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How Do We Find the Field of Emptiness? Of Love?

Fashi Lao Yue helps us understand the ever present, ever lasting spiritual work before us with a bit of help from Rumi.
“Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. … When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’ doesn’t make any sense.”

How to Find God on the Zen Path: The Heart Sutra, The Thread of Love by Fashi Lao Yue

When a bird gets free it doesn’t return to the remnant on the bottom of the cage. (Rumi) Fashi Lao Yue offers a short intensive on the path of the Heart Sutra.

Avalokiteshvara while practicing deeply with the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore,
suddenly discovered that all of the five Skandhas are equally empty, and with this realisation he overcame all Ill-being.
Thich Nhat Hanh translation.

Connections: Religion & Spirituality

Ming Zhen Shakya in her essay “Connections” touches on the difference between the lower rungs of religion and the ecstatic pitch of spirituality. A helpful distinction for those on the path. You’ll be surprised by what she shares with us.

Sangha News

Dear Friends of the Order,
Please read the announcement of the changes at ZATMA.
Thank you.

Mirror, Mirror: The Riddle of Self Reflection, The Seeker

What comes out of your mouth matters! Whether you lie or exaggerate, whether your words are venomous or sweet. How you speak and what you say is a reflection of your spiritual state. And it doesn’t matter what you’re talking about….your words show you where you are on the path.

On Being a Master: Sinking into the Mud

When discussing what a “master” is or can be in our tradition with Yao Xiang Shakya, in preparation before her Master Transmission, she said “I feel being a master is sinking further into the mud so the lotus may rise higher”. 

Heaven and Hell

Ming Zhen Shakya gave this Dharma talk on heaven and hell in 1996…..over 20 years ago. It stands the test of time.

When We First Begin

For the beginner on the Zen path…..Fa Shi Yao Xin Shakya captures the essence of how we take the first step on the path to liberation and to knowing our Buddha nature.

Announcement: Another Master Blooms in ZATMA

In the truest sense of the Dharma, a master is a master long before he or she ever receives the ornamentation of being known as a Master. It is a gift to be found and given the responsibility to serve in this way. Yao Xiang Shakya, our dear old editor, is the founder and teacher of A Single Thread, A Contemplative Order of Hsu Yun.