Reflections on Talks on Buddha's Lists

During a recent Appamada Intensive our students gave talks on Buddha's lists. Here are my reflections on their talks.

Boyfriend

Rhinoceros Fan (an infamous koan)

One day Yanguan called to his attendant, "Bring me the rhinoceros fan."
The attendant said, "The fan is broken."
Yanguan said, "Then bring me the rhinoceros!"
The attendant had no reply.
Zifu drew a circle and wrote the word "rhino" inside it.

This is No Other

Dialogue with Charlie

Are You Enlightened?

JOKO BECK had finished a talk and asked if there were any questions. A young man raised his hand and bluntly asked, “Are you enlightened?” Her response was immediate. Laughing, she said, “I hope I should never have such a thought!”

Moon, Susan. The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women (p. 41). Wisdom Publications. Kindle Edition.

Joshua, 1980

Anatomy Lesson and Love

Receiving and Giving

Who's in the world?

Xiushan said, "What can you do about the world?"
Dizang said, "What do you call the world?"

The Lotus in Muddy Water

May we exist like a lotus, at home in the muddy water. Thus we bow to life as it is.

Skateboard Mishap

I thought he'd be all right on a skateboard. I was wrong.

Untitled 11/16/23

Pumpkins and Horse

Clouds and Cat

Still

Why?

Neighbor's Lizard

Hand of God

Collaboration with Joseph Mallord William Turner

Caveman art on the floor of HEB grocery in Austin

Lotus From Muddy Water. Piatt County Nursing Home, Monticello, Illinois

LOVE

Little Orphan Annie

 

Cookie

Distress... and Joy

Being Born Human

What's the Form

The Rarity of Being Born Human

Power

Beliefs