Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make our effort, moment after moment, is our way.
Suzuki Roshi
Soto Zen
Zen evolved from the teaching of the historical Buddha who lived in India, 2500 years ago. In the 7th century, Zen (Ch’an in Chinese) developed in Buddhist monasteries in China. Influenced, in part, by the practice of the Tao, Zen was characterised by spontaneity and naturalness. Inspired by his experience of Zen practice in China in the 12th Century, Eihei Dogen, a Japanese monk, returned to Japan to create and nurture the lineage of the Soto Zen.
Shunryu Suzuki was one of a number of Japanese Soto Zen priests who travelled to the USA in the middle of the twentieth century. He came to San Francisco to serve the Japanese community. Many westerners became attracted to his teaching and presence and this led to the creation of The San Francisco Zen Centre. In the coming years this would blossom into a network of Zen centres across the country, including the Tassajara Zen Mountain Centre, the first Buddhist monastery in the Western world.
The Zen lineage of Just This extends therefore from China in the seventh century and through Dongshan and Yunyan in the ninth century. It then threads to Dogen in Japan in the twelfth century, through to Shunryu Suzuki in San Francisco in the nineteen fifties and sixties. It now lives in the contemporary expressions of Zen throughout the world including Appamada, Open Door and Just This.
Our practice at Just This is imbued with the particular flavour and expression Flint offers in his teaching, presence and leadership, with Peg Syverson, of Appamada.
Appamada is a Pali word which means mindful, active care. According to the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha, it was a common theme in his teaching and his last word, encouraging his followers to fare forward with appamada – with energetic care. He often compared appamada to an elephant’s footprint, which is so large that it can contain the footprint of all the other animals. In the same way, the Buddha said, appamada – mindful, clear care – contains all of his other teachings.
At Just This we offer the opportunity to continue to weave this ancient thread in a contemporary setting, with appamada, together, warm hand in warm hand.
Continuously creation runs her loom and shuttle, Weaving the ancient brocade.
Tiantong