What's in your head?

Former & later Buddhas have transmitted mind to mind without depending on the written word. - Bodhidharma, "On Lineage"

Have you ever gotten into a debate with someone, on politics, sports, religion, anything, really...and after hours and hours of argument, realized that you were both talking about the same thing, just coming at it from completely different angles?

Or have you ever read a book about a subject, and thought you had a good grasp of it, only to talk to someone who is an expert on that subject and realized you completely misunderstood what it was you were reading?

We come at the world with everything we "know", everything we've "learned", all of our "experience". We like to think we "keep an open mind".

Let's look at that argument that you and your friend were in. You were in agreement on the subject, but came at from different angles. The problem wasn't the subject matter. It was you. Coming at something from different angles means you aren't starting from the subject itself, but from your own preconceived notions of the subject. Your grasp of the subject isn't the subject itself. Your words are not the subject. They are your attempts to communicate your point of view of the subject.

Your friend has the same problem. He is only communicating his point of view of the subject. However, you both run into an additional problem. When your friend presents his argument, you aren't actually grasping what he's saying. You are taking in his words, not his thoughts, not his understanding. You hear what he says, and you run those words through your own perceptions and conceptual ideas. You judge them based not on the subject itself, but your conception of the subject.

It's a miracle we can communicate anything at all.

This is the same with our Zen practice. I cannot teach you Zen. I cannot explain Zen to you. You can read all the books, go to all the Dharma talks, meet with all the great teachers out there. None of it will give you any knowledge of Zen.

Although I encourage you to purchase my book when it is published next year, and please, stop by the Baltimore Zen Center some time soon. I'd love the company.

So, when Bodhidharma said that former and later Buddhas have transmitted mind to mind without depending on the written word...why did he say that?

Next time you find yourself in one of those debates, or in an argument with a friend or a loved one, stop and ask yourself, "Why did they say that?"

Don't look for the intellectual answer, don't look for understanding.

Look for your friend. Look for your loved one.

Then answer.

Upcoming events at the Baltimore Zen Center:

October 3rd is going to be a busy day at the BZC! It's time for our annual Harvest Moon Festival! Check out the great events we have going on all day!

Half Day Sit
Date: Saturday October 3, 2009
Time: 9am-12pm
Donation: $20

Half-Day Sits are great times for beginners to really dig in to their practice with the rest of the sangha. It's also a great time for experienced practitioners to continue moving forward. It's a great way to kick off the weekend and move into the next week.

The retreat will begin with a short Dharma talk & instructional. Each sitting meditation session will be 30 minutes long and separated by 10 minutes of walking meditation. Before the final sitting session, we will perform the 108 prostrations, an incredible practice, useful for centering both body & mind. The sit will be followed up with a brief Dharma talk & discussion session over a light lunch & traditional tea.

Four Truths & Eight Steps
Date: Saturday October 3, 2009
Time: 1pm-3pm
Donation: $20

The foundation of our practice comes from Buddha's core teachings, known as the Four Noble Truths & the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are the observations that the Buddha made about the world around him, its nature, and its affect on us and how we relate to it. There is suffering in life, our suffering is brought about by our cravings, there is freedom from this suffering, and we can find freedom by following the Eightfold Path of wisdom, conduct, & meditation.

During this introduction class, we'll discuss how the Buddha's observations can be seen in our own lives, and how we can begin to practice the Eightfold Path.

This class is the perfect opportunity for those just beginning their Zen practice. It covers the fundamentals upon which our practice rests. For those who attend the morning Half-Day Sit, this continuation will allow you to reflect on how your meditation practice can apply to what you do in daily life, transforming your life to one complete practice.

For those not attending the Half-Day Sit, this is still a wonderful introduction to the fundamentals of what we practice at the Baltimore Zen Center.

For those only attending this Basic Training Class, we ask for a $20 donation to help cover expenses.

Harvest Moon Festival
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Time: 3pm-2am

In cultures around the world, the time of the Harvest Moon is a time of thanksgiving. We invite you to join us for a mix of modern & traditional festivities here at the Baltimore Zen Center.

Known as Chuseok in Korea, the Harvest Moon Festival is a time to remember our ancestors and pay respect to those who have had an impact on our lives. The Dharma Hall will be open all day for those wishing to honor their ancestors in the traditional fashion with food & incense.

In the evening, we have fun activities for family & friends alike, including games like tug-o-war. We'll have great foods, including Korean cellophane noodles, beef barbeque, fruits, & Harvest Moon rice cakes.

After dusk, we'll continue with a bonfire & moonviewing. We'll also be featuring poetry readings from famous local poets.

We'll also have a Sake tasting for the adults after sunset!

This is guaranteed to be a fun event for everyone, so don't miss out!

Later on in October:

Mind-Body Oneness: Zen Practice Within Taekwondo
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Time: 12pm-5pm
Donation: $50

During Korea's Shilla Dynasty, Buddhist patriarch Wonhyo spoke the teaching, "心身一如". This teaching, pronounced "Shim Shin Ilyeo" means "Mind & Body Oneness". In our Zen practice, we begin to realize that we have created dualistic barriers between our bodies and our minds, between our rational thoughts and our emotions, between our flesh and our spirit. Through Zen Body Practice, we look to tear down these barriers, to realize that we were whole all along, as Wonhyo said.

In this martial arts retreat, we will examine this through the modern Korean martial art of Taekwondo. Wonhyo's teachings were fundamental to the development of this style of fist & foot fighting. We will examine a high-level Taekwondo form named after Wonhyo's teachings, called "Ilyeo". Through mind-body awareness, we will learn to engage ourselves fully as we practice the movements of this set. Finally, we will examine the combative applications of Ilyeo, and how the teachings of Wonhyo are seen in the body & mind's reaction to combat.

Ilyeo is considered one of the highest forms of Taekwondo, and achieving the Mind-Body Oneness spoken of by Wonhyo is considered the central goal of all Taekwondo training.

This seminar is open to all, though it is recommended that students have some level of experience in the martial arts.

A donation of $50 is requested for this retreat.

The seminar will be lead by JB MuSsang Jaeger. Mr. Jaeger is the first American to be licensed in Cheolryun Gwonbeop, a progressive Zen system of self-defense. He has lectured on Wonhyo's teachings of Mind-Body Oneness at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Shaolin Warriors in Baltimore!
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2009
Time: 130pm-8pm
Ticket Cost: $25

The Baltimore Zen Center traces its teaching lineage back to the fabled Shaolin Temple, origin of Zen, and home to some of the greatest martial artists to ever live. This center of spiritual development provided shelter to those oppressed by the government, and was the birthplace of teachings of peace, alongside of methods of protection. The Baltimore Zen Center is proud to trace not only our Zen practice, but our martial practice back to this inspirational group of warrior-monks. We believe that a true pacifist is not someone who cannot fight, but someone who can, but chooses not to.

"The internationally acclaimed Shaolin Warriors will present a fully-choreographed performance showcasing their discipline and skill as martial arts masters at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on Sunday, October 18 at 3:00 p.m. The Shaolin Warriors-who train for several hours each day in kung fu and meditation-are disciples of the Shaolin schools in China, founded under the Buddhist philosophies of non-violence and non-aggression."

Tickets are $25. If you are joining us, please RSVP by October 5th by either clicking "Attending", emailing me at jaeger@baltimorezen.org, or calling me at 4103532387.

Updates will come as we close in on October 5th.

After the performance, we'll enjoy a dinner of Korean BBQ at Baltimore's famous Jong Gak restaurant, specializing in live-coal Korean BBQ.

Plan on meeting at the BZC by 130pm that afternoon!