TREELEAF ZENDO PODCAST

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle poem number 9, called Changing Ranks. The texts says:  9. Changing Ranks Growing hair and horns, you enter town, Resembling a blue lotus flower blooming in the midst of fire. All afflictions become like rain and dew in the vast sea. All ignorance becomes like clouds and thunder on a mountain. You completely blow out the furnace below the cauldron of hell, Smashing to pieces a forest of swords and a mountain of daggers with a single shout. Even golden chains cannot hold you back at the entrance. Going into the realm of other beings, you transmigrate for a while. The talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai, on October 2nd, 2026. More information on treeleaf.org

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle poem number eight, called The Revolving Function. The short texts says:  8. The Revolving Function It is still dangerous even inside the castle of nirvana. Strangers come across each other without appointment. People call someone who provisionally puts on a dirty robe “a buddha.” But if someone wears precious clothes, what should you call him? In the middle of the night, the wooden man puts on shoes and leaves. At dawn, the stone woman puts on a hat and goes home. An ancient emerald pool, the moon in the empty sky. Screening and filtering over and over to catch the moon, for the first time you will really know. This talk was given during the Treeleaf Monthly Zazenkai. For more information, visit treeleaf.org

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle two more of the talks, the sixth and seventh, called The Song of Returning Home and The Song of Not Returning Home. The short texts says:    6. The Song of Returning Home Don’t be distracted by the King of Emptiness when you are still on the Way. You must drive your staff forward, moving on until you reach home. If you travel for a long time like clouds and water, don’t get attached to it. Even in the deep recesses of snowy mountains, don’t forget your mission. Ah! I regretted that in past days my face was like jade. And I lamented that at the time of my return my hair had turned white. Returning to my old home with dangling arms, there was no one who recognized me. Also, I had nothing to offer my parents.   7. The Song of Not Returning Home Having the intention of going to the source, of returning to the origin, is already a mistake. Essentially, there is nowhere to settle down, no place to call one’s home. The ancient path through the pines is covered with deep snow. The long range of mountain peaks is furthermore blocked by clouds. When host and guest are tranquil and serene, everything is incongruous. When lord and vassal are united, there is wrong in the midst of right. How will you sing the song of returning home? In bright moonlight, the dead tree is blooming in front of the hall.   The talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai, on August 7th, 2026. More information on treeleaf.org

We continue our series based on master Tong'an Changcha's 'Ten Talks of Unfathomable Depth', and this month we tackle the fifth of the talks, called Bukkyo, or Buddhist teachings. The short text says:  The Three Vehicles spoke golden words one after another. But the buddhas of the past, present, and future only declared the same thing. In the beginning, when they expounded the reality of skandhas and then complete emptiness, everyone grew attached to it. Later, when they negated both reality and emptiness, everyone discarded it again. The complete treasury of sutras in the Dragon Palace is meant to be prescriptions. Even the Buddha’s last teaching does not reach the unfathomable. If even one deluded thought arises in the world of true purity, This already means spending eight thousand years in the world of human beings. The talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly Zazenkai, on July 3rd, 2026. More information on treeleaf.org

This is part four of our examination of the ten unfathomable talks by master Tong'an Changcha, moving on to the one called The Transcendent within Dust and Dirt. The text says:   "That which is impure is impure by itself; that which is pure is pure by itself. Highest wisdom and delusion are likewise empty and even. Who could say that nobody can appreciate Bianhe’s jade? I say that the jewel of the black dragon shines everywhere. Only when the myriad dharmas disappear does the whole thing appear. The Three Vehicles split up and assumed only provisional names. Truly outstanding people have determination that knows no bounds. Do not try to go where the buddhas have already gone."    This talk was given during the Treeleaf monthly zazenkai, on June 6th, 2026   For more information, visit treeleaf.org