“These forms are not the means of obtaining the right state of mind. To take this posture [of Zazen] is itself to have the right state of mind. There is no need to obtain some special state of mind.”
—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Zen Fields is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in central Iowa. Our aim is to provide opportunities for people to practice meditation and to study the Buddhadharma. We strive to address the suffering that exists in multiple layers:
Zen practice works like concentric circles, beginning with the self at the center, and spreading outward to family, community, society and ecology.
Thanks to the many people who believe in Ricardo Annis as he pursues his undergraduate degree at Strasburg University in France, we have met our goal of $4000. This should ensure Ricardo continues into his sophmore year. Zen Fields cannot underscore enough the importance of supporting people in Haiti for endeavors like this. Giving in this way is an act of charity, of love, and of respect beyond measure.
from Zen Fields
What is the role of our spine on a physical, mental, and spiritual level?
buddhadharma resources
Topics include Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness meditation, parenting, interfaith, ecological and social justice, and science. Readers are welcome to post comments, to ask questions, and to reflect on these posts to see if they ring true or not. The heart of Zen is verification of truth not by an authority, but through one’s direct experience.
What Does Receiving the Precepts Mean? In the article “Teacher Qualities in Soto Zen” I mentioned one of the ways to recognize a teacher is
Teacher Qualities in Soto Zen Zen teachers profoundly influence the way we see the world. My teacher, Rev. Dai-En Bennage, taught me, through her own
What is Shikantaza? A Definition Dogen called his meditation practice shikantaza, which literally means “just sitting.” In shikantaza we sit without the koans used in
Developing Religious Sensitivity As a Soto Zen priest dedicated to the Buddhist path, I can say with great confidence that no religion has all the
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