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Andrew Tootell's OzZen PodcastAuthor: Andrew Tootell
From Australian Zen teacher Dr Andrew Tootell. Language: en Genres: Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Our Core Practices Part Three: The Three Treasures
Saturday, 22 November, 2025
Zen practice is premised on the identity of the Absolute and the Relative. They are both the same and different. Which is why in Zen we say, “not one, not two”! The Absolute is expressed in our Practice Principles as being just this moment – and the identity of the Absolute with the Relative is expressed as Compassion’s Way. If we see that our home is just this moment, then there is nothing else we need to depend on – no matter what happens in our life we will always be at one with our home. If only it was so easy! For most of us, we need to attend to some intermediary practices, in order to cultivate our capacity to feel at home in this moment, just as it is. Every time we practice zazen, we are cultivating our capacity to be at home in this moment. However, we need to do more than that. We need to express our understanding and share our response to just this moment, especially when this moment is a shared relationship with others – an intersubjective moment. How do we practice our insight into nonseparation in our relationships with others? In other words, what is the optimal response to the situation we find ourselves in, both to ourselves and others? After realising our true nature, how do we bring all beings into mutual harmony? This is the practice of the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
