Vine of Obstacles

Amid the reeds

the ferryman

accompanies me.

- Hakuin's "Yantou the Ferryman"

Overview

This program offers Zen practice under the guidance a senior Zen teacher, Dōshō Port (see bio here, listen to talks here), and interactions with a mature community of practitioners. Ed Gōshin, a longtime student of Katagiri Rōshi and Dōshō, serves as our assistant teacher.

The Vine is designed for those who are determined to awaken (kensho) and actualize the great matter of birth and death (post-kensho training). And who aren’t shy about it.

Here is a seven-minute video, describing how the Vine is different from other online offerings.

We offer instruction in both just-sitting zazen and the Harada-Yasutani kōan curriculum. Our primary avenues for cultivating verification are daily zazen, study, and engagement in the Vine forums and in the world. Students who have some history of in-person practice tend to acclimate best to the Vine environment. 

Process

• Just sitting/koan zazen
• Practice meetings with Dosho (the only practice meetings times: Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday evenings - US Central)
• Weekly participation in the Engagement forums offer us the important opportunity to engage with each other as a practice group
• Study selected works, emphasizing classical teaching sources, including the following: 
  • Guidelines for Practicing the Way (Dōgen) 
  • The Heart Sutra
  • Dogen on Meditation and Thinking
  • Practice periods twice a year that focus on the teaching of Hakuin, Dōgen, Tōrei, and Mahayana texts

Fees for new participants

Two options:

• $125 a month for four, fifteen minute practice meetings with Dōshō and ongoing study reflections and feedback
• $85 a month for two meetings fifteen minute practice meetings with Dōshō and ongoing study reflections and feedback
• Some scholarship spaces are usually available.

Application or more information

Contact Dōshō at doshoport@gmail.com for more information and for an application.