Nishijima Roshi: The Dish Rack Teachings

[Jundo]

Dear All,

My Dharma Brother, Gustav Ericsson, who is both a Zen Teacher and a fully Ordained Priest in the Lutheran Church of Sweden ...

https://www.amazon.in/Gustav-Ericsso...h_lnk_6&sr=1-6

... will be visiting Japan in April and, I expect, will come for a visit with us to offer a guest Teaching here.

In the meantime, Gustav recently found and uploaded a few dozen short comments by our Teacher, Nishijima Roshi, on a variety of topics, in answer to some questions posed by Gustav many years ago:

https://www.youtube.com/@gustavericsson1335/videos

They really give a nice feel for Nishijima's personality and special way of expressing things, and some of his ideas about Buddhism. Below are a sample. I call them the "Dish Rack Teachings" because Nishijima, then about 86 years old (he died at age 94 in January, 2014) had retired to a TINY apartment in a building for seniors, and made these recordings in the little kitchen sitting next to the sink. He also had a bed, a Zafu, his priest Robes (he always sat in Kesa) and all his books for his translation work in that tiny place. Most of the short comments are 1 to 4 minutes long ...

Beginner's mind


Just Sit


Who am I?


Future optimism


Posture, Handicap and Zazen

more below ...



nishijimaportraitbw-207x300.jpg

[Jundo]

Kannon


God is the whole


Realism


Freedom vs determinism


Intuition


Do not worry about fame and profit

[Jundo]

Do not worry about costumes


Political extremes are wrong


Present moment


Nishijima Roshi - 70 years of Zazen

Nine Bows, J

stlah

[Shokai]

Wow, A true Treasury. Thank you Jundo, Gustav and Nishijima roshi

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Washin]

Washin
stlah

[Kokuu]

Wonderful! This one in particular is great to see. We wouldn't use the term 'handicap' now but no blame to Roshi for that.



Gassho
Kokuu

[aprapti]

thank you!!


aprapti


sat

[Kotei]

Thank you!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Bion]

I love how straight to the point and clear he is, not even attempting to elaborate on concepts or to dissect what he is saying to make it more “understandable”. He has this gentle and easy smile on continuously, and I find that extremely comforting and reassuring.

Sat Today

[Kaisho]

Ah a true store house of dharma talks! Thanks to both Roshis for these.

Gassho
Kaisho
Sat lah

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[Shinshi]

These are great, thank you so much for sharing them. It is lovely getting to hear him present this material.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Tomás ESP]

He was amazing, thank you for sharing

Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH

[Geika]

Thank you Jundo. I thought I was already subscribed to Rev. Ericsson, but I didn't see these so I'm glad you brought these up here.

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Risho]

Thank you!

gassho

risho
-stlah

[Onkai]

Thank you.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat lah

[DGF]

Thank you very much for this sharing.

Diana
(Insta) sat

[Jimbob]

The kitchen looks a bit dishevelled for a Zen master

[Bion]

The kitchen looks a bit dishevelled for a Zen master

Perfectly disheveled is entirely zen as well


Sat Today

[Jundo]

The kitchen looks a bit dishevelled for a Zen master

Have you been in many Zen Masters' kitchens, or only the imagined kitchens of imagined Zen masters? I suspect the latter.

In Tenzo Kyokun, Master Dogen writes ...

Xuefeng once practiced as tenzo under Zen Master Dongshan. Once when he was washing rice, Dongshan said, "Do you wash the sand away from the rice, or the rice away from the sand?"

Xuefeng said, "I wash them both away together."

Dongshan said, "Then what will the community eat?"

Xuefeng overturned the washing bowl.

Dongshan said, "You should go and study with someone else. Soon."

What a mess! Overturned! You should go and study with someone else. Soon.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Jimbob]

Have you been in many Zen Masters' kitchens, or only the imagined kitchens of imagined Zen masters? I suspect the latter.

In Tenzo Kyokun, Master Dogen writes ...



What a mess! Overturned! You should go and study with someone else. Soon.

Gassho, J

stlah

Thank you, Jundo.

I have now left the Treeleaf sangha to study with someone else. I trust this is soon enough for you.

My sincere best wishes to you all,


Jim.

[Jundo]

Thank you, Jundo.

I have now left the Treeleaf sangha to study with someone else. I trust this is soon enough for you.

My sincere best wishes to you all,


Jim.

Sorry to hear. You are welcome back any time. You might look up my Dharma Nephew, Myozan, who teaches in Ireland.

Gassho, Jundo

sattodayLAH

[Tai Shi]

Accepting that I am now old. Nishijima Roshi speaks for me. I try to find this meaning in poetry. It's okay to be old, began to practice Zen the year he died. I'm 71. Thank you Ericcson Roshi, Jundo Roshi.
Gasho
sat/lah
Tai Shi

[Veronica]

Thank you for posting this wonderful series. I am only partway through. I especially liked the one about realism.
Gassho
Veronica
stlah

[Shujin]

These are wonderful, thank you for sharing. I love Nishijima's direct style of speaking. Although he's passed away, he remains as relevant as ever.

Gassho,
Shujin

Sat today

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[michaelw]

Love these and the Jundo podcast interview.

Do not worry about costumes just sit. lol

Gassho
MichaelW

sat

[Eigan]

I love them, especially the title! Sat today Eigan.

[Tokan]

You know, I just like listening to him talk, it could be about the phone book, he just has a lovely tone with a hint of the giggles in it.

Deep bows of respect and gratitude.

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Seiko]

What a lovely legacy.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah

[Onki]

I’ll be watching these today! Thank you for sharing!

Gasshō,

On

Sat today

[Heiso]

What a great resource, thank you.

Gassho,

Heiso

StLah