Muso Soseki's Life and Poetry
October 25, 2026
Muso Soseki (1275-1351) was a towering figure of Japanese Zen. He was a teacher, painter, calligrapher, gardener, and poet. For him, none of these things were idle pastimes. They were vital means of expressing what cannot be expressed.
In this talk, we follow Muso from childhood into the monastery, from the monastery into the mountains, and from the mountains into one of the most important temples in Japan, Nanzen-ji. We listen to some of his verses and consider how sharing the dharma is an endlessly creative enterprise - not by design, but by necessity.
The Robe Of Liberation
Each morning at sesshin we chant the verse of the rakusu: “I wear the robe of liberation / the formless field of benefaction / the teachings of the Tathagata / saving the many beings.” What is this about? What is it pointing to? And what might this mean in our contemporary world? This talk was given on the fourth night of the winter sesshin in Hobart 2026.
Escape Into A Boiling Cauldron
Zen Master Caoshan was once asked, “The world is so hot, where can I go to escape?” Caoshan responded, “Escape into a boiling cauldron, into the coals of a furnace.” What sort of escape is this? Why would we want to go into the heat instead of running away from it? This talk was given on the second night of the winter sesshin in Hobart 2026.
Character
When Yamada Roshi was asked what Zen practice is for, he said, “The perfection of character.” In this talk we track the evolution of the teacher Deshan, from young firebrand to mellow custodian of the Way, to explore the importance of character in a world that often seems to sneer at gentleness and compassion.
Just Enough
Laotzu taught that “knowing enough’s enough is enough to know". How do we practice this “knowing enough”? And what might we learn from our own meal ceremony and liturgy to help us live a simpler and more embodied life?
Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha
May 6, 2025
Great Master Ma was unwell. The accountant monk went to him and asked, “How is your Reverence feeling these days?” The Master responded, “Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha.” What are these mysterious words pointing to? And how might we realise them in our own lives? This talk was given on the second day of the Great Ocean Sesshin 2025.