How to Find Kanzeon in Hell.

Portland Buddhist Priory Posted on by

(Follow this link to see the June 2023 Priory Newsletter where this was recently published.)

– Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett

(This article was originally given as a lecture on April 5, 1982; it appeared in written form in The Journal of Shasta Abbey in the November-December, 1982 issue. It is reprinted here with permission from the OBC Journal and Shasta Abbey Press.)

Kanzeon With Rhododendrons

I received a letter from one of our lay members of the Sangha recently which I felt was of such great importance that I wished to share a portion of it with you and make it the starting point of this Jūkai Sesshin.  The person concerned writes as follows:

I do not quite know how to explain the following but, I often feel that a part of me is present at the Abbey.  I can feel the ground under the cloister beneath my feet, I can see the inside of the Hondō and feel the presence there, and yet, my heart feels burdened by grief and despair.  The thoughts and feelings of others enter unbidden into my conscious­ness.  I seem to see only suffering, suffering.  I know I must learn to see the Buddha in all things.  When I sit in Zazen and ask for help for myself and the world, the answer seems to be the very suffering I am trying to understand.  When I ask what suffering is, I see only a deep blackness shot through with golden points of light.  And still, I must go on.[1]

Anytime someone tries to do something about himself, he will find himself burdened with Continue reading →

The Tree and An Apology!

Portland Buddhist Priory Posted on by

(Follow this link to see the May 2023 Priory Newsletter where this was recently published.)

Our Broken Tree

Some of you may have already heard that on Thursday, April 27th, a tractor trailer truck tried to make the turn from the northbound lane of Milwaukie Ave. onto Rhone street and snagged enough of one of our venerable horse chestnut trees with the top of his trailer that he tore off a big section of the tree. The tree fell toward the house and took down the power line supplying the house and our internet line. Happily no one was injured, although the accident managed to make a fair bit of noise and shake the house (I was inside at the time). Surprisingly, no other substantial damage was done.

We had the fire department out – just to make sure there wasn’t a hazard – and the power company, who advised us on steps to take. Since the tree Continue reading →

Am I Good Enough?

Portland Buddhist Priory Posted on by

(Follow this link to see the April 2023 Priory Newsletter where this was recently published.)

Fixing and air leak at a recent work day.

There is a story I heard once about how the Buddha, hearing reports that a local king was preparing to go to war with a neighboring kingdom, wanted to do something to help. Because he had known the father of this local king, the Buddha went to talk with him to see if he could persuade him to leave off his intention toward war. Even after trying a few times, the Buddha was not able to convince the king and the war proceeded, creating much destruction and death.

Depending on our view on what or how the Buddha was or should be, we might hear such a story and wonder whether the Buddha was really all that he was made out to be? He is said to have been perfect in knowledge and conduct as well as omnipotent, but he seems to have failed here; because of this, we might wonder whether what he taught and practiced might also be flawed?

Really though, what did the Buddha teach? And, just because the Buddha had human limits, should we Continue reading →