A short talk on a line from Sandōkai, a short poem written by Sekito Kisen (700-790), a Chinese Zen ancestor.I see that I’ve talked about this part of the scripture before, back in podcast episode 32. I think it’s worth revisiting this subjec

67: Thoughts on training with others

Jul 10th, 2022

Walking on the reserve, after some time away on retreat. Contains geese.

Preparing for a trip up North

Jun 11th, 2022

I’m back on the ridge walk today. I’m getting ready for a trip up to Northumberland, to the monastery.

Preparing for a trip up North

Jun 11th, 2022

I’m on the ridge walk again. I’m trying to get my fitness back ready for a trip up to Throssel. This is just a quick update.

65: Still here

Feb 11th, 2022

Just a quick message. I’m still here, and I’ll be continuing the podcasts soon.

64: Home

Oct 10th, 2021

Back home after a retreat.

63: Unbreakable

Jun 23rd, 2021

Birdsong, and the constancy of It.

62: Moving, changing

May 31st, 2021

Back on the ridge walk, feeling gratitude and potential.

61: Choice and getting punched in the face

Mar 31st, 2021

Thoughts after listening to a talk by Brad Warner, called The Zen Butterfly Effect

60: Just getting on with it

Mar 25th, 2021

Thoughts good habits and simplicity. Contains crows.

59: Any Questions?

Mar 23rd, 2021

Message me on Twitter if you have any questions or thoughts. I’m @jwelby.

58: Everything is exactly what it is, all the time.

Mar 2nd, 2021

Back at the lake, and thinking about just being.

57: Always first steps

Jan 21st, 2021

My first walk for a while. This is about keeping things simple.

56: Don’t set up your own standards

Jan 9th, 2021

Thoughts on not rushing to try to correct everything, and how we should trust ourselves.

55: Mum

Dec 26th, 2020

My mother died of cancer just before Christmas. Here a few thoughts about her passing.

54: On greed

Nov 28th, 2020

Back at the lake, talking about greed, including spiritual greed.The podcast I mention is by Brad Warner - Can you be just a little bit greedy?The quotation I give as “Now you have, so guard well” is actually “Preserve well for you now ha

53: Original Buddha Mind

Nov 21st, 2020

Back on the Ridge walk. Today I talk a little bit about a chapter from the Shobogenzo called Kobusshin - The original, unchanging Buddha-mind.

52: Staying centred

Nov 4th, 2020

I’m still here. An experiment in recording at home. I’ll be getting back into themed podcasts soon. Stay well.I made a mistake in the podcast: Rev. Master Mugō’s blog is at jademountains.net.

51: Let go, again

Oct 13th, 2020

Once again the necessity of letting go in meditation is clear.

50: Time

Oct 2nd, 2020

Thoughts on time, meditation and the self.I would strongly suggest reading “Uji”, a chapter of Dogen’s Shobogenzo.www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachi…I would also suggest listening to Rev. Master Daishin Morgan’s talk: Time and existence are t

49: There is not a place where Kanzeon does not go

Sep 21st, 2020

A brief podcast from Trafalgar Square. I talk about how compassion is to be found everywhere and in all things.

48: Stepping back

Sep 13th, 2020

How meditation lets us see how we set up our own contexts, and allows us to let them go.

47: The possibility of nothing

Sep 6th, 2020

How not doing is just fine.

46: Meaning

Aug 31st, 2020

How meditation allows us to let go of undigested assumptions and find peace of mind and deep meaning.

45: Not too tight, not too slack

Aug 23rd, 2020

Keeping effort at the right level.I don’t mention it in the podcast, but the title is a reference to a piece of teaching the Buddha gave to a monk who used to be a musician before he was ordained. The monk was trying too hard in his practic