February flees, February 27th 2014

There is a saying in Japanese: “Ichigatsu ha iku, Nigatsu ha nigeru, Sangatsu ha saru”, literally January walks, February flees, March leaves. Each of the months passes away, but February seems to be in a special hurry. All of a sudden already two months of the new year have passed. Today we did the monthly … Read more

Last dharma talk during the Antaiji winter study period: Sabine Timoteo in the “cage”, February 25th 2014

TO PAINT THE PORTRAIT OF A BIRD First paint a cage with an open door then paint something pretty something simple something beautiful something useful for the bird then place the canvas against a tree in a garden in a wood or in a forest hide behind the tree without speaking without moving… Sometimes the … Read more

Western breakfast @ Antaiji

Sabine Timoteo’s first day as Antaiji tenzo. After 5 days of training in the kitchen with Jisui, she will be now in charge for the next cycle. While she is preparing a Western breakfast, Tsukan sets the tables in the dining room, and others study or meditate until it is time for the meal. Today … Read more

Jijuyuzanmai runs out of battery, Januar 29th 2014

The round of talks on the Gakudoyojinshu has finishes, and since yesterday we take turns lecturing on Bendowa. Here is today’s talk by Gusho. He tries to explain “jijuyuzanmai”, a central term that is translated as “self-joyous meditation” in the text below. Unfortunately the battery ran out before Gusho could give his final answer… Translation … Read more