Zen and the Martial Arts

The Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, developed by the founders of the Nan Hua Zen Buddhist Society, was the first exclusively electronic ministry on the Internet. The priests of ZBOHY follow the ancient teachings of Hui Neng and Lin Chi and the modern teachings of Hsu Yun. The Sangha has no dues or fees of any kind. Precepts are given free of charge to correspondents who have demonstrated a sincere desire to follow the Buddha's EightFold Path.

New Essays

The Problem of Infinity by Abbot John
Why I Practice by Yin Cheng Shakya
Detachment and The Metastatic Need by Ming Zhen Shakya

Past Essays
Golf and the Transcendence of Pure Love by Abbot John
Japan, Zen, and WWII by Ming Zhen Shakya
Zen, Golf and the 82nd Airborne by Abbot John
Athiests and Believers by Ming Zhen Shakya
Late Night Thoughts On The Avatamsaka by Abbot John
Zen and Repentance by Fa Tian Shakya
Early Release for Non-Violent Prisoners: A Bad Idea by Ming Zhen Shakya
The Fox Ate My Golf Ball by Abbot John
Weeds of Thought by Fa Tian Shakya
To a Fellow Priest by Abbot John
Part 10 of the Comments on the Hagakure: Cultivating the poise of a dead man. by Ming Zhen Shakya
The Zen of Dance by Fa Tian Shakya
Intellectual Snobbery by Ming Zhen Shakya
The Sound That Lights the World by Abbot John

Visit the Archives for a complete listing of essays, poems, commentaries and more.

Click here to visit our original website which contains many fine features and previously published essays http://zbohy.zatma.org.

To contact a member of our clergy please visit the Clergy page.

Poetry
The Collected Poems of Zen Master Hsu Yun

Literature
Empty Cloud: The Teachings of Master Hsu Yun
The Seventh World of Chan Buddhism (Basic and intermediate Chan teaching)
Ruminations on Zen's Cows (On the Oxherding pictures of Zen and their relationship to the Corrida)
Assault On The Summit

Memorable Moments

The Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun would like to congratulate our newest member, Yin Fu, who took the Precepts from Rev. Fa Geng Shakya is Rome, Italy.

From Shi Yao Sheng, our man in the Argentine, comes this spectacular view of the Brazilian side of the great Iguazú Cataract, the waterfalls on the Argentine-Brazilian border. The falls are 82 meters (269 ft.) high. Iguazú means "Big Waters" in the native Guarani language.

She's Baaaaack! Our pride and joy, the Reverend Chuan Pu, one of the original priests of the Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun ZBOHY, and disciple of Grandmaster Jy Din Shakya, has resumed active ministry after taking a 36 month leave of absence to attend to domestic duties. She'll be available for private internet consultations with sangha members who are having substance abuse problems, including eating disorders and alcoholism. She'll also contribute occasional essays. For those who would like to contact her, Rev. Chaun Pu can be reached at juliajesiblack@yahoo.com.

Congratulations to our own Yin Cheng Shakya of Germany who is now in Xian, China receiving ordination at Shaolin temple. We'll give updates as we get them.

Our own Yao Feng Shakya of Oregon has been honored with a You-Tube video highlighting his Zen paintings. Watch it here, or click the link! Zen Paintings

Our technical director, Shi Chuan Yuan, takes marital vows with his lovely bride in Brazil. Our best wishes and congratulations go out to them both. Live long and prosper.

Fa Jun Shakya, one of the authors of Assault On The Summit, has his head examined by Dante Alighieri outside a museum in Firenze (Florence) Italy.

Videos and Photos
Karate action photos from the July 2004, New Orleans competition.
Tai Chi performance by Da Shi Chuan Sheng.
The prayer Suryanamaskar may be performed as a warm-up exercise.

Bluhum

Links
The Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun does not promote or endorse and is not responsible for any of the products or services offered.

Tendai Lotus (in cooperation with Mount Hiei, Japan)
Anyone interested in obtaining Yoga and dress clothing from India email Ms. Ruchi Chandra

Notice to our Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun sangha members and readers

There has been some confusion about which website is the site of the original Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, a non-profit corporation, that has served the Internet community since November, 1997. We are that group and anyone who wishes to check with the Secretary of State's office in Carson City, Nevada, can confirm this.
The organization now located at the address www.hsuyun.org is a non-profit corporation chartered in the state of Utah on August 3, 2004, #5702081-0140. This Utah organization is not related to or affiliated with the original Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, and Ming Zhen Shakya has likewise never been involved or affiliated with the Utah organization.
Anyone who received Buddhist Precepts from the Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun prior to that date has received them from our Order and is invited to consult with a priest through our ZATMA.org address.
On behalf of our corporate officers and board chairman Yin Zhao, Chuan Yuan, Chuan Chao, and myself, I invite you all to continue to visit our pages and to contribute your comments. If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, please contact us at info@zatma.org.

In the Dharma,
Ming Zhen Shakya

Essays, Poetry and Talks

In his latest essay, Abbot John lends us some advice on how to deal with "The Problem of Infinity."

Photo credit: Dyed Silk Cocoons by Debbie Colgrove, About.com

In "Why I Practice", German philosopher Shi Yin Cheng discusses the conversion from exterior Buddhism to living out the life of the Buddha Within, core values that he teaches in his Program of Zen for Businessmen.

An oak tree damaged by lightning, Gloucestershire © TopFoto.co.uk

In "Detachment and The Metastatic Need" Ming Zhen gives Zen's advice on avoiding and ending troublesome situations.

1946 Hardcover edition which promoted the first film adaptation of Maugham's novel.
Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
The_Razor's_Edge

In the next section of Assault on the Summit, Pratyahara, Ming Zhen discusses the importance of the sensory principles.

"The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard." —Katha-Upanishad.

The Devil's Golf Course, Badwater,
Death Valley, California
Photo credit: http://www.jgk.org/pictures/
devils-golf-course.html

Enjoying the noble status he recently assumed (an event he chronicles in Golf and the Transcendence of Pure Love) Sir Abbot John prepares to Tee off at one of the public golf courses in Inyo County, California.

"Corsair and Zeros", 1943: Jack Connelly, Artist. http://www.allposters.com

Buddhism and Warfare: In "Japan, Zen, and WWII" Ming Zhen examines the recent criticism of Japanese Zen Masters during WWII.

In Night On The Great River Poet Fa Xin Shakya weaves his art on an original poem by Zen poet Meng Hao Ren.

Caption: Leonardo DaVinci's Vitruvian Man

In the next section of Assault on the Summit, "A Preliminary Exercise Program," Fa Jun Shakya gives important abdomen and groin strengthening exercises.

In the next installment of Assault on the Summit, "Concentration (Dharana): Breathing (Pranayama): Meditation (Dhyana)," Shi Ming Zhen and Shi Fa Jun present various techniques which aid the path climber.

Metanoia©R.L. Gardner

Shi Fa Tian examines how an ounce of attention is worth a pound of repentance in "Zen and Repentance"

Abbot John's wife and the son he just discovered. See his essay, "In Zen, Golf, and the 82nd Airborne".

http://whozoo.org/students/kartho/
meerkat3.htm

Recent interest in Animal Planet's "Meerkat Manor" suggested a look back at Ming Zhen's 1998 essay, "Heisenberg, Zen, and the Images of Death". (Ming Zhen doesn't want to give away her age, but when she studied the Uncertainty Principle the Observer Effect was considered part of it.).

Harry Houdini
Photo: Wikipedia

In this next installment of Assault on the Summit, Yoga Sutras, Ming Zhen outlines the Aphorisms of Patanjali and the constraints of harmlessness.

In this screen grab from a February 1971 television transmission,
astronaut Alan Shepard swings at a golf ball on the moon.
NASA

Second only to the Sea of Tranquility, readers nominate the Emerald Isle as the most winsome golf location. (See inside.) The Fox Ate My Golf Ball

Photo: Archer-Monk. From Thomas Hoover's "Zen Culture"

In Part 3 of the first section of Assault on the Summit, "Lex Talionis and Ethical Behavior," Ming Zhen outlines the forces in the psyche that both guide and impede our progress in the material and spiritual worlds.

India's national symbol taken from the crest of a pillar built by Ashoka.

In "Atheists and Believers" Ming Zhen explores two sides of the same coin and contrasts it with the only valid way to know God.

From his section of Assault On The Summit, "Meridians, Meditation, Breathing, and Flexibility," Shi Fa Jun recommends basic exercises that aid flexibility and conduce to meditation.

VM Fo Yuan shares a pleasantry with Ming Zhao

Venerable Master Ming Zhao (xin Jue) In My Eyes Barry Tse (Shi Yao Hui) writes affectionately about his master VM Ming Zhao.

Dawn on the lake near Jiang Jun Si, Chi-Bi (Red Cliff) City, Hubei Province. Yao Hui Shakya gives details of the restoration of the old Tang Dynasty Buddhist Temple.

Map of China showing Hubei Province, famed location of Wu Dang Martial Arts development. The Yangtze River forms its southern boundary line. Jiang Jun Si is located near Chi-Bi (Red Cliff) City, down in the dip in the lower right of the province. This is also the location site of the movie, Battle of Red Cliff which is currently being filmed by Director John Woo.

Last Update: 05/06/2008