Wisehearted‪™‬ Dan Shiro Burrier

Working with Case 65 of the Blue Cliff Record, "A non-Buddhist questions the Buddha," Shiro leads the sangha in a discussion of words and no words, is and is not, and the technology of Zen. How do we go beyond what we know, beyond our own imagining event, to see a new way forward for ourselves, our families, communities and world? Sangha members discuss quantum physics, art, music, Dogen, intimacy, boundaries, the equations and assumptions that can dominate our being, and look at how to penetrate our known way of being to see the true self. "What about the one who goes beyond?"

In this talk about inspiration, Akasha Burrier pushes the community to accept the responsibility of being awake, to take zen into every moment of our lives, and to show our colors to the world.  Sangha members in return share inspiring moments from the life of Thich Nyat Hanh, writings from "Street Zen," a book on the life and work of Issan Dorsey, the inspiration of death in the family, original songs and more. 

It is said that Buddha, right at the moment of his birth, took seven steps and said, "I alone am the world honoured one." In this free-ranging talk, Shiro works with cases 2 and 57 of the Blue Cliff Record, "Joshu's Supreme Way" and "Nondiscrimiation" to explore the concepts of picking and choosing, discrimination, narcissism, exactly which "I" we are talking about when we say "I", and what it means to be alone in the context of our practice, our sangha and our larger community. Are we always alone? Or never alone?

In this dharma talk from Dec 19th, 2021, Shiro talks about taking Zen home for the Holidays, often into non-Buddhist surroundings, traditions and ceremonies. Working line by line with the Meal Gatha, Shiro talks about holding Zen as a context for our lives rather than content to hold or to be sold. How do we work with and drop our expectations of what we think things will be or should be or could be, and instead, just be. Innumerable labors brought us this food, this family, this life. We should know how it comes to us.

Shiro on the importance of nurturing the 300-year-old tree that is Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, our practice and our lives. Following Tenshin Roshi's talk on the passing of Baigaku Junyu Roshi, Shiro uses the koan "Obaku's Eaters of Dregs" to explore our role in carrying the dharma forward. Are there truly no teachers of Zen as expounded in the text? Or are they sitting right here in this room? What is our responsibility--our ability to respond--to the needs of the moment right here right now in this world, today? And how do we manifest this ancient wisdom to end suffering now? Talk 3 from the 2021 Rohatsu Sesshin at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center.

In this talk on the second day of the passing of Baigaku Junyu Osho (Maezumi Roshi's Brother), Tenshin Roshi discusses this benefactor's massive contributions to Zen Buddhism in the West, his unflagging support of Yokoji Zen Mountain Center throughout the years, and perhaps most importantly what it means to step up and live an enlightened life. How will you do it? Will you do it? Are you willing to be a target? Who among us will take this forward and make sure it never dies, this practice, this life, this enlightenment of ours? Are you ready? Listen to the Abbot of Zen Mountain Center as he reflects on the meaning of practice, the history of Yokoji, and more from the Rohatsu Sesshin of 2021.