Art & Buddhism
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Ardfern Zen Retreat – a few recipes from the Tenzo…
Here are a few recipes and images (many thanks to Ylva Champion for her photos) from the kitchen during the retreat. Huge thanks to all that helped with the food […]
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Dogen’s Waka: 2 Poems, 2 Commentaries
First poem and commentary by John Fraser: My free translation of Master Dogen’s poem Shobogenzo: 波も引き風もつながぬ捨小舟 月こそ夜半のさかひ成けり In the heart of the dark The moonlight holding A small boat drifting Unmoved […]
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Dogen’s white heron poem: a Zen commentary by John Fraser
I have been thinking quite a bit recently about the mindset and visuals of Japanese Waka/Tanka and (the shorter, short song) of Haiku which came later. By good fortune at […]
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Arran Zen Retreat
In July the Glasgow Zen Group had their summer retreat down at Kilmory in the south of Arran. It was great to have a longer sustained period of Zazen meditation […]
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2012 – The Year of the Dragon
‘When a dragon howls in its hidden cave, The entire universe becomes quiet; When a tiger roars on a cliff’s edge, A cold valley becomes warm. Katsu!’ Master Dogen Going […]
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A thought on Zazen and painting
Zazen Silent movement Passing through the stillness And empty form. This wee haiku is a thought on zazen and experience. After my recent studio shift, zazen and considering the looser […]
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New Year Zen Retreat
Over the new year weekend I went to the inaugural Glasgow Zen Group retreat, or sesshin, at Kagyu Samye Dzong in Glasgow’s west end. Every morning up at half past […]
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Wakabayashi’s Zen Calligraphy
This is my sensei Wakabayashi’s Sho calligraphy of zen master Dogen’s poem coming to terms with reality ’empty-handed’ after returning from China – ‘The eyes are horizontal, and the nose […]