Lost Coin SLC Meeting Notes   - November 2, 2010
 
For the next four weeks Doen is going to talk about the ox heading pictures – an illustrated and poetic depiction of Zen practice. They come from the 8th century. The talks will be recorded and edited (with  opportunities for transcription). He wants us to have a Zen background. He has his own way of transmitting the 4th Way material, which is implicit in his teaching.
 
He wants these four weeks to be like a study group, he wants us to have this history. There are several books he wants us to read:
 
1) The Three Pillars of Zen – read the introductory talks by Yasutani Roshi (Doen’s teacher’s teacher). This introduction provides the whole foundation of Zen.  These talks represent the first time Japanese teachers were willing to teach Westerners.
 
2) Ox Herding Pictures – a couple of good titles: Gentling the Bull, by the venerable Myokyo – ni (venerable is monk in Japan) and Riding the Ox Home by Daido Lori. Both books are worth having. You can also get versions on the internet – but they will be without commentary.
 
First read the talks in Three Pillars of Zen and then discuss the in the group. This will give you a good context. It is better for us to read them and have Doen comment on them than have him teach them to us. The 8th century drawing are wonderful – but he will do a modern interpretation.
 
One thing to understand – when Doen started to study Zen – they were very motivated – fire-brands. He was in Boston studying martial arts. Other students were also studying with a famous Korean Zen teacher. Those students shared some books with him: The Empty Mirror, The Glimpse of Nothingness. The books talked about what it was like to study in Japan. Doen felt like a tough guy, studying martial arts – but was really impressed by how these Zen guys got up in freezing cold weather, etc.  Doen was very attracted to these practices – to him it was like an extreme sport – and why he wanted to study Zen.
 
We are in a different environment now – we will not study like Doen. Our challenge is to integrate the practice into our life.  He wants us to know the background. 
 
Responses to Student Questions
 
“Chi” is not physical – you can think about it like spirit. Doen told about a small martial arts student who would often win because of her spirit – the ability to focus, have the desire to do/win. When Doen had to break patio bricks – can’t do it with strength – had to focus through the materials – five miles beyond.  Also, if you need to run 10 miles, tell yourself you have to run 15 and it will be easier to run the 10. 
About the Blog – the Rumi poem – you want to have some consciousness in your life vs. be a wind-up doll. Really questioning what you do, what you do have chosen (the 4th Way part). Rumi is someone that Gurdjieff would have studied.
 
For four weeks turn yourself into an academic group. Doen wants us to understand Zen history. From the 8th century to now – things have changed but we think the same way. This teaching is about what life is all about and that life isn’t all terrible, not falling off the roof (reference to the Rumi poem). Doen wants us to understand this wonderful tradition.
 
When talk to each other – be very open, because usually people are just full of bullshit. The more revealing we are with each other the more we bond – become a sangha.
