Recent Titles from MindOfJoe

If you're only following here, you're missing out. Here are the most recent posts from the MindOfJoe Blog:

• Victory's Arch
• Sunset with my Son
• When You Think You Know
• Walking the Dog
• A Horse with No Name

All previous Sword Mountain posts have been replicated there.

Know where the sun will set and where the sun will rise.

When You Think You Know

KIAI!!!
Return to your Center
Just Breathe
Only This
Just Breathe

 

Then Remember
Kiai is rarely “Kiai!”
but it is the Word Itself
気合

[Originally published as "When You Think You Know" on MindOfJoe's Blog. See the sidebar for details regarding future posts.]

Walking the Dog

"I think it’s the first koan in the Mumonkan, the story of Joshu’s Dog. The student asks the teacher, “Does the dog have Buddha nature?” Master Joshu replies, “Mu!” … or, “Muuuuu….”, or whatever ~ I don’t know ~ I wasn’t there. Still, maybe a more interesting question would have been, “Would a dog be aware of its own Buddha nature if it had it?” Who knows? I’ve heard dogs know how to be dogs ~ they know their job; it’s humans who get confused. Dogs make great zen masters ~ teach us a lot about ourselves. Now as for folks who bring cats into their house instead? :-p Hopefully your house is back in order soon enough."

From some late night correspondence regarding a skunk attack. How would your dog reply?

[Originally posted as "Walking the Dog" at MindOfJoe's Blog. Check notes in the sidebar for additional information regarding where new posts are appearing.]