tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91359581977948376592024-03-11T21:50:53.245-07:00The 12 Steps and Zen KoansIf you belong to a 12 Step Group, at one time you will hear someone say, "Upon working the steps, one day you will see where the Steps are working you!" The same can be said when you meditate with Zen koans ... a koan can pop into your life when you least expect it, giving you a new perspective on matters. Here we are practicing with koans to see how they can deepen our understanding of the 12 Steps in new and unexpected ways.Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-80828771151871591202023-12-26T14:59:00.000-08:002023-12-26T14:59:18.885-08:00December, Step 12, and Jumping off a 100 foot pole...Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs. Koan: Deep autumn—my neighbor,how does he live, I wonder? Matsuo Bashō, d. November 28, 1694, Osaka, Japan Completing Step 12 is no small matter: · Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-50375997810739237022023-12-01T18:29:00.000-08:002023-12-01T18:29:49.951-08:00December 12&Zen - - TWO Announcements this month... Dear 12 & Zen Followers,#1] Here is the Step and Koan we’ll be working with. Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs. Koan: Deep autumn—my neighbor,how does he live, I wonder? Matsuo Bashō, d. November 28, 1694, Osaka, Japan- - - Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-43085514012373351792023-11-14T19:59:00.000-08:002023-11-14T19:59:57.770-08:00 Step 10, the Reminder Step... Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Koan: The storehouse of treasures opens of itself. You may take them and use them anyway you wish. –Fukanzazengi* – Dōgen (PZI Misc. Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-82838493285020164212023-11-02T10:57:00.005-07:002023-11-02T10:57:52.663-07:00Step 11, Treasures open to us November 2023, 12 & Zen Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Koan: The storehouse of treasures opens of itself. You may take them and use them anyway you wish. –Fukanzazengi* –&Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-82411630028801552422023-10-14T20:13:00.001-07:002023-10-14T20:13:41.161-07:00Step 10, Swimming in Reality Koan: A student asked Yunmen, "What does it mean to sit and contemplate reality?"Yunmen answered, "The coin lost in the river is found in the river." You and I have packed a lot into our respective rivers of life, haven’t we?We’ve experienced our placid river, roily river, meandering river, gushing river, muddy river, clear river, cold river, polluted rive, and even dry Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-35700456448002726652023-10-01T20:17:00.001-07:002023-10-01T20:17:16.920-07:0012 & Zen October Koan and Step 10Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.Koan: A student asked Yunmen, "What does it mean to sit and contemplate reality?"Yunmen answered, "The coin lost in the river is found in the river.”Bill K. Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-67913064621223170352023-09-15T12:26:00.003-07:002023-09-15T12:26:57.802-07:00 The Hard and Easy of Steps 8 and 9 Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Koan: One day, while the Layman was meditating in his sitting hut, he suddenly cried out, “It’s hard, hard, hard! And I’ve put ten coats of linseedBill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-63669402498293357902023-08-01T08:45:00.000-07:002023-08-01T08:45:07.726-07:00Steps 8 and 9, Hard or Easy? We're sitting with this for August and September...Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Koan: One day, while the Layman was meditating in his sitting hut, he suddenly cried out, “It’s Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-8530277271756510262023-07-15T13:01:00.002-07:002023-07-15T13:01:38.687-07:00 A Step 6 and 7 Pick-me-up Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Koan: Once a monk made a request to Joshu. “I have just entered the monastery,” he said, “Please give me instructions, Master.” Joshu said, “Have you had your breakfast”? “Yes I have,” replied the monk. “Then,” said Joshu, Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-65246925223743801572023-06-02T13:39:00.000-07:002023-06-02T13:39:02.694-07:00Step 6 and 7, Wash your bowls... June/July summertime 12 & Zen ...and ready for:Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Koan: Once a monk made a request to Joshu. “I have just entered the monastery,” he said, “Please give me instructions, Master.” Joshu said, “Haave you had your breakfast”? Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-57436049344055052542023-05-17T21:26:00.000-07:002023-05-17T21:26:18.135-07:00Getting things rolling with Steps 4 and 5 Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Koan: Case 8 The Gateless Gate: Master Gettan asked a monk, “Keichū made a hundred carts. If he took off both wheels and removed the axle, what would he make clear about the Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-56485684451808187972023-04-02T15:53:00.000-07:002023-04-02T15:53:02.866-07:00Steps 4 and 5: April/May Here is what we'll be sitting with next...Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Koan: Case 8 The Gateless Gate: Master Gettan asked a monk, “Keichū made a hundred carts. If he took off both wheels and removed Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-64916178578886404752023-03-12T15:29:00.000-07:002023-03-12T15:29:12.711-07:00The beginnings to prosperity - - Steps 2 and 3 Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. So sad, alone, and poor...Koan: A monk, Seizei, asked Master Sôzan in all earnestness…Seizei is alone and poor. I beg you, Master, please help me to become Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-57537640972224090892023-02-01T09:48:00.001-08:002023-02-01T09:48:17.949-08:00Steps 2 and 3 Koan for FEB/MARCH Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Koan: A monk, Seizei, asked Master Sôzan in all earnestness…Seizei is alone and poor. I beg you, Master, please help me to become prosperous.San said,Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-58044014172583819282023-01-14T13:04:00.001-08:002023-01-14T13:04:37.499-08:00A Bug Takes Step OneStep 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol* -- that our lives had become unmanageable. Koan: A bug on a branchSwept away down the riverStill singing her songISSA (1763-1826) Translated by Cliff Edwardsin a collection entitled Lovers Have So Little Time.We don’t know anything about this bug, only that she’s on a branch, but how on the branch? Is itBill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-89501943778609289172023-01-01T09:34:00.001-08:002023-01-01T09:34:26.230-08:00January Koan and Step OneStep 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol* -- that our lives had become unmanageable. Koan: A bug on a branchSwept away down the riverStill singing her song ISSA (1763-1826) Translated by Cliff Edwardsin a collection entitled Lovers Have So Little Time.Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-45504673004808714972022-12-13T19:58:00.000-08:002022-12-13T19:58:44.028-08:00Work, work, work with Step 12Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs. Honey Bee, worker beeKoan: Dongshan was sweeping one day when someone said to him, “Work, work, work - - all you do is work.” Dongshan replied, “I do it for another.” Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-68492466964889762872022-12-01T18:07:00.002-08:002022-12-01T18:07:34.830-08:00December Koan and Step 12 December 1, 2022 - Step 12 Koan Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs. Koan: Dongshan was sweeping one day when someone said to him, “Work, work, work - - all you do is work.” &Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-44667232790089144232022-11-16T12:52:00.002-08:002022-11-16T12:52:37.822-08:00When the bridge is broken? Step 11Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Koan: It helps you cross the river when the bridge is broken. It’s your companion as you return to the village on a moonless night.Misc. Koans page 168 Joan Sutherland’s Book, Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-531140130363873042022-11-02T21:39:00.001-07:002022-11-02T21:39:30.938-07:00 November 2022, 12 & Zen November Greetings,Oops...it seems that a couple of World Series games distracted me. Here is what we'll be sitting with:Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Koan: It helps you cross the river when the bridge is broken. It’s Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-24748990208525245302022-10-16T19:07:00.005-07:002022-10-16T19:07:55.746-07:00Step 10, for the benefit of all Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. KOAN: Blue Cliff Case 27: Yunmen’s ManifestationA monk asked Yunmen, “When the tree withers and the leaves fall, what’s happening?”Yunmen replied, “the golden wind is revealing itself.” [“autumn is manifesting itself”] 1The golden wind is the reference to autumn Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-69311515862356643562022-10-01T11:57:00.003-07:002022-10-01T11:57:22.635-07:00Step 10 Revealing OurselvesA new month, a new koan...This is what we're sitting with in October.BillStep 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. KOAN: Blue Cliff Case 27: Yunmen’s ManifestationA monk asked Yunmen, “When the tree withers and the leaves fall, what’s happening?”Yunmen replied, “the golden wind is revealing itself.” [“autumn is Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-80952227001573771162022-09-11T20:23:00.000-07:002022-09-11T20:23:13.071-07:00Steps 8 and 9 - - From our sickness comes medicineStep 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Koan: Yun Men, teaching the community, said, “Sickness and medicine correspond* to each other: the whole world is medicine, who are you?”*Correspond or subdue Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-89422591480660578862022-08-01T06:48:00.002-07:002022-08-01T06:48:23.763-07:00Steps 8 and 9, August/September Here we are, summer is almost half over; Steps 8 and 9 have their way of revealing who we are.Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Koan: Yun Men, teaching the community, said, “SicknessBill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135958197794837659.post-86113050919942293242022-07-16T16:06:00.001-07:002022-08-01T14:45:39.257-07:00Steps 6 and 7: A spiritual Get out of jail FREE card Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Koan: “How many steps did it take to get to this room?”~ Pacific Zen Miscellaneous Koans [“…to get to this room?”, the teacher is asking about the room where they are sitting for one-on-one teaching. Bill K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07120008042208698971noreply@blogger.com0