Toronto Cityscapes

Toronto Cityscapes

Cities have their own transcendent landscapes and the stories they tell are never the same.   Take a stroll with me through some streets:

Fini

Another Dabbling in Zen

Another Dabbling in Zen

A monk asked Fa-yen: “As for the finger I will not ask about it. But what is the moon?”

The Master said: “Where is the finger that you don’t ask about?”

So the monk asked: “As for the moon, I will not ask about it. But what is the finger?”

The Master said: “The moon!”

The monk challenged him: “I asked about the finger. Why did you answer, ‘the moon’?”

The Master replied: “Because you asked about the finger.”

ZEN MONDO

Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever 

you are doing. This is the ultimate.

CHUANG-TZU

“What is the Tao?” a monk asked.

“It is right in front of your nose!” the Master answered.

“So why can’t I see it?” the monk continued.

“Your Me is in the way,” the Master answered.

ZEN MONDO

Fini

BoSt Galleries- Pathways

BoSt Galleries- Pathways

There was once an ancient Chinese Zen master who never gave teisho, or dharma talks. The monks, however, pleaded with him to give teisho, and one day, finally, he agreed. When it was time, he walked into the dharma hall, offered incense and prostrations in front of the altar, and then took his seat. After a few minutes he slowly got up, bowed, and left the dharma hall. The poor monks were all puzzled, and next time they saw him asked: “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I’m not a dharma teacher,” he responded. “I am a Zen master.”

Zen Mondo

A monk once drew four lines in front of Ma-tsu. The top line was long and the remaining three were short. He then demanded of the Master, “Besides saying that one line is long and the other three are short, what else could you say?”

Ma-tsu drew one line on the ground and said: “This could be called either long or short. That is my answer.” 

ZEN MONDO

The End.

Nature's Abstract Art 10

Nature's Abstract Art 10

“Don’t dwell upon colors to bring forth the mind; don’t dwell upon phenomena of sound, smell, taste or touch to bring forth the mind; dwell nowhere and bring forth the mind.”

DIAMOND SUTRA

“When the Ten Thousand

things are seen

in their Oneness

we return to the Origins

where we have always been.”

SENG-TS’AN

“The symbol is to express an idea and is to be discarded when the idea is understood. Words are to explain thoughts and ought to be silenced when the thoughts are already absorbed.” 

HU SHIH

The End