The 12 Steps and Zen Koans

If 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.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Who is hearing?

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It's back to everyday-as usual now; back from the 7 day retreat. We were given a koan to sit with for the week: "Who is hearin...
Saturday, June 11, 2011

A little of this, a little of that ...

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Lake Ilsanjo, Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa, CA We have a sesshin (Zen retreat) beginning ...
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

One word is enough.

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There are koans of few words and koans of many words. It doesn't take much for a koan to stick to a Step -- one word or short phrase i...
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Step 2 says that I'm insane?

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In 12 Step groups we're told that it's insane thinking when we do the same thing(s) over again expecting different results. The Bud...
Monday, May 9, 2011

Have you been using too many colons?

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We have thoughts; then we usually have thoughts about those thoughts; then we have thoughts about those thoughts, too; and so begins our s...
Friday, April 29, 2011

Heads and Tails

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A couple of Mondays ago, it was this koan that intrigued me -- Case 38 from the Gateless Gate: Goso said, "For example, it's l...
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Just let go ...

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.. easy for you to say. See -- here I am, holding onto my favorite "heart" rock -- clutching it tightly so I won't lose it. ...
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Bill K.
We try to carry the 12 Step message to those who are suffering, "and to practice these principles in all our affairs." In Buddhism, our practice includes the vow to save all beings. Here the practices are melded into one -- bringing freedom into our life.
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