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Editorial

Teisho is a formal teaching session held each afternoon of the 7 day retreat. The Sangha (group) studies a text chosen by the teacher and is given the opportunity to ask questions. On this occasion, Genjo koan, referred to in some English translations as Actualising the Fundamental Point or The Issue at Hand was the text. Genjo koan is a key fascicle of Zen‘s Japanese founder, Eihei Dogen Zenji‘s masterwork, Shobogenzo. — Editor

 

“When you understand things as they really are, when this is experienced, then you must be practicing. When tea is served, you drink it! Or you say no thank you, whichever way it goes. When you are in the class, you listen, you discuss. When you hear the true Dharma you must practice it. So understanding is anything, but understanding becomes meaningful when it is carried out. Practice activates understanding. Understanding, just intellectually by putting things into certain memory systems doesn‘t have any significance until something is carried out. Practice is the proof of your own understanding – if you actually understand, you express it. So then you always put the practice forward and express what you learn and what you know yourself… ” (Continued on page 1)

Jikishoan Tokozan