Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast cover image

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Washing Your Bowl: The Supreme Meal: WPP2025 Sesshin Day 1

Feb 23, 2025
Explore the depths of gratitude towards ancestors in the Zen tradition, framed by personal stories amidst conflict. Discover the transformative power of maintaining a beginner's mind, as illustrated by a monk's journey. Learn how daily actions, like washing a bowl, unlock mindfulness and connection. Delve into the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in spiritual practices, highlighting personal responsibility and the embrace of life's challenges as avenues for growth.
41:28

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Emphasizing humility encourages a 'beginner's mind' approach, fostering openness and continuous learning in everyday practice.
  • The koan 'Wash Your Bowl' serves as a metaphor for mindfulness, urging practitioners to engage fully with each moment and circumstance.

Deep dives

Embracing Humility and Continuous Learning

The importance of humility in practice is emphasized, showcasing how it encourages individuals to adopt a 'beginner's mind' approach. This mindset fosters a sense of openness in learning, as exemplified when a monk respectfully asks Joshu for guidance, reflecting the acknowledgment of not knowing. By maintaining a posture of receptivity towards both teachers and everyday objects, practitioners engage with a deeper understanding of their practice and surroundings. The concept of continuous learning is reinforced through humility, illustrating that each moment and each item can offer profound teachings if one is willing to observe and reflect.

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