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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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Ready and willing

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Here is a different translation of the Gateless Gate case #10, a Chinese version -- and comments by my friend, D.T..  He has practiced in...
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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Steps 6 and 7: The Whole Doughnut Hole

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“If I keep on turning my life and my will over to the care of Something or Somebody else, what will become of me ?  I’ll look like the hole ...
Sunday, July 1, 2012

July and Step Seven

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Step 7:  Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Koan:  Case 10, Gateless Gate: A monk, Seizei, eagerly asked Master Sozan, "I a...
Wednesday, June 27, 2012

How Are We Doing?

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This is exactly what I asked myself a few weeks ago... "How are we doing with 12&Zen?"  Ever since we moved to a once-a-month ...
Friday, June 1, 2012

Step 6: Hush ...

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Koan:  Who is hearing? I can hear myself saying to my kids, "Time to get ready."   Getting ready takes some effort.  G...
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Giving and Receiving

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It's probably not too much of a stretch to say that gratitude has an easier way of being noticed by those in recovery, especiall...
Monday, May 14, 2012

Step 5: How Did I Get Into This Mess? How Do I Get Out?

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Step 5:  Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Koan:  From a very young age, you r...
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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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