have in common? Not the main point, but still....
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-key-barr...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-key-barr...
The subtle and powerful point of Zen. Open for all subscribers.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-oh-so-su...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-oh-so-su...
The Oh-So-Subtle Point of Zen and Its Significance
See the awakened mind by seeing nature as the grounds for cultivating conduct.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
March 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The subtle and powerful point of Zen. Open for all subscribers.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-oh-so-su...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/the-oh-so-su...
What to do in times like these? I turn here to the received Zen tradition for inspiration and guidance with a couple original translations. This one is open to paid subscribers. You'll find others posts open to everyone.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/what-to-do-w...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/what-to-do-w...
What To Do When It Comes At You All At Once
Hit the one in the middle.
www.vineobstacleszen.com
March 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM
What to do in times like these? I turn here to the received Zen tradition for inspiration and guidance with a couple original translations. This one is open to paid subscribers. You'll find others posts open to everyone.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/what-to-do-w...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/what-to-do-w...
A new post open to everyone from Tetsugan Sensei and I. Subscribers are welcome at our Ghost site - both free and paid options are available. Our Zen training program is one of the most rigorous available.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/peace-isnt-l...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/peace-isnt-l...
Peace Isn't Luck: Then What is the Way?
"You say that there is no gradual progress, and yet Shakyamuni Buddha predicted my unsurpassed, perfect awakening. How can I get there?"
www.vineobstacleszen.com
March 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
A new post open to everyone from Tetsugan Sensei and I. Subscribers are welcome at our Ghost site - both free and paid options are available. Our Zen training program is one of the most rigorous available.
www.vineobstacleszen.com/peace-isnt-l...
www.vineobstacleszen.com/peace-isnt-l...