Ikkyu – Self-Appraisal
Rinzai’s descendants do not know Zen.
In front of Crazy Cloud, who dares to explain Zen?
For thirty years, on my shoulders I have carried
The weight of Shogen’s Red Thread Zen.
I am teaching you the gateway to essential Zen. Zen is endlessly discussed with empty phrases and pretentious words; all that effort goes on and on missing the mark…
Former Abbot of Murasakino Daitoku Zen Temple, Jun Ikkyu, world’s number one venerable priest.
Ikkyu
THE ONE TRUE TASTE OF TEA
I share a sip of tea together with the spring wind and 10,000 peaks;
Then with my arms folded in my sleeves I contently stroll along the riverbank.
The One True Taste of Tea – Sen No Rikyu
Rikyu
Sen No Rikyu (1522 – April 21, 1591) based his calligraphy on the original two verses from a poem by Kaiseki (Chieh-shih), a Zen Master of the late Sung. The complete original poem goes:
Namu Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butso, by Shinran, (May 21, 1173 – January 16, 1263)
Founder of Jōdo Shinshū Pure Land sect of Buddhism.
An extraordinary pair of geese by master artist Sesshū Tōyō, (1420 – 1506)
Geese – by Sesshu
One of the Pair of Geese – Sesshu
Two Geese by Sesshu
Kannon by Junkyo, the 20th century nun who had her arms sliced off by a mad man when she was 17 . The inscription is one of our favorites, “Every day is a good day.” Signed, “Painted without hands by Junkyo.”
Kannon by Junkyo
Kannon by Junkyo
And here’s a portrait of the artist:
The Artist, Junkyo
Jiun Sonja (1718-1804): “Every Day is a Good Day” is from the famous Zen Koan by 10th century master Unmon. Unmon said: “I do not ask you about fifteen days ago. But what about fifteen days hence? Come, say a word about this!” Since none of the monks answered, he answered for them: “Every day is a good day.”
Jiun – Every Day is a Good Day
Kannon by Onisaburo
Kannon by Onisaburo
Zen Art Experience 