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Bright on Buddhism - Kōan Series Episode 15 - Unmon's KanshiketsuHello and welcome to a new episode of the Kōan Series. In this series, we will read and discuss real Buddhist kōans to try and better understand them. We hope you enjoy.Resources: Episode 10 - https://anchor.fm/brightonbuddhism/episodes/What-is-Zen-Buddhism-e1a2sm2Episode 18 - https://anchor.fm/brightonbuddhism/episodes/What-is-the-Buddhist-philosophy-of-speech--language--and-words-e1dgqu9Episode 32 - https://anchor.fm/brightonbuddhism/episodes/What-are-kans-e1j5sclEpisode 33 - https://anchor.fm/brightonbuddhism/episodes/What-is-emptiness-e1jc31iHori, Victor Sogen (1999). "Translating the Zen Phrase Book" (PDF). Nanzan Bulletin (23).; Hori, Victor Sogen (2000), Koan and Kensho in the Rinzai Zen Curriculum. In: Steven Heine and Dale S. Wright (eds)(2000): "The Koan. Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism, Oxford: Oxford University Press; Heine, Steven (2008), Zen Skin, Zen Marrow; Bielefeldt, Carl (2009), "Expedient Devices, the One Vehicle, and the Life Span of the Buddha", in Teiser, Stephen F.; Stone, Jacqueline I. (eds.), Readings of the Lotus Sutra, New York: Columbia University Press, ISBN 9780231142885; Kotatsu, Fujita; Hurvitz, Leon (1975), "One Vehicle or Three", Journal of Indian Philosophy, 3 (1/2): 79–166; Lopez, Donald (2016), The Lotus Sutra: A Biography (Kindle ed.), Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0691152202; Lopez, Donald S.; Stone, Jacqueline I. (2019), Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side: A Guide to the Lotus Sūtra, Princeton University Press; Pye, Michael (2003), Skilful Means – A concept in Mahayana Buddhism, Routledge, ISBN 0203503791; Watson, Burton (tr.) (1993), The Lotus Sutra, Columbia University Press, ISBN 023108160X; Patrick Olivelle, trans. Life of the Buddha. Clay Sanskrit Library, 2008. 1 vols. (Cantos 1-14 in Sanskrit and English with summary of the Chinese cantos not available in the Sanskrit); Stone, Jacqueline Ilyse (2003), "Original enlightenment and the transformation of medieval Japanese Buddhism" (PDF), Studies in East Asian Buddhism, University of Hawaii Press (12), ISBN 978-0-8248-2771-7, archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2013; Hakeda, Yoshito S., trans. (1967), Awakening of Faith—Attributed to Aśvaghoṣa, with commentary by Yoshito S. Hakeda, New York, NY: Columbia University Press, ISBN 0-231-08336-X; Jorgensen, John; Lusthaus, Dan; Makeham, John; Strange, Mark, trans. (2019), Treatise on Awakening Mahāyāna Faith, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780190297718_________________________________If you like our show and would like to support us, we encourage you to give your money or resources to a worthy cause. We can get through this. Our strongest weapon is solidarity. Stay strong and help where you can. Thank you.Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.Credits:Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-HostProven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host
Scott takes up Case 6 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon's “Every Day is a Good Day.” Recorded on January 15th, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation
This Teisho was given by the Reverend Karen Do'on Weik Roshi at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on March 6, 2024. In this talk Do'on Roshi discusses the 39th case from the Mumonkan (aka The Gateless Gate) known as Unmon and a Mistake in Speech. If you would like to learn more about the Buddhist Temple of Toledo or to make a donation in support of this podcast please visit buddhisttempleoftoledo.org. Part of Reverand Do'on's Teisho on the Mumonkan series.
This Teisho was given by the Reverend Karen Do'on Weik Roshi at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on Sept 6, 2023. In this talk Do'on Sensei discusses the 21st case from the Mumonkan (aka The Gateless Gate) known as Unmon's Kanshiketsu (aka Unmon's Dried Shit-Stick). If you would like to learn more about the Buddhist Temple of Toledo or to make a donation in support of this podcast please visit buddhisttempleoftoledo.org. Part of Reverand Do'on's Teisho on the Mumonkan series.
On this first day of Fall, Teshin takes up case 27 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon's Complete Exposure. The Case reads as follows: A monk asked Unmon, “What is
Dharma talk by Eran Junryu Vardi Roshi of Eiryu-ji Zen Center in Wyckoff, NJ, USA on 9/25/22.
Description: Valerie and Henry explore Unmon's Bright Light, Case 84 from the Blue Cliff Record in this final talk from our 2020 winter solstice retreat. Valerie opens with the Great
Genjo Marinello Osho gave this Teisho on the first day of Summer Odayaka 2021 at Chobo-Ji. This talk explores who hears the temple bell, becoming the temple bell, and why do we do what we do in practice and daily life.
Genjo Marinello Osho gave this Teisho during the Aug, 8, 2021 Zazenkai at Chobo-Ji. This talk explores how Zen Master Unmon Bunen (Yúnmén Wényǎn) knocked hard on Tozan Shusho, which resulted in breakthrough for Tozan.
“… Koans are invitations to pass through the gate of separation ...” Description: How can we learn through the pandemic crisis to let go of the sense of separateness that is the source of so many of the world's problems? This talk takes Case 87 from the Blue Cliff Record, where Unmon states that “Medicine and […]
“… into the joy of present moment awareness …” “… The healthy self lives in the world of form, not desire …” Description: In these talks, which were given on the second day of the 2020 yoga and meditation retreat at Esalen, we examine more closely how we might uncover Unmon’s bright light. It is not through […]
“You can’t see the Way; you can discover that you are the Way“ Description: In Case 99, a monk asks Master Unmon, “What is the dust-dust samadhi?” This term, also translated as moment-by-moment samadhi, is explored at various levels in this talk. Unmon’s response to the monk is simple and beautiful, conveying a world where […]
“… It’s never apart from you, right where you are …” Description: Case 92 begins with a quotation from an early Chinese text, the Hôzôron: “Within heaven and earth, in the midst of the universe, there is one treasure hidden in a body.” This talk focuses on the three words: one, treasure, hidden. What is […]
The bell rings and you act. What do you do? Why do you do it? You've trained your whole life to get to this point. This is a pivotal point, when the bell rings do you want to do what you have always done, or, in this wide, amazing world, do you want to try something new, different? Unmon said, "The world is vast and wide. Why do you put on your seven-piece robe at the sound of the bell?" https://www.startuproshi.com/home/answer-the-bell
A monk asked Unmon, "What is Buddha?" Unmon replied, "A dry shit stick." Why? Where is Buddha in this regular, shitty, unsatisfactory experience? I've heard a thousand times that ordinary mind is Buddha. Here, I try to explain how to actually practice this truth.
Genjo Marinello Osho gave this Teisho during the Chobo-Ji half-day mini sesshin given on May 10th, 2015, on Case 48 of the Mumonkan. The case investigates how to teach in Zen, using Zen Masters Kempo and Unmon as examples.
Genjo Marinello Osho gave this Teisho on May 11th, 2014 at Chobo-Ji. This talk explores Case 15 of the Mumonkan, where Tozan gets 60 blows from Unmon. Genjo explores Tozan's dark night of the soul and Unmon's grandmotherly kindness.