To order: click also available on Amazon (Kindle version is now available)
See excerpts, praise for the book, events, and the Postscript below.
See excerpts, praise for the book, events, and the Postscript below.
The Diamond Trap and the Fortune Teller:
A dharma talk from Sunday, February 19, 2023:
A dharma talk from Sunday, February 19, 2023:
"The Intimate Friend: Where is Enlightenment's Exquisite Flowering?" Dharma Talk from January 22, 2023
Book Launch Dharma Talk:
Rinsen Weik Rōshi and Dosho Rōshi got together recently to talk about Going Through the Mystery and had a wide-ranging and delightful conversation. Enjoy!
Introduction Part 1
This is my reading of pages 11-13 of the Introduction. I've made a couple more of these and will post them soon.
This is my reading of pages 11-13 of the Introduction. I've made a couple more of these and will post them soon.
From Linquan's "Preface Revealing the Way" for Going Through the Mystery's One Hundred Questions
"Over half of the verses combine common swamp songs from the past. By the record’s end, you’ll think it was written by Uncle Yong in order to implicate mom and dad, and get laughs from all sides. It is important to know the beginning and ending. Read aloud with wild passion. Stomp your feet as an explanation."
"Over half of the verses combine common swamp songs from the past. By the record’s end, you’ll think it was written by Uncle Yong in order to implicate mom and dad, and get laughs from all sides. It is important to know the beginning and ending. Read aloud with wild passion. Stomp your feet as an explanation."
Praise for Going Through the Mystery
Dosho Port Roshi further reveals the true One School of Zen: a practice beyond sects, drinking freely from myriad streams of Dharma rain. Each of the One Hundred Questions illuminates the ancient Caodong (Soto) Zen masters’ brilliant use of encounter language and koans, all pointing directly to awakening. Dosho Roshi’s book will surely open up a broader, more vibrant path for many Zen students.
- Meido Moore Roshi, Abbot of Korinji: The Rinzai Zen Community, author of The Rinzai Zen Way: A Guide to Practice and Hidden Zen: Practices of Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realization
Going Through the Mystery is a wonderful account of a sincere student of the intimate way, his questions, and the responses of a mature master of the path. Zen is a way of awakening. This book presents burning questions about what that means. And, most importantly, how to find it for ourselves. The traditional text is enriched with comments from a contemporary master of the way, Dosho Port. If you’re seeking insight into Zen at its bones and marrow, this is an important book for you.
- James Myoun Ford Roshi, author of Introduction to Zen Koans and If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break
Dosho Port Roshi has manifested another book of subtle and challenging koans, this time in the form of questions and answers between one student and one teacher. Teacher Wansong, known to modern Zen practitioners through his Book of Serenity koan commentary, is an important ancestor in the Caodong (Soto) lineage - from which not many teachings have yet been translated into English. This book could be seen as a kind of sequel to the Book of Serenity, revealing Wansong's eloquent style even more fully. Yuantong asked: “The great ocean serves as ink. Mt. Sumeru serves as a brush. Tell me, what single thing are you writing?” Wansong replied: “Going through the mystery’s one hundred questions.” Gratitude to Dosho for bringing forth this single-bodied Zen treasure!
- Kokyo Henkel Osho, Shunryu Suzuki lineage Zen teacher
Dosho Port Roshi further reveals the true One School of Zen: a practice beyond sects, drinking freely from myriad streams of Dharma rain. Each of the One Hundred Questions illuminates the ancient Caodong (Soto) Zen masters’ brilliant use of encounter language and koans, all pointing directly to awakening. Dosho Roshi’s book will surely open up a broader, more vibrant path for many Zen students.
- Meido Moore Roshi, Abbot of Korinji: The Rinzai Zen Community, author of The Rinzai Zen Way: A Guide to Practice and Hidden Zen: Practices of Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realization
Going Through the Mystery is a wonderful account of a sincere student of the intimate way, his questions, and the responses of a mature master of the path. Zen is a way of awakening. This book presents burning questions about what that means. And, most importantly, how to find it for ourselves. The traditional text is enriched with comments from a contemporary master of the way, Dosho Port. If you’re seeking insight into Zen at its bones and marrow, this is an important book for you.
- James Myoun Ford Roshi, author of Introduction to Zen Koans and If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break
Dosho Port Roshi has manifested another book of subtle and challenging koans, this time in the form of questions and answers between one student and one teacher. Teacher Wansong, known to modern Zen practitioners through his Book of Serenity koan commentary, is an important ancestor in the Caodong (Soto) lineage - from which not many teachings have yet been translated into English. This book could be seen as a kind of sequel to the Book of Serenity, revealing Wansong's eloquent style even more fully. Yuantong asked: “The great ocean serves as ink. Mt. Sumeru serves as a brush. Tell me, what single thing are you writing?” Wansong replied: “Going through the mystery’s one hundred questions.” Gratitude to Dosho for bringing forth this single-bodied Zen treasure!
- Kokyo Henkel Osho, Shunryu Suzuki lineage Zen teacher
"Going Through the Mystery's
One Hundred Questions" by T. Steve Mushin Crisman |
Excerpt 1
67 Where is the treasure land? Yuantong asked: “Within the non-abiding phantom city, arrive directly in the treasure land. Yet say, where is the treasure land?” Wansong replied: “In this place there are not two ounces of gold.” Linquan’s Verse In this place there are not two ounces of gold Much like raising your voice to stop an echo The pearl in your clothes is clearly obvious Just the tinkling of jewelry as you stagger along, cleansed by being blown about in the whirlwind If you still do not know this place I’ll immediately block your path, and with an open hand, smack your cheek Excerpt 2
27 Who hears liberation? Yuantong asked: “A wooden horse neighs. Who unexpectedly hears liberation?” Wansong replied: “Futile to wipe the corner of your eye.” Linquan’s Verse Futile to wipe the corner of your eye – turn, enter into empty hearing Ten thousand sounds soar – the source of the self is settled Hearing sound, examine the inner pattern – stop expending great effort. As before, a soaking rainfall turns the summit blue-green |
Postscript
I went to work on Going Through the Mystery’s One Hundred Questions in 2016, and now the first dusting of autumn snow of 2022 lays on the roof and grounds of the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage near the shores of Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior). I’m also aware of how my big sister, Mary Jean Port, seemed to be in the prime of her life as I began this project, but how she soon thereafter developed cancer, and died this past week.
Mary Jean, a sensitive spirit and skilled poet, was a long-time inspiration for me. One of my earliest memories is looking up while the four-year-old Mary Jean laughed wildly, her flowing golden hair illumined in the morning sunlight. What can I do but simply express my gratitude for her here.
You may recall the dedication early on in Going Through the Mystery’s forward material - this phrase from Ashvagosha’s dedication for his Awakening Mahayana Faith, a text that profoundly influenced many generations of Zen practitioners (including yours truly):
“I wish to have living beings
Eliminate doubts, abandon wrongly held views,
And give rise to correct Mahayana faith,
Leaving the buddha-lineage unbroken.”
Mary Jean would appreciate that Ashvagosha’s name could be rendered “Neighing Horses.” The story goes that whenever Ashvagosha was near, all the horses in the neighborhood would neigh in delight. Yuantong’s one-hundred questions, Wansong’s one-hundred answers, and Linquan’s one-hundred verses all seem to me now just the neighing of horses.
Each of these great practitioners, you see, is so adept in their role - asking, answering, versifying – while romping wildly through the wide-ranging buddhadharma, calling to us through their supreme delight. I gaze up at their masterful Awakening-Way fluency, how they so adroitly demonstrate the one great truth of this life through koan, sutra, and tender longing of the heart, and am inspired at what is possible in this life.
At the same time, I wonder, for whom was all the luminous light of these great Zen ancestors radiated?
My prayer is that this text will be like the neighing of horses calling to you, noble sovereign, about the possibility of thoroughly awakening and continuing the bright life of Buddha.
I went to work on Going Through the Mystery’s One Hundred Questions in 2016, and now the first dusting of autumn snow of 2022 lays on the roof and grounds of the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage near the shores of Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior). I’m also aware of how my big sister, Mary Jean Port, seemed to be in the prime of her life as I began this project, but how she soon thereafter developed cancer, and died this past week.
Mary Jean, a sensitive spirit and skilled poet, was a long-time inspiration for me. One of my earliest memories is looking up while the four-year-old Mary Jean laughed wildly, her flowing golden hair illumined in the morning sunlight. What can I do but simply express my gratitude for her here.
You may recall the dedication early on in Going Through the Mystery’s forward material - this phrase from Ashvagosha’s dedication for his Awakening Mahayana Faith, a text that profoundly influenced many generations of Zen practitioners (including yours truly):
“I wish to have living beings
Eliminate doubts, abandon wrongly held views,
And give rise to correct Mahayana faith,
Leaving the buddha-lineage unbroken.”
Mary Jean would appreciate that Ashvagosha’s name could be rendered “Neighing Horses.” The story goes that whenever Ashvagosha was near, all the horses in the neighborhood would neigh in delight. Yuantong’s one-hundred questions, Wansong’s one-hundred answers, and Linquan’s one-hundred verses all seem to me now just the neighing of horses.
Each of these great practitioners, you see, is so adept in their role - asking, answering, versifying – while romping wildly through the wide-ranging buddhadharma, calling to us through their supreme delight. I gaze up at their masterful Awakening-Way fluency, how they so adroitly demonstrate the one great truth of this life through koan, sutra, and tender longing of the heart, and am inspired at what is possible in this life.
At the same time, I wonder, for whom was all the luminous light of these great Zen ancestors radiated?
My prayer is that this text will be like the neighing of horses calling to you, noble sovereign, about the possibility of thoroughly awakening and continuing the bright life of Buddha.
