“We are the like the apex of a pyramid – the levels of the pyramid ever widening toward its base represent past generations of our ancestors. Our present existence is the sum of all they did and we are the starting point for our descendants. All that our ancestors did reflect on us and all that we do reflects on both our ancestors and our descendants. Make a note of this.” —Shundo Aoyama

On the second day of the New York Zen Center’s Summer Sesshin (silent retreat) in Garrison, NY, Chodo Sensei offers a talk on the importance of appreciation for one’s ancestors. Drawing upon the story of Moggallāna, a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, who transferred his spiritual merits to save his mother from hell realms, Chodo shares his own journey of compassion towards his troubled family history. He reminds us that we should live each moment with care as a token of our gratitude to our predecessors and descendants.

ZENTALK NOTES

Sensei Chodo Robert Campbell is a co-founder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and is part of the core faculty for the Buddhist Track in the Master in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Zen Center’s education partner, New York Theological Seminary.

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—The Five Ranks of Tozan: An Online Zen Study Offering with Gerry Shishin Wick Rōshi—Chinese Zen Master Tozan (Tungshan) created two sets of five ranks that are honored and studied in both Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen. Tozan composed a verse for each of the ranks. In this course, we will examine and appreciate each of Tozan’s ranks, including the title and the verses. | Learn More >

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Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji –  Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

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