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.

▼
Saturday, December 10, 2016

Step Twelve is a song...

›
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these pri...
Sunday, November 20, 2016

Step Eleven, Picking and Choosing...

›
A coin is flipped high in the air.  “Call it!” I say heads.  “Tails you lose.” How often it seems, when we were “out there,” we lost as a ...
Friday, November 11, 2016

This Election -- What to do now?

›
Since I choose not to be on Facebook, etc., this blog is my only outlet.  I hope you don't mind mixing Zen and politics.  Zen is life...
Monday, October 17, 2016

Step 10 -- Every day is a good day...

›
Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Koan: Unmon said:  “I do not ask you about fift...
Saturday, September 10, 2016

Steps 8 and 9, a natural sequence...

›
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...
Tuesday, August 23, 2016

"Pot Luck" Time...What Step Will You Bring?

›
It’s “Pot Luck” time.  “Pot Luck”, not as in bringing food, but instead, bringing a Step with you instead. What Step(s) comes to you when ...
Saturday, July 9, 2016

Step 7 and an Overturned Water Bottle

›
Step 7:  Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.  [Humility] Case 40 from The Gateless Barrier, Kuei-shan Kicks Over the Water Bott...
‹
›
Home
View web version

About Me

My photo
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.
View my complete profile
Powered by Blogger.