FOUNDATIONS OF ZEN 13:
Forms of Meditation

Instructor: Peg Syverson
October 2–November 13, 2021

Location: Appamada (Online)

We don’t practice to attain enlightenment, just as we don’t eat or breathe to be alive. Because we’re alive, we breathe. Because we’re alive, we eat. Because we’re enlightened, we do zazen.
—Roshi Bernie Glassman and Rick Fields, “Instructions to the Cook”

This course introduces a variety of meditation techniques that are intended to serve as resources for your meditation practice. Our approach at Appamada is relational: Classes 1-4 deepen the relationship with the self, Class 5 deepens our relationship with the Buddha’s teaching, Class 6 deepens our relationship with others, and Class 7 deepens our relationship with the whole cosmos.

Please be sure to discuss your practice with a qualified Dharma teacher so that the appropriate methods can be tailored to your own circumstances and experience in practice. Of course there are many varieties of meditation techniques, so this course serves as an introduction to the methods we have found most helpful, not a comprehensive catalog.

Course sequence:

Classes meet online Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 AM Central Time.

Relating with Self: To study the Buddha Way is to study the self (Dōgen, Genjokoan)

• October 2, Class 1: Embodied Practice

• October 9, Class 2: Perception

• October 16, Class 3: Emotions

• October 23, Class 4: Concentration: wholeness of body, mind, heart, and intention

Relating with the Dharma: To study the self is to forget the self

• October 30, Class 5: Inquiry: investigation of the Dharma

Relating with others: To forget the self is to be actualized by the myriad things

• November 6, Class 6: Metta and the Brahmaviharas

Relating with the whole cosmos: When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away

• November 13, Class 7: Open awareness: shikantaza

This course is provided via Zoom with online materials. A Zoom link will be sent with registration. Please be sure we have your correct email address.

This course is offered through Appamada’s Generosity Initiative. There are no registration fees, but you may offer dana in support of Appamada or the class teacher(s) here.

Class Recordings

Audio Recordings

Video Recordings

• Class 1 (10/2): video recording

• Class 2 (10/9): video recording

• Class 3 (10/16): video recording

• Class 4 (10/23): video recording

• Class 5 (10/30): video recording

• Class 6 (11/6): video recording

• Class 7 (11/13) video recording

Resources and Handouts

Class 1 Handout: Embodied Practice

Class 2 Handouts:

• Kalachakra Mandala

• Chart of the Kalachakra Mandala

• Drawing the Tibetan Mandala

• Class 2 Talk Notes

Class 3 Handouts:

• Class 3 Talk Notes

• Personality Traits (Revised)

Class 4 Handouts:

• Class 4 Talk Notes

• Satipatthana Sutta

• Anapanasati Sutta (full version)

• Anapanasati Summary

• Sudden Awakening, John Tarrant

• Case 12: Dizang Planting the Fields

Class 5 Handouts:

• Class 5 Talk Notes

• John Tarrant: What are koans?

• Koans: Case 2 Bodhidharma’s Emptiness

• Koans: Case 7 Wash Your Bowls

• Koans: Case 19 Ordinary Mind is the Way

• Case 55 (Blue Cliff Record) Alive or Dead?

Class 6 Handouts:

• Class 6 Talk Notes

• Metta Practice

• Norman Fischer: Lojong Phrases

Class 7 Handouts:

• Class 7 Talk Notes

• On Silent Illumination, by Hongzhi

Sources:

There are no required readings. These sources can deepen your understanding and practice if you wish to explore class topics further.

Class 1: Embodied Practice

• Breath by Breath, Larry Rosenberg

• Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide and Translations, Anālayo

• Your Body Knows the Answer, David I. Rome

• How to Walk, Thich Nhat Hanh

Class 2: Perception

• An Illustrated History of the Mandala, Kimiaki Tanaka (academic)

• Introducing Mindfulness: Buddhist Background and Practical Exercises, Bhikkhu Analāyo

Class 3: Emotions

• The Cow in the Parking Lot: A Zen Approach to Overcoming Anger, Leonard Scheff and Susan Edmiston

• Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Psychology, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection, Dalai Lama and Daniel Goleman

• Why Meditate: Working with Thoughts and Emotions, Matthieu Ricard

• The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times, Pema Chödrön

• Don't Tell Me to Relax: Emotional Resilience in the Age of Rage, Feels, and Freak-Outs, Ralph De La Rosa

Class 4: Concentration

• Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide, Analāyo

• Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life, John Tarrant

• Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues, Thomas Cleary

• Passing Through the Gateless Barrier: Koan Practice for Real Life, Guo Gu

Class 5: Investigation

• In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon, Bhikkhu Bodhi

• Buddhism Plain and Simple, Steve Hagen

• Four Ways of Answering Questions, Buddha

Class 6: Metta and Brahmaviharas

• Loving-Kindness in Plain English: The Practice of Metta, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

• Tonglen, the Path of Transformation, Pema Chödron

• Buddha's Heart: Meditation Practice for Developing Well-Being, Love, and Empathy, Stephen Snyder

• Appamada Metta Phrases

Class 7: Open Awareness

• The Method of No-Method: The Chan Practice of Silent Illumination, Sheng Yen

• Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening, Guo Gu

• Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness, Loch Kelly

• Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki

• Zen Meditation Plain and Simple, Albert Low

• “On Silent Illumination,” Hongzhi