On silence as treasure in sesshin
Silence is a treasure for us now, and the receiving mind in the silent space/time is a great treasure, because we know mind is not just staying inside of this body. It goes everywhere.
Freeing students from need for historical knowledge
What I feel now is that if you touch the core of the whole thing, you can start to study from there. This is why I am here with you, to ease your minds, and tell you that knowing history, exactly how it went, is not necessary.
Affirming the authenticity of students' practice
You do not need to feel that you are enjoying a copy of the practice. You are doing the real practice.
Dogen's view of zazen as humanity's most precious discovery
Dogen believed that the most precious jewel mankind has discovered is the opportunity to do zazen, just to do zazen and start from there. He named it the "great gate of peace and joy."
Practice as life-long care of one's own life
The most important thing is to take the best care of your own life by looking after everything around you, within you. For this big purpose age doesn't matter, for as long as your life goes on, practice goes on.
Summarizing Dogen's zazen instructions
No thinking of good and bad. No judging of "yes" or "no" on anything. No trying to become a Buddha. All of this means you give up self-notion, human agency, and thinking.
Physical instruction connecting chin position to mental state
When the chin goes out, immediately your mind recalls a memory. You go into the past. That's alright, but you can do it when you lie down in your bed. During sitting, you don't slip into the past. You are supposed to be in every direction and every time.
Sawaki's earthy instruction on pelvic position
Kodo Sawaki said, "Asshole looks at heaven, peeks out at heaven." So the pelvis and back are slightly arched, and the belly is soft, round, not tight.
Dogen's radical non-instrumental view of zazen
Dogen Zenji writes: "Zazen is not learning Zen. Zazen is not practicing Zen."
Practical instruction on working with pain through breath
Especially on the out breath, you let go of things. In a sense, the pain is controllable. Don't just sit there and say "Ohhh, Oohh." Contract your body, put your mind into your breath, and then with the out breath, everything goes, not just pain, but everything, goes.