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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Monday, April 22, 2013

Our friend at the hotel lobby makes a call

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One of my teachers sent this to me.  I had never seen it before.  The more I read, the more I began welling up with tears of gratitude and u...
Sunday, April 7, 2013

Step 4:What if nothing is wrong?

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In many koans we hear,  especially after an activity or exchange of words between a teacher and student, that the student then had "a g...
Monday, March 11, 2013

Step 3: What was your original face ...

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Step 3:  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Koan:  “What was your original fac...
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Monday, February 18, 2013

Step 2: God Magnet

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A friend loaned me a little book of Jewish spirituality (Only 31 pages), printed by the Human Kindness Foundation, called Open Secrets -- ...
Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Sustenance

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--> It’s been a few days now, back from our 7-Day “Bare Bones” Sesshin (retreat).  As usual, I came home with more than I left...
Monday, January 14, 2013

Something Better Happen Or I'm Cooked!

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The responses to the goose in the bottle koan and Step One (see prior post) were quite varied and well received last Friday in our small gro...
Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Step 1: A Goose In a Bottle

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In spite of fiscal cliffs, global warning, faulty fracking, GMOs, and my wife retiring in three days, we have our koans and Steps to keep us...
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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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