Sharpening the Mind

This was a talk given at One Mind Zen.

Teachings from Master Silly Mountain (Han Shan Deqing) This includes the first of Han Shan's Maxims. Why don't we, as Buddhists, go out and convince people to join us? Should we? Would that be effective? Also, what's the deal with impermanence? And emptiness? Let's talk about these things.  if you want to support this work by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

A reading from "The Method of No Method" and commentary on ethics, the four great vows, and the mind of awakening.  if you want to support this workby making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

Everything always changes.  This is a talk I gave at the One Mind Zen Hermitage.

“To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult, but those with limited views are fearful and irresolute" -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

“When no discriminating thoughts arise, the old mind ceases to exist.” -Sengcan Talk + MIndfulness of Breathing Practice if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: https://paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

“Do not search for the truth; only cease to cherish opinions. Do not remain in the dualistic state; avoid such pursuits carefully.” -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg

Daniel and Alicia talk about Baizhang and the Wild Fox.  I invited my soon-to-be wife Alicia Marley onto the podcast again to talk about the second koan from the Gateless Barrier Collection. This is an odd koan with some magical things going on and the lesson might be a little hard to find.  Our conversation ended up taking us pretty far afield from talking about the koan and we ended up asking questions like "is chanting important?" and "Can meditation make you a better criminal?”  if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg 

“To return to the root is to find the meaning, but to pursue appearances is to miss the source.” -Sengcan

“To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality” -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: https://paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/dscharpy

Daniel and Alicia talk about Zhaozhou's Dog. I invited my soon-to-be wife Alicia Marley onto the podcast to talk about the first koan from The Gateless Barrier collection. She has no knowledge of zen koans, so I was wondering if her beginners perspective would help make things clear. In this episode we talk about the title "The Gateless Barrier" (sometimes called The Gateless Gate, sometimes called The Barrier That Has No Gate) And we talk about the Koan that is called "Zhaozhou's Dog" if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: https://paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/dscharpy I wanted to recommend someone else's podcast too. If you're interested in podcasts about koans, go listen to Knot Zen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/knot-zen/id1489124156

"Be serene in the oneness of things and erroneous views will vanish by themselves." -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy This episode references a text called Faith in Mind. A version of it can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Mind-Rebellion-Chinese-Zen/dp/0861713915/

"Live neither in the entanglements of outer things nor in the inner feelings of emptiness" -Sengcan   if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy   This talk references a text called Trust in Mind. A version of it can be purchased here:  https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Mind-Rebellion-Chinese-Zen/dp/0861713915/

"The way is perfect like vast space where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. It is our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things." -Sengcan if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy if you want the text i'm reading from, you can get it here:  https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Mind-Rebellion-Chinese-Zen/dp/0861713915/

Sensei Alex Kakuyo came onto the podcast again to talk with me about current events, protests, and the role of Buddhist teachers in the world of politics.  Alex is a lay Buddhist minister in the Bright Dawn Buddhist tradition. You can read his article "How to be a Buddhist Protester" here:  https://sameoldzen.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-to-be-buddhist-protester.html\ and he wrote this article for Lion's Roar:  https://www.lionsroar.com/the-buddhist-pureland-and-living-under-curfew/ and you can buy his book "Perfectly Ordinary" here: https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Ordinary-Buddhist-Teachings-Everyday/dp/167376939X/ if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

This talk references a text called Faith in Mind.    "When the deep meaning of things is not understood, the mind's essential peace (stillness) is disturbed to no avail." -Sengcan    if you want to support this work by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg   Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

Do our opinions get in our way all the time? Can we hold them more loosely?   "If you wish to see the truth, hold no opinions for or against anything; To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind." -Sengcan This episode references a text called Faith in Mind. A version of it can be purchased here: Mu Soeng's "Trust in Mind" And another version can be purchased here: Sheng Yen's "Faith in Mind" if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

The Great Way is not Difficult for those without addiction to preferences... (Talk + Meditation) This episode references a text called Faith in Mind. A version of it can be purchased here:  Mu Soeng's "Trust in Mind"  And another version can be purchased here:  Sheng Yen's "Faith in Mind" if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

I had my first long distance podcast guest. Sensei Alex Kakuyo is a lay Buddhist minister and author of Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life. You can learn about Alex here: sameoldzen.blogspot.com And you can buy his book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852GYDXX Alex teaches in the Bright Dawn Tradition, which you can learn about here: Brightdawn.org I first "met" Alex because I saw his writing at The Tattooed Buddha, which you can see here: The Tattooed Buddha if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

The Buddha Held Up a Flower. Kasyapa Smiled. Case 6 from the Gateless Gate. The Gateless Gate is a classic text. My favorite version can be purchased here: Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Guo Gu if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

Different forms of meditation described. Plus, my favorite: Silent Illumination.  if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: Donate Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

Short explanation of Chan Buddhism.  if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: Paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

Start Where You Are. Where else could you start?  if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: Paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

Kindness - Compassion - Joy - Equanimity. Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation. if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy a version of this talk was given as a video on the Tattooed Buddha Facebook page. You can like that page here: facebook.com/thetattooedbuddha

Baizhang and the Wild Fox.  Case 2 From “the Gateless Gate” The Gateless Gate is a classic text. My favorite version can be purchased here: Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Guo Gu if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

“We teach best what we need to learn” -Michael Stone if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

What does that even mean?  Source: “the Gateless Gate” Case 1 The Gateless Gate is a classic text.  My favorite version can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Passing-Through-Gateless-Barrier-Practice/dp/1611802814 if you want to support this podcast by making a donation you can do so by clicking here: paypal.me/danielscharpenburg  Go like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/dscharpy

From the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 Practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a bodhisattva

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices

From the 37 Practices

From the 37 practices

from the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices

from the 37 Practices

from the 37 Practices of A Bodhisattva

From the 37 practices

From the 37 Practices

From the 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

From the 37 practices

From the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva

From the 37 Practices

This one is a little dark. From the 37 Practices

From the 37 Practices

From the 37 Practices.

This is a talk from the 37 Practices it All Bodhisattvas

Fear and overcoming fear. Go to my website: kansascitymeditation.com  if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here:  Paypal: PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg  venmo: @DScharp

Is this as good as it gets? Is any moment better than this one? Go to my website: kansascitymeditation.com  if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here:  Paypal: PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg  venmo: @DScharp

In this talk I reference Jack Kornfield's "A Path with Heart" which you can buy here:  https://www.amazon.com/Path-Heart-Through-Promises-Spiritual/dp/0553372114

I'd like to address a question people ask sometimes. ==================== Go to my website: kansascitymeditation.com  if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here:   Paypal: PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg  venmo: @DScharp

This talk was recorded at Monday Meditation on 2/3/20. ————————————————————————-Go to my website: kansascitymeditation.com if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here: Paypal: PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg venmo: @DScharp

In this talk I explore a fundamental Buddhist teaching called "The Four Foundations of Mindfulness". Can being mindful of our bodies, feelings, thoughts, and the world around us help us to live in a better way? I think so.  ——————————- Go to my website: https://kansascitymeditation.com if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here: Paypal: PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg venmo: @DScharp

This talk was recorded at Monday Meditation on 1/20/20. We talked about suffering, shopping carts, and horses. ——————————- if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here: Paypal: https://PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg venmo: @DScharp

This was recorded at Monday Meditation on 1/6/20. We talked about how often we get in the way of our own efforts to improve ourselves. We also talked about the three poisons: greed, aversion, and delusion. And we had a lively discussion

Indira has been a Buddhist for 20 years. She has worked as a spiritual advisor, reiki healer, and teacher (including teaching inmates in prison). She writes for the Tattooed Buddha. She is currently working on a Unity Minister degree. We talked about Unity Church, which you can learn about here: www.unity.org and Oneness which you can learn about here: www.omoneness.com

This talk was recorded at Fountain City Meditation on 12/30/19. Guided Meditation: 0:00-24:00. Discussion: 24:00-49:00. Whitney led the practice for the first time. At the beginning she introduces herself, then there’s a guided meditation followed by a discussion that includes: goals for the year, renewable energy, MS, and other things.

This talk was recorded at Fountain City Meditation on 12/23/19. We talked about desire. Can we relate to our desires in a more meaningful way? Do you want to be a dog or a tiger? ——————————- if you feel moved to make a donation to support this work you can do so here: Paypal: https://PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg venmo: @DScharp

This talk was recorded at Fountain City Meditation on 12/2/19. We talked about believing in our practice and common obstacles. =================== if you feel moved to make a donation you can do so here: Paypal: https://PayPal.me/DanielScharpenburg venmo: @DScharp

This talk was recorded at Fountain City Meditation on 11/25/19. We talked about how we sometimes make our own suffering worse.

I sat down with my friend Katarina Elaine. She is a Wiccan, a spiritual teacher, and an event coordinator who runs a yearly retreat called Temple Scarlet. We talked about festivals, meditation, pathworking, sacred sexuality, paganism, and the meaning of the word “witch”.

This talk was recorded at a public Meditation on 11/11/19.

I sat down with my friend Sergio who is a Buddhist and a Chaplain in Kansas City. We talked about how his career in spiritual wellness and his life as a Buddhist influence each other. We also talked about right livelihood and being fully present for people that need it.

A zen story about facing difficult circumstances

This talk was recorded on 9/28/19 at Aquarius KC, a metaphysical store in Kansas City. I introduced zen meditation, gave some guidance, and took questions. It went really well. Go to https://aquariuskc.com to learn more about this store. I really appreciate that they invited me to give a talk there.

On this episode I talked with my guest and partner Alicia about letting go of anxiety and attachment. We recorded this in the car during a road trip.

There is silence and calm beneath all the stuff we’re carrying. “The Great Treasure” is a story from the text “Dropping Ashes on the Buddha.” This Talk was recorded at a public meditation on 9/16/19

I had a discussion with Alicia Marley about laziness, empowerment, Facebook, and goals.

This was recorded at a Meditation Gathering on 9/14/19.

What is laziness and how does it stop us from reaching our potential and developing ourselves? This talk was given at Fountain City Meditation on 9/9/19.

This talk was recorded at a public meditation event on 9/2/19. We meditated and talked about Patience, as well as what to do when you feel itchy, giving in to your desires, and our fixation on doing things “the right way”

This was recorded at a public meditation event on 8/26/19. We meditated and discussed things like keeping your eyes open, hearing sounds, and why this is called zen.

This is a talk and discussion about when and why meditation is hard.

A description of a Formless meditation practice as well as a little guidance. 

This talk is meditation instruction I gave at a Meditation Gathering. It was an outdoor event so there is a lot of ambient noise. Notes on posture - healing breath practice - following the breath - silent illumination

We all have these experiences in life where we face unexpected difficulties. These things happen in big and small ways. Does it help to remember we're all going through these things? What can we do about it?

This is a discussion I had with Alicia Marley on Self Image, Compliments, and Empowerment

Huineng was a poor person from the southern part of China. No one could have expected him to become an influential Zen Teacher. This is a very short version of his story

A Zen Story that can tell us a few things about expectations and perception.

When we meditate we’re going to have feelings of serenity but also feelings of frustration. In both cases it’s important to not cling to these feelings. -this talk was recorded at a meditation gathering at the Nelson Museum on 6/1/19

Exploring where the Zen tradition comes from and what "zen" really means.

The Buddha is sometimes described as a doctor. He saw the was we suffer as a disease to be treated. His teaching is a treatment plan. This is a tiny bit about his life story, but more importantly about the central Buddhist teaching of the Four Noble Truths.

I struggle with uncertainty and worry. How about you? This talk was recorded right after I had to cancel a meditation gathering event because of a thunderstorm.

The spiritual path isn't all just for fun. We're trying to do something here. We're trying to reduce our suffering and change the way our suffering spills out of us and on to other people. But how do we do that?

Barefoot Bran is my guest. He’s a buddhist folk musician in Kansas City. He’s a member of the Rime Buddhist Community and the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. We talk about spirituality, music, dreams, and community, as well as the intersection between paganism and buddhism

We’re all dreaming. We’re going through life missing things because we’re dreaming. And we’re not seeing reality clearly. How do we wake up?

I’d like to Introduce you to Chan Buddhism. This is a path that is practical and it’s about training our minds so we can engage the world in a more meaningful way.

This is a talk I gave at Fountain City Meditation. There were 17 in attendance, including one child and one dog. Because it was the first outdoor meditation of the season, I decided to just briefly talk about the basics. Why do we meditate?

My childhood friend Daniel Symes joined me on the podcast to talk about spiritual communities.  Daniel has been my friend since I was 11 years old and he's a member of pagan and freemason communities. We discussed what those communities, and Buddhism, do well and also where they struggle. I talked some, but not much, about my experience at a temple I used to attend called the Rime Center. He talked some about his experience with the pagan communities: Camp Gaea and Gaia Community (and I marveled at the fact that there are two pagan communities in Kansas City with essentially the same name). And we also talked about semi-spiritual communities like Freemasonry and Scouts BSA.  And we talked about Fountain City Meditation, which I think is a project but may actually be a community. 

This is a recording of a live talk I gave online in the Tattooed Buddha Community Facebook group. I went over a teaching from Hongzhi in “Cultivating the Empty Field” then I addressed some questions and comments about anger.

We all have to face death. Impermanence is a part of our lives and one thing we all have in common is that we lose the people we care about. What can help us with our grief? In this episode I get personal and talk about my own story. ——Recommended Reading: “Awake in the World” by Michael Stone and “No Death, No Fear” by Thich Nhat Hanh

Daniel and Alicia talk about: Insecurity, Introspection, and Brain Weasels.

Part one of a series. Insecurity is something we all struggle with it. In this episode Daniel and Alicia explore Daniel’s insecurity regarding hosting events.

What’s holding us back? Often it’s ourselves. We’re not broken, or at least no more broken than anyone else. With quotes from “Cultivating the Empty Field”

True Charity, True Sharing, True Giving. With a quote from Mirror of Zen

How does the way we see things shape our experience? This talk includes a story about a young monk who tried to walk from Korea to China and learned something about the power of our minds.

We are telling ourselves stories all the time. We re-create our past. We worry/have expectations about the future. And we tell all sorts of stories about ourselves and others. Is this helpful?   “You can no longer deceive yourselves as sincerely as you did before. You have now got the taste of truth.” -Ouspensky

Alicia Marley came to the podcast. We talked a little bit about Buddhism, but mainly we discussed Facebook, having a sense of wonder, and Geocaching. 

Great Faith, Great Doubt, Great Determination.  Trying to practice without all three of these present is like having a table that's missing a leg.