- Zen teacher John Daido Loori says that non-attachment should be understood as unity with all things: 'According to the Buddhist point of view, non-attachment is exactly the opposite of separation. You need two things in order to have attachment: the thing you’re attaching to, and the person who’s attaching.
- I just did nothing for 2 minutes.
Excerpts from
To you
by Sawaki Kôdô Rôshi
Translated from Japanese by Jesse Haasch and Muhô
The Zen Garden aims to excite, inspire, and encourage participation. To begin, view some of the existing designs in the list. Clicking on any one will load the style sheet into this very page. The HTML remains the same, the only thing that has changed is the external CSS file. ZEN FOR NOTHING is a Zeitgeist Films release in association with Kino Lorber. To book this film please contact Nancy Gerstman or Emily Russo or call 212-274-1989. Trailers (Quicktimes), a press kit, jpegs of the poster and stills can be downloaded from our Dropbox.
“Once there were 500 monkeys in the service of 500 Buddhist saints. One day the monkeys decided to mimic everything the saints did, so they did zazen copying the saints with their eyes, noses, mouths and whole bodies. They say that in this way a thousand saints practiced zazen and realized satori. This is why it’s my wish to preserve – even if it’s only through imitation – the seed of zazen.
When you practice Zen, it has to be here and now, it has to be about yourself. Don’t let Zen become a rumor that has nothing to do with you.
Zazen is the buddha that we form out of our raw flesh.
Zazen means putting into practice that which cannot be thought.
Zazen is the dharma-switch that turns on the whole universe.
Simply doing something [shikan] means doing it now, on the spot. It means not wasting the little time you have in life.
When somebody asks me what zazen is good for, I say that zazen isn’t good for anything at all. And then some say that in that case they’d rather stop doing zazen. But what’s running around satisfying your desires good for? What is gambling good for? And dancing? What is it good for to get worked up over winning or losing in baseball? It’s all good for absolutely nothing! That’s why nothing is as sensible as sitting silently in zazen. In the world, “good for nothing” just means that you can’t make money out of it.
Often people ask me how many years they have to practice zazen before it shows results. Zazen has no results. You won’t get anything at all out of zazen.”
New Trailer for 'Zen for Nothing' Doc Inside a Japanese Zen Monastery
by Alex Billington
December 21, 2018
Source:YouTube
'Whatever you may think… It's gone already…' Zeitgeist Films, in association with indie distributor Kino Lorber, have debuted an official US trailer for an indie documentary titled Zen for Nothing, from Swiss filmmaker Werner Penzel. This already opened in Switzerland (and some of Europe) back in 2016 but is just now getting a small US release for those interested. The documentary shares the experiences of Sabine Timoteo from Switzerland, arriving as a 'Zen novice' inside a Japanese zen monastery called Antaiji. The film is a 'masterly immersion into life' at this monastery, presented across three seasons - Autumn, Winter and Spring. 'Simple and beautifully filmed, this is Into Great Silence meets Enlightenment Guaranteed, with composer Fred Frith performing the eclectic, elegant score.' This looks to be a very calm, meditative, contemplative doc that may appeal most to those curious about Buddhism and living a truly zen life. Enjoy.
Here's the official US trailer (+ poster) for Werner Penzel's doc Zen for Nothing, from YouTube:
Provocatively titled, this documentary film is a masterly immersion into life at a Japanese Zen monastery over three seasons. Swiss novice Sabine arrives at Antaiji and, after a brief welcome, she begins to learn the monastery rules: how to bow, sit in the meditation hall, carry out movements with chopsticks, etc. There’s more to life there than meditation, farming, and maintenance, however—there are picnics, music, and Wi-Fi. And after the last snow has melted away, the nuns and monks travel to Osaka, where they recite sutras in front of subway entrances as they solicit offerings in their traditional monk’s robes. Quotes from renowned early twentieth-century Antaiji abbot Koda Sawaki are interjected throughout. Zen for Nothing is directed by Swiss filmmaker Werner Penzel, director of the doc films Vagabond's Band, Step Across the Border, Middle of the Moment, Brother Yusef, and Lucie im Wunderland previously, as well as a few features. This already opened in Switzerland & Germany back in 2016. Zeitgeist Films will finally release Penzel's Zen for Nothing in select US theaters starting sometime early 2019. Stay tuned for more. Curious?
1
Domo arigato gozaimasu!
Joe Kundlak on Dec 21, 2018
2
...because it just wouldn't be zen without a Telecaster...
kitano0 on Dec 21, 2018
3
One can hardly resist admiring them. But, the problem with places like this is that they can't be the places for the whole world. And for those who really need to calm down. Their way is just for some, not for all ...
shiboleth on Dec 21, 2018
4
Good to see something like this being made and put out into the world. I loved the 'whatever you may think...it's gone already'. Pure Zen. And the only truth there is because whatever it is you are presently thinking it's gone already...so why get upset or hooked on thoughts? Or anything, for that matter? All is temporary...row your boat gently down the stream...merrily, merrily it's suggested...life is but a dream.
thespiritbo on Dec 21, 2018
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