by Daniel Doen Silberberg | Dec 5, 2010 | Uncategorized, Zen
In developing Lost Coin, what I hope we can do is create a culture. I believe this is close to what Shakyamuni Buddha wanted to do in his time. I hope this culture forgoes prejudice and superstition and, instead, relies on what is provable and at the same time is deeply rooted in the humility of what we do not understand.
Toward that end, I believe we can look at science and Zen as two sides of the same Lost Coin. Through science we can see we are connected to everything. A human and a tree share a common ancestor. We have the stuff of stars in our bodies. On the other side, by the experiential and verifiable method of zazen, we see the field of consciousness from which all thoughts and understanding arise. Science shows us the small transient speck we are in the limitlessness of reality. Zen reveals the absolute consciousness teach one of us possesses that encompasses everything.
We can build a culture of intelligence and consciousness that reveals our identity with all things. Both science and Zen embrace the unknown rather than simply “making believe” that we understand what we do not. Reason and “no mind” are two valuable parts of the mind- they are the two hands of knowledge. A culture that embraces them both may finally help put an end to the medieval thinking that still exists and be the start of a wondrous journey into our real potential.
photo credit: net_efekt
by Daniel Doen Silberberg | Sep 6, 2010 | Uncategorized, Zen
An excerpt from a recent talk at retreat in Upper Lake, California, August 2010
Dead tree. Blind donkey. Snow is magic, because it is not cold and wet. Nor is it a fortress for a snow fight. It is all of that. It is none of that. Nobody knows what snow is. The whole world is snow.
by admin | Aug 31, 2010 | Uncategorized, Zen
Here comes Shambala Publishing’s 2010 edition of Best Buddhist Writing with a selection from Doen’s Wonderland: The Zen of Alice!!!! He is in venerable company in this compilation: the Dalai Lama, Pema Chodron, Daido Roshi, Thich Nhat Hahn, amongst others. Congratulations Doen Sensei. It will be listed on our reading list on this website shortly, so please order it pre-publication here! Publication date is September 28, 2010.
by Daniel Doen Silberberg | Apr 12, 2010 | Uncategorized, Zen
photo credit: llamnudds
This is one of a series of posts intended to clarify the groups being formed in Lost Coin. The intention is that they be “ways”- a way to make your daily life a path and a practice of realization and excellence. This is what Lost Coin is about.
The roots of this kind of practice go back to the 12th century in Kamakura Japan. At that time it became the military capital of Japan and the Zen arts and “ways” were born and flourished.
To classify these “ways” and interpret them for our times here, we can say that the martial “ways” of strategy today would be the path of the entrepreneur: a self-reliant path to financial and personal freedom.
A second “way” is the path of what was the priest, and is now “the helper”: this would be the path of relationship or harmony, including personal relationships, parenting and the helping professions.
A third “way” is the “way” of art or spiritual insight through beauty. This can be practiced as traditional Zen arts (tea ceremony, painting, flower arranging) or our modern forms of painting, writing, music.
In this manner, our endeavors in life most of which would fall into these three areas become our “way.” Putting our vital energy (ki) and commitment into these areas we transform them into practices of realization and excellence.
Utilizing our contemporary activities is what makes Lost Coin an alive and modern Zen.
by Rebecca | Feb 13, 2010 | Uncategorized, Zen
On March 13th & 14th 2010, Daniel Doen Silberberg Sensei will be leading a retreat, The Traveler’s Intentions. Participants will experience the freedom and joy that comes from approaching life as a traveler. This retreat is being held in Park City, Utah, and is open to the public as well as Lost Coin students. Doen Sensei encourages non-members to attend. Doen Sensei will be interacting directly and often with the participants and will provide plenty of opportunity through meditation, group processes and talks, to really look closely at beliefs, perceptions, attitudes, and habits which create barriers for us.
To register for the retreat, please click here. The cost of the retreat is $130 and includes lunch on Saturday. Please bring your own sitting cushions and whatever you will need to be comfortable. Saturday, we’ll begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, we’ll begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Lost Coin at contact@lostcoinzen.com or call 800-731-5061.
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