Author Archives: Andy Tanzan Scott

The Human Route

Having just posted Maurice’s thoughtful piece, The Practicalities of Living and Dying, Alasdair has just shared this poem brought by a member of his Northampton group to their meeting tonight.  By coincidence it has a related theme. Alasdair writes: Kevin brought in a poem this evening, and I thought I’d share it here, too. Coming […]

Read more…

About retreats

A recent enquiry has made us realise that while we talk about retreats on our website, we do not say what retreats are about or why we do them. This short article aims to address this lapse. We would like to say something on the website about retreats and I am therefore seeking your comments so that I can amend this article in the light of these. Do please let me know what you think.  (Editor’s note: This article has now been included on the website, though that version may be updated from time to time.)

Read more…

Flowers, candlelight and incense

I have lost count of the number of times I have heard the service dedication “in offering flowers candlelight and incense we dedicate its merits to…” without really thinking why we do this or what these mean. Recently, with my wife Jenny taking care of the altars in Liverpool, I’ve begun to take more notice of altars. So, when sensei asked me to lead a discussion – fired by ignorance and curiosity – I decided to find out and to use this as the theme. It’s opened a surprisingly rich vein and revealed a new aspect of practice for me. What follows is based on a brief piece of internet and book research rather than in depth knowledge and I am left with more questions than answers.

Read more…

Seeing Stars

At the zazenkai in Liverpool last Saturday, Keizan Sensei gave the talk and was asking us why we sit and what we really want from life. He talked – for the benefit of two newcomers – about what happens when you sit in zazen. About how, with regular practice, the space between the thoughts of our constant mental chatter somehow increases and something, a different reality, is glimpsed from which a sense of peace arises.

Read more…