DHARMA SPRING
162 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago -This is the podcast of Andrew Palmer, a Dharma Teacher in The Open Source Koan Zen Tradition, covering topics related to meditation, koan practice, Zen/Chan, Daoism, spirituality and more. Recent talks and teachings as well as those from prior months/years are posted weekly, so tune in regularly to catch each episode.
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Episodes
Form Is No Other Than Emptiness...
June 09, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBForm Is No Other Than Emptiness, Emptiness No Other Than Form A nice hot kettle of stew. He ruins it by dropping a couple of rat turds in. It's no good pushing delicacies at a person with a full belly. Striking aside waves to look for water when the waves are water. Forms don't hinder emptiness; emptiness is the tissue of form. Emptiness isn't destruction of form; form is the flesh of emptiness. Inside the Dharma gates where form and emptiness are not-two A lame turtle with painted eyebrow...
My Journey
June 06, 2023 09:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBIn my most recent talk, Talking to a Rock, I referenced a talk from a few years back in which I shared the story of my journey to practice, and said I would post it here. So here it is, dusted off and freshened up a bit, with tales of affinity for the Way via things occurring in early childhood through to adolescence and on to early adulthood, culminating with my participating in the ceremony of taking refuge, which marked the beginning of my journey with The Open Source and Pacific Zen Sch...
Talking to a Rock
June 02, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBYunyan asked a student what they had been doing. "I've been talking to a rock." Yunyan asked, "Who spoke first, you or the rock?" When the student didn't reply, Yunyan said, "It was nodding to you before you even said a word." Support the show
Nothing Will Do. What Do You Do?
May 26, 2023 09:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBNothing will do. What do you do? This is the fundamental koan, the koan that is the common denominator of the thousands of koans. -also- Whatever I do it just doesn't do what do I do? -Shin'ichi Hisamatsu Support the show
All Things Will Transform Themselves
May 19, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBAfter several unsuccessful attempts at receiving advice from Vast Obscure… Generalissimo Cloud said, "It is a rare and difficult thing to meet with you, O Heaven! Please give me just one word!" Vast Obscure said, "Ach! The nourishing of the mind! Just stay in the state of non-doing and all things will transform themselves. Drop your body away, vomit out your precise powers of hearing and vision, sink yourself into the forgetting of things, become vastly merged in fluidity and darkness,...
Just Ask Old Mr. Stone
May 12, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBObstinate and mindless Block of Stone, Lying here On this green moss, Oblivious of rain and dew, Immune to frost and snow. How many times has this garden Flourished and Decayed! How often have these flowers and trees Bloomed and Faded! Just ask old Mr. Stone - He remembers it all! -Zheng Banqiao Support the show
Relax Completely
May 05, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBLet go of hundreds of years and relax completely. -Shitou Xiqian, from Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage Support the show
Ah Yes, So Natural
April 28, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBDanxia Tianran traveled to meet with Great Ancestor Ma. Upon first seeing one another, Ma had a good look at him and said, "I am not your teacher," advising him to go to Shitou's place. Danxia made the long journey and joined Shitou's community as a layperson, working in the stables and temple kitchen for several years. One day Shitou announced to the assembly, “Tomorrow we're going to clear away the weeds in front of the Buddha's shrine.” The next day everyone arrived equipped with to...
Free of Dust, Without a Care
February 03, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBToday I sat before the cliffs I sat until the mist drew off a single crystal stream a towering ridge of jade a cloud's dawn shadow not yet moving the moon's night light still adrift a body free of dust a mind without a care -from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain (Hanshan) Red Pine (trans) Support the show
Don't Let Your Mind Grow Dim
January 27, 2023 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBThe suffering of the Wheel is relentless back and forth stirring up the dust the ant patrol on its endless round the Six Paths are nothing but confusion changing heads and switching faces doesn't free you from your self bring this hell of darkness to an end don't let your mind grow dim -from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain (Hanshan) Red Pine (trans) Support the show
Your Nature is Naturally So
January 20, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBHere's a message for the faithful what is it that you cherish to find the Way to see your nature your nature is naturally so what Heaven bestows is perfect looking for proof leads you astray leaving the trunk to search among twigs all you get is stupid --from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain (Hanshan) Red Pine (trans) Support the show
A Tree Older Than the Grove
January 13, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBA tree grew here before the grove its age is twice as great the shifting earth has gnarled its roots wind and frost have parched its leaves people scorn its withered outside no one sees its fine-grained heart but when its bark is stripped away what remains is real -from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain (Hanshan) Red Pine (trans) Support the show
The Moon is the Hub of the Mind
January 06, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBBefore the cliffs I sat alone the moon shone in the sky but where a thousand shapes appeared its lantern cast no light the unobstructed spirit is clear the empty cave is a mystery a finger showed me the moon the moon is the hub of the mind -from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain (Hanshan) Red Pine (trans) Support the show
Changsha's Exactly the Place to Be
December 23, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBSomeone asked, “What is my heart-mind?” Changsha replied, “All the worlds in the universe are your heart-mind.” “If that’s so, then there’s really no particular place for my body to be.” “That’s exactly the place for your body to be,” said Changsha. “Where is that?” “The great ocean, vast and deep.” “I don’t understand.” “Dragons and fish play freely, leaping and diving.” -from Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson Support the show
Changsha's Great Way
December 16, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBSomeone asked, "What is the great way?" Changsha said, "It doesn't exclude you." The person asked, "Who is the teacher of all buddhas?" Changsha said, "For the incalculable eon, who has ever concealed this?" -from Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson Support the show
Changsha's You Can't Leave It
December 09, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBA monk asked, "What is the true monk's eye?" Changsha said, "So vast and wide that you can't leave it." Changsha also said, "Those who become buddhas and ancestors can't leave it. The six realms of transmigration can't leave it." The monk said, "I don't understand what it is that they can't leave." Changsha said, "In the day, see the sun. In the night, see the stars." The monk said, "I don't understand." Changsha said, "The lofty mountains are colored green upon green." -from ...
Changsha's All Worlds in the Ten Directions
December 02, 2022 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBChangsha entered the hall and addressed the assembly: "I say to you that all worlds pervading the ten directions are the true monk's eye. All worlds pervading the ten directions are the true monk's complete body. Pervading all worlds in the ten directions is your own brilliant light. All worlds in the ten directions are within your own light. And throughout all worlds in the ten directions there is not a being that is not you. This is what I've taught you when I've said that all the buddha...
Every Moment, Every Place
November 25, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBWhen I look deeply into the real form of the universe, everything reveals the mysterious truth of the Tathagata. This truth never fails: in every moment and every place things can't help but shine with this light. -from Torei Zenji's Bodhisattva's Vow Support the show
Yangshan's Headrest
November 18, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBSomeone asked Yangshan, "Can the dharmakaya expound the dharma?" "I'm not able to expound it," replied Yangshan, "but there is someone else who can." "And where is this person who can expound it?" the questioner continued. Yangshan pushed forward his headrest. from Entangling Vines, Thomas Yuho Kirchner (trans) Support the show
Yangshan's Heaven and Hell
November 11, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBSomeone asked Yangshan, "What is the difference between heaven and hell?" Yangshan drew a line on the ground. -from Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson Support the show
Yangshan's Officially, Unofficially
November 04, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBYangshan said to the assembly: "Officially, not even a needle can enter; unofficially, you can drive a truck through." -from The Open Source's Miscellaneous Koan Collection Support the show
Yangshan Smashes a Mirror
October 28, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBWhen Yangshan was residing at Dongping, a letter and a mirror arrived from Guishan. Yangshan ascended the high seat and received the letter. Then, holding up the mirror, he addressed the assembly. "Monks, this mirror comes from Guishan. Tell me, is it Guishan's mirror or is it mine? If you say it's mine, still it was sent by Guishan. If you say it's Guishan's, still it's here in my hands. If you can say something, I'll save the mirror; if you can't, I'll smash it." He repeated this thr...
Yangshan Plants His Hoe
October 21, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBGuishan asked Yangshan, “Where have you come from?” Yangshan replied, “I’ve come from the fields.” “How many people are in the fields?” Yangshan planted his hoe in the ground and stood with his hands clasped. Guishan said, “Lots of people are cutting water mallows on South Mountain.” Yangshan picked up his hoe and left. Book of Serenity, Case 15 Support the show
Yangshan and Guishan Pick Tea
October 14, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBOne day Guishan was picking tea with Yangshan. Guishan said, "All day long I've heard your voice but haven't seen your form." Yangshan shook the tea bush. Guishan commented, "You know how it works but you don't know what it is." "You know what it is but you don't know how it works," Yangshan responded. "I spare you thirty blows of my staff," said Guishan. -from Entangling Vines, Thomas Yuho Kirchner (trans) Support the show
Nanquan's Not Mind, Not Buddha, Not Things
October 07, 2022 18:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBA student asked Nanquan, “Is there a teaching that the wise throughout the ages haven’t conveyed?” Nanquan said, “There is.” The student asked, “How would you express it?” Nanquan said, “It is not mind, it is not Buddha, it is not things.” The Gateless Gateway, Case 27 Support the show
Nanquan's Tathagata Treasury
September 30, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBLuzu asked Nanquan, “People don’t recognize the wish-fulfilling gem. I picked it up myself in the Tathagata treasury. What is this treasury?” Nanquan said, “It’s me engaged in conversation with you like this.” “How about when there’s no conversation?” “That’s it, too.” “What is the jewel?” “Reverend Luzu!” “Yes?” “Go on, you don’t understand my words.” Case 93, The Book of Serenity Support the show
Nanquan's Ox and Fire
September 23, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBA student asked Nanquan, "As you formally sit in your quarters (for Work in the Room/dokusan), how do you guide people?" Nanquan replied, "Last night at midnight I lost the ox; this morning as dawn arrived I lost the fire." from Entangling Vines, Thomas Yuho Kirchner, trans Support the show
Nanquan's Cats and Oxen Know It
September 16, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBA student asked Nanquan, “The buddhas of the past, present, and future don’t know it; cats and oxen do know it. Why is it that the buddhas of the past, present, and future don’t know it?” Nanquan said, “They still knew something before entering the Deer Park*.“ “Why is it that cats and oxen do know it?“ “How could you possibly doubt that they would?“ answered Nanquan. -from Entangling Vines, Thomas Yuho Kirchner, trans *The Deer Park is where the Buddha, after his awakening under t...
Nanquan's Ordinary Mind is the Way
September 09, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBZhaozhou Congshen asked Nanquan Puyuan, "What is the Way?" Nanquan said, "Ordinary mind is the Way." Zhaozhou asked, "Can we deliberately strive toward this?" Nanquan said, "To strive toward it is to turn away." Zhaozhou said, "Without striving, how can we know the Way?" Nanquan said, "The Way has nothing to do with knowing or not-knowing. 'Knowing' is delusion, 'not-knowing' is apathy. If you really attain the Way-without-doubt, it is vast and boundless like open space. How can ...
Yunmen's You, Just You
September 02, 2022 09:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBSomeone asked, "The Honored Ones of the ten directions all had a single gateway to ultimate liberation. What is this gateway?" Yunmen said, "I can't tell." "Why can't you tell?" Yunmen said, "If you, just you, present the problem, then I can." from Zen Master Yunmen, Urs App, trans. Support the show
Yunmen's Nothing Will Be, Nothing Will Not Be
August 26, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBOnce Yunmen said, "There is nothing whatsoever that does not explain the Dharma. Striking the bell or beating the drum is no exception. If this is the case, nothing will be Dharma, and nothing will not be." He added, "One should not assert that when one speaks, it is, and that when one doesn't speak, it isn't. Even what I just said has not quite made it. Well, as long as it benefits people, it may be okay. . . ." from Zen Master Yunmen, Urs App, trans Support the show
Yunmen's Chan and Dao
August 19, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBSomeone asked Yunmen, "What is Chan?" Yunmen replied, "That's it!" Then they asked, "What is the Dao?" Yunmen replied, "Okay!" _____ "What is the Dao?" Yunmen replied, "To break through this word." "What is it like when one has broken through?" "A thousand miles, the same mood." _____ Someone asked Yunmen, "What is Chan?" Yunmen said, "Is it all right to get rid of this word?" -from Zen Master Yunmen, Urs App, trans Support the show
Yunmen's There It Is!
August 12, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBSomeone asked, "How about when one makes a hole in the wall in order to steal the neighbor's light?" Yunmen said, "There it is!" -from Zen Master Yunmen, Urs App, trans Support the show
Yunmen's Particle-by-Particle Samadhi
August 05, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBA student asked Yunmen, “What’s the particle-by-particle samadhi?” (Another translation: "What's the deep state of mind in which, through any moment, you can enter all deep states of mind?") Yunmen said, “Food in the bowl, water in the bucket.” Case 50 of the Blue Cliff Record Support the show
Yunmen's Effort ... again!
July 29, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MBSomeone asked, "How should one act during every hour of the day such that the ancestors are not betrayed?" Yunmen said, "Give up your effort." The person said, "How should I give up my effort?" Yunmen said, "Give up the words you just uttered. -from Zen Master Yunmen, Urs App, trans Support the show
Yunmen's Effort
July 22, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBSomeone asked, "How should one act during every hour of the day such that the ancestors are not betrayed?" Yunmen said, "Give up your effort." The person said, "How should I give up my effort?" Yunmen said, "Give up the words you just uttered. -from Zen Master Yunmen, Urs App, trans Support the show
I Vow Not to Disparage Awakening, the Way, or My Companions
July 15, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to disparage awakening, the way, or my companions Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is one, not holding dualistic concepts about ord...
I Vow Not to Indulge in Anger
July 13, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to indulge in anger Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is selfless, not contriving reality for yourself is called the vow of not indu...
I Vow Not to Be Stingy
July 11, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to be stingy Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is everywhere, not holding back resources is called the vow of not being stingy. Dog...
I Vow Not to Praise Myself at the Expense of Others
July 01, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to praise myself at the expense of others Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world of the Dharma of equals, not insisting on I and you is called the vow of...
I Vow Not to Gossip Maliciously
June 29, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to gossip maliciously Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is flawless, not dissecting mistakes is called the Vow of Not Gossiping Mali...
I Vow Not to Misuse Drugs
June 27, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to misuse drugs Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is naturally pure, not surrendering to delusions is called the Vow of Not Misusing...
I Vow Not to Lie
June 24, 2022 09:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to lie Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is inexplicable, not preaching a single word is called the Vow of Not Lying. Dogen: The Dh...
I Vow Not to Misuse Sex
June 21, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to misuse sex Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is unadorned, not manufacturing a veneer of attachment is called the Vow of Not Misu...
I Vow Not to Steal
June 17, 2022 09:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to steal Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is unattainable, not having thoughts about gaining is called the Vow of Not Stealing. Do...
I Vow Not to Kill
June 10, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _______ I vow not to kill Bodhidharma: The way things are is mysterious and hard to see. In a world where the Dharma is eternal, not having thoughts of taking life is called the Vow of Not Killing. Dogen: Th...
The Three Root Vows
June 03, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _____ The Three Root Vows (with Dogen's commentaries) I vow not to do harm This is the cave where the teachings of all the Buddhas have their source I vow to do good This is the way of perfect enli...
Refuge in Awakening, the Way, My Companions
May 27, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). _____ The Three Refuge Vows I take refuge in Awakening I take refuge in the Way I take refuge in My Companions Support the show
Vows, Precepts, Refuge
May 20, 2022 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBWhile I am taking a bit of a break from teaching and offering Dharma Talks, I'll be posting a series of talks I offered in 2018 and 2019 connected to The Open Source tradition's Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way (the complete liturgy for the ceremony can be found here). When people intend to participate in this ceremony, we undergo a period of study of the vows and precepts, taking up and exploring them one-by-one. This first talk speaks to the overall spirit of taking refuge,...
Sit Empty of Worldly Anxiety
April 29, 2022 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBIf you truly appreciate a single thread your eye can suitably meet the world and its changes. Seeing clearly, do not be fooled, and the ten thousand situations cannot shroud you. Moonlight falls on the water; wind blows over the pines. Light and shadow do not confuse us; sounds or voices do not block us. The whistling wind can resonate, pervading without impediment through the various structures. Flowing along with things, harmonizing without deviation, thoroughly abandoning webs of dust, st...