Category Archives: Zen in daily life

The “10,000 Things of Western Zen” – Alasdair Taisen Gordon-Finlayson

Dear sangha member, I am a researcher at the University of Northampton, UK, and as you might know, I am also a Zen practitioner in the StoneWater Sangha. I received tokudo in 2011, and was made ‘Hoshi’ last year by Keizan Roshi, who’s graciously permitted me to send out this call for help with my new research project, which […]

‘Buddha meets Buddha in everyday life’ – Suigen Sensei

After an extended period of zazen such as a one or two day zazenkai or a full week sesshin, a familiar question often pops up: How do I bring this experience and state of mind into my everyday life? We may have experienced a sense of wellbeing, peace, oneness, stillness during our sitting. We may […]

The interplay of practice and daily life – Sarah Kokai Thwaites

I’ve found it quite difficult to think of a response to this question; how life and practice interplay isn’t something I spend time thinking about. It wasn’t until I sat down to write this that I realised that I don’t see daily life and practice life as clearly defined. In previous years I would have […]

Where is the Dharma? Looking for the teaching on the cushion and in everyday life – Colin Shinjo Salmon

“The Dharma, incomparably profound and infinitely subtle, is rarely encountered even in millions of ages.”- from the Sutra Opening Gatha “The Buddha’s Dharma has this good reputation; it is well expounded by the Blessed One, visible here and now, inviting one to come and inspect it, applicable, to be personally experienced by sensible people.” – from […]

Writing as Practice – Karen Shoji Robbie

I’ve tried quite a few things to keep sane in the last seven weeks. I felt optimistic when lockdown started. A honeymoon phase. I was glad the schools had closed and I didn’t have to do any more supply work. But everything felt strange and upside down. The news was heartbreaking. The death, grief and […]

Intrinsic Value

At StoneWater we are blessed in having some sangha members who are fine writers and who are able to share and reflect, often in very personal ways. Here’s a lovely piece by Stuart Gendai Hollyoak who explores the idea of intrinsic value. The ‘Identity of Relative and Absolute’ says that each thing ‘has its own […]

Buddhist Action Month – Climate Action: Personal Action

The Network of Buddhist Organisations (NBO) which StoneWater Zen is a member of, hold a Buddhist Action Month in June each year. The theme for 2019 is “Climate Action – Personal Action”. The NBO have produced a Handbook which suggests actions that Buddhists might want to consider taking, either personally or in groups, to make […]

Learning to Speak – Sarah Kokai Thwaites

Sensei invited Woo and I to represent StoneWater Zen Sangha at the Greater Manchester Buddhist Convention where the theme this year was Dialogue. Our session was entitled “Shut up and Speak: The Zen approach to dialogue and how it influences two Zen practitioners”. Here (roughly) is what I said: I think we all have our tendencies, […]

Speaking Through Closed Lips: a Zen Guide to Dialogue – Woo-Young Tetsugen Yang

Sensei invited Sarah and I to represent StoneWater Zen Sangha at the Greater Manchester Buddhist Convention where the theme this year was Dialogue. Our session was entitled “Shut up and Speak: The Zen approach to dialogue and how it influences two Zen practitioners”. As a novice, I would not normally comment on or discuss koans outside […]

StoneWater Zen Sangha WhatsApp Group

The StoneWater Zen Sangha has a WhatsApp sitting group. Anyone who has WhatsApp on their phone can join in and let others know via a written message when and for how long they are going to sit (for example Sangha members at home). If you get lucky you will get a reply from another person […]