D.T. Suzuki was quoted as saying that “before studying Zen, mountains are mountains. While studying Zen, things become confused. After studying Zen, mountains are mountains.” This was one of the first Zen sayings I heard, and it continues to resound in me.
This title is attached to a 4 minute slide show(below, you may have to view on the website if using a feedreader) summing up essentially 3 months of Zen monastic practice. This time was spent as a guest student mostly in Zen Mountain Monastery, with some time also spent in San Francisco Zen Center. The posting of this video is the wrapping up of my trip, and a way of displaying some of what it was like with you.
There’s many more stories to be written, many more lessons to be learnt, and many things that will never leave my heart, but now, the externals of my “Dharma Tour” are over.
If you have questions or comments about any of the slides, please leave a comment.
Next up, eSangha, sharing some new found blogs from the Spread The Love NOW! Group Writing Project, and then back to your scheduled programming.
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Hi Wade, great slide show, I really enjoyed it. That quote from Suzuki is a favorite of mine as well and it rally resonated with how one feels before, during and after they start a practice. The March 2008 Shambhala Sun had an interesting article with K.D. Lang, about her taking refuge and her study. She describes it in much the same way, interesting article, you might like it.
Any rate, love the quote and loved your slide show.
Kris
Hi Kris,
Thanks for the comments on the slide show, it’s appreciated.
I’d love if you can somehow get a bit of the KD Lang article to me, it sounds very interesting
I don’t think I’ll be able to get March Shambhala Sun (I assume you meant 2007), until I’m back up @ ZMM or SFZC [they both have subscriptions].
Peace,
Wade
Irrespective of the messages to be gleaned from the slideshow, your photos are top quality as usual Wados. I’d say the full res shots of a lot of those would’ve come out tops.
@Marcus, thanks for the comments
I think you can see that I was using 2 cameras throughout. My phone camera, and my trusty D70. [PS for some reason both your recent comments were auto-eaten as spam, not sure why that was…]
Peace,
Wade
I used a different email address to leave messages. It made more sense for me to use my “spam” address for the replies I was receiving to these commentaries.
It’s a shame high quality cameras can’t be more mobile like camera phones, but that’s the price we all pay for portability.
Wade,
Beautiful photographs and nice musical
accompaniment in the background.
My favorite was ‘gone’. I love fog !
xo xo
Deb
Hi Deb,
Thanks for the kind words. Hope you enjoy ‘gone’
Peace,
Wade
Hi Wade,
Very nice pictures. Great quote!
Om Peace Peace Peace,
Brian
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the slide show.
May all beings be happy.
Gassho,
Wade