About this blog

Several years ago Roshi Bernie Glassman met Jeff Bridges and thus began a long-term friendship. Bernie said to Jeff, "You know, a lot of folks consider the Dude a Zen Master." Jeff replied, "What are you talking about … Zen?" Bernie said that quite a few people had approached him wanting to chat about the Dude's Zen wisdom. Jeff said that he had never heard of that.

Here is a blog to let that conversation go on with those interested in the Dude. Bernie has started a koan study using the Big Lebowski as source material and featuring Koans by the Coens. These koans will be posted on this blog with comments by Bernie and the Dude Himself.

*Koryu Roshi is quoted frequently in this blog. Roshi Bernie calls him his “heart teacher.”  Koryu Roshi approved Bernie's presentation of his first koan and also for his subsequent first one hundred koans. He finished his koan study (around 1000 koans) with his root teacher, Maezumi Roshi.

May 05, 2008

Do You Mind?

Ryudo’s Social Action Koan:   During a weekly clinical case conference on the children’s psychiatric unit, Tammy, a psychotherapist, remarked that Kenyatta’s mental illness prevented him from making progress in the program. Sam, a behavioral psychologist, replied, “Kenyatta’s problem is not in his mind, it arises as a result of the interaction between the staff and him. “His” behavior IS the interaction between himself and the staff … beyond that we can say nothing.”

Traditional Case Koan from The Blue Cliff Record, Case 37, Banzan's "Not One Thing in the Three Worlds":
Banzan, giving instruction, said, "In the Three Worlds, there is not one thing. Where should one seek the mind?"

Big Lebwoski Commentary:   The Dude: “Walter--what f*ck are you thinking man?”

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Poverty

Lebowski Koan:   "Nothing is f*cked here, Dude".

Mark's Life Koan:   What Does it Mean to be poor?

Traditional Case Koan from The Gateless Gate, Case 10, "Poor Seizei":
A monk named Seizei said to Sozan, "I am alone and poor. I beg my teacher to bestow upon me the alms of salvation." Sozan said, "Acarya Seizei!" "Yes, Sir?" replied Seizei. Sozan said, "Someone has drunk three bowls of the wine of Haku of Seigen, but says that he has not yet even moistened his lips."

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April 23, 2008

Name Calling

Ryudo’s Social Action Koan:   At an all staff meeting, the topic of how to refer to the people served by the program became a hot issue amongst the staff as they were sensitive to the pernicious effects of labeling and how folks in the program might easily be stigmatized. Some staff thought they should be called “clients.” Other staff felt that calling people in the program “clients” was demeaning and wanted them to be called “program participants.” Some of the nursing staff didn’t understand why they couldn’t be called “patients" as that was basically what they were to them. The Program Director remarked, “If you were in this program, what would you want to be called?

Traditional Case Koan from The Gateless Gate, Case 43, Shuzan's bamboo spatula:
Master Shuzan held out his bamboo spatula and asked, "If you call this a bamboo spatula, you give umbrage (to the principle of Zen). If you call this no bamboo spatula, you violate the law (of common-sense). What will all of you call this?"

Big Lebowski Commentary:
Blond Treehorn Thug: (holding up a bowling ball) “What the f*ck is this?”
The Dude: “Obviously you're not a golfer.”

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Identity With Others

Lebowski Koan:   "We've been frantically trying to reach you, Dude".

Mark's Life Koan:   What is it to Identify with Others?

Traditional Case Koan from the Book of Equanimity, Case 72, “Chuyu’s Monkey”:
Kyozan asked Chuyu, "What does buddha-nature mean?"
Chuyu said, "I will explain it for you by allegory. Suppose there is a room with six windows. Inside there is a monkey. Outside, someone shouts, 'Monkey! monkey!' It immediately responds. If someone calls, 'Monkey!' through any of the windows, it responds just the same. It is just like that."
Kyozan said, "How about when the monkey is asleep?"
Chuyu descended from his Zen seat, grasped Kyozan and said, "O monkey, monkey, there you are!"

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April 16, 2008

Talk, Talk, Talk, When Do We Eat?

Ryudo's Social Action Koan:   Roshi Bernie took a number of Zen students on a bearing witness street retreat in Manhattan. Daigu, a Zen Peacemaker priest, took some money out of his pocket one morning and bought a copy of the New York Times and started to read it. Roshi Bernie confronted Daigu about purchasing the Times, as no one was supposed to bring money on the streets. Daigu felt embarrassed for breaking the rules of the street retreat and threw the newspaper away. Later that week, Daigu got up enough nerve to panhandle enough money to buy another edition of the Times. What did Daigu realize?

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Beneficial Action

Lebowski Koan:   “Her life was in your hands! This was our concern, Dude.”

Mark's Life Koan:   What is Beneficial Action?

Traditional Case Koan from The Book of Equanimity, Case 86, “Linji’s Enlightenment”:
Rinzai asked Obaku, "What is the great meaning of the Buddha-Dharma?"
Obaku hit him. This happened three times. Rinzai then took his leave and went
to see Daigu.
Daigu asked, "Where have you come from?"
Rinzai said, "From Obaku."
Daigu said, "What did Obaku have to say?"
Rinzai said, "I asked him three times, 'What is the great meaning of the Buddha-Dharma?' and I got his stick three times. I don't know if I was in error or not."
Daigu said, "Obaku was overly gentle like an old grandmother; he completely exhausted himself for your sake. Yet you come here and ask if you were in error or not!" With these words, Rinzai came to great enlightenment.

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April 03, 2008

When the Wheels Fall Off

Ryudo’s Social Action Koan:   Nadine is the finance director of a large behavioral health hospital. She takes her job very seriously and is always concerned about doing the right thing. As a result, she spends a lot of time working very hard to be seen as conscientious while she goes about her day judging her performance and the performance of others. Then one day, her brother who had been engaged in a life long struggle with behavioral health issues, including drug and alcohol abuse, took his own life. The death of Nadine’s brother affected her deeply and caused her to begin to question the meaning of her own life. In what direction is your life taking you?

Traditional Case Koan from The Gateless Gate, Case 8, Keichu’s Wheel:   
Gettan said to a monk, "Keichu made one hundred carts. If we took off the wheels and removed the axle, what would then be obvious?

Big Lebowski Commentary:   The Dude: “Well they finally did it. They killed my f*cking … car.”

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Kind Speech

Lebowski Koan:   “Come on, you’re being very un-Dude.”

Mark's Life Koan:   How Do I Speak With Kindness?

Traditional Case Koan from The Book of Equanimity, Case 93, “Luzu’s Not Understanding”:
Luzu asked Nansen, "'People do not recognize the Mani-jewel. I picked it up myself in the Tathagata treasury. What is this treasury?"
Nansen said, "Old Master O exchanges questions and answers with you. That's it."
Luzu said, "How about when there is no exchange of questions and answers?"
Nansen said, "That's also the treasury."
Luzu said, "What is the jewel?'
Nansen said, "Reverend Shiso!"
Luzu said, "Yes!"
Nansen said, "Get out. You don't understand my words."

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March 31, 2008

New Liturgy Comes to Light

Lebowski Koan:   Dude: Look, I’ve got certain information, certain things have come to light, and uh, has it ever occurred to you, man, that given the nature of all this new shit, that, uh…
Lebowski: What in God’s holy name are you blathering about?
Dude: I’ll tell you what I’m blathering about! I got information — New shit has come to light! …

A Harvard Student Asks:   Where do you get the authority to change traditional liturgy?

Traditional Case Koan from the Gateless Gate, Case 30: This Very Mind is Buddha
Ta-mei once asked Ma-tsu, “What is Buddha?”
Ma-tsu answered: “This very mind is Buddha”
Years later, Ma-tsu sent a monk to see how Ta-mei was doing.
Ta-mei asked the monk:
“So what is Master Ma-tsu saying these days?”
“He’s saying ‘Not mind, not Buddha’.”
Ta-mei considered: “Great Master Ma is confusing people. I still say this very mind is Buddha.”
Hearing of this, Ma-tsu, was delighted.

KoOn's Interpretation:
You’re under water and swimming for the surface
You anticipate surfacing, and start exhaling…
But the surface is still three feet away.
How does that chant go?

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The Road Home

Ryudo’s Social Action Koan:   Katrina has been in her residential placement for the last eight months and has been working hard to get her parents to take her back home. Every day she asks staff if they will spend time role-playing her treatment skills with her so she will be considered for discharge home. One day, one of the staff asked Katrina why she is so adamant about role-playing all the time. Katrina responded by saying, “So you and the other staff will see me as a good kid and persuade my parents and my caseworker to let me go home.”
What would you say to Katrina?

Master Dogen’s 300 Koan Shobogenzo – Case 8: Nanyue Polishes a Tile:   Zen Master Mazu Dayoyi was an attendant to Nanyue and personally received the mind-seal from him exceeding his peers. Before that, he lived in Kaiyuan Monastery and did zazen all day long. Knowing that Mazu was a Dharma vessel, Nanyue went to him and asked, “Great monastic, what do you intend by doing zazen.” Mazu said, “I am intending to be a Buddha.” Nanyue picked up a brick and started polishing it. Mazu said, “What are you doing?” Nanyue said, “I am trying to make a mirror.” Mazu said, “How can you make a mirror by polishing a brick?” Nanyue said, “How can you become a Buddha by doing zazen?

Big Lebowski Commentary:   The Dude: “I could be just sitting at home with pee stains on my rug.”

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March 30, 2008

Receiving 2

Lebowski Koan:   “I’m Perfectly Calm, Dude. Calmer Than You Are”

Mark's Life Koan:   How Should I Receive Something I Don’t Like?

Traditional Case Koan from The Gateless Gate, Case 13, Tokusan Carries His Bowls:
One day Tokusan came down to the dining room, carrying his bowls. Seppo the cook called out to him, "Old Master, where are you going with your bowls when the bell has not rung and the drum has not sounded?" Tokusan turned at once and went back to his own room. Seppo told this occurrence to Ganto, who remarked: "Great master though he is, Tokusan has not yet grasped the last word of Zen". Hearing of this, Tokusan sent his attendant to summon Ganto, and said to him, "Do you not approve of me?" Ganto leaned over and whispered his reply to him. Tokusan said nothing further. The next day, in his teisho, Tokusan was different from usual. Ganto, going towards the front of the hall, clapping his hands and laughing, said, "What a happy thing! The old man has now grasped the last word of Zen. From now on nobody will be able to get the better of him!"

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March 19, 2008

Receiving 1

Lebowski Koan:   Malibu Cop: “Do I Make Myself Clear?"
The Dude: "Sorry, I Wasn’t Listening”.

Mark's Life Koan:   How Should I Receive?

Traditional Case Koan from The Gateless Gate, Case 6 - Buddha Holds Up A Flower:   'Once upon a time when Shakyamuni Buddha was in Grdhrakuta mountain, he twirled a flower in his finger and held it before his congregation. Everyone was silent. Only Mahakashapa wholeheartedly smiled. Buddha said, "I have the eye of the true teaching, the heart of Nirvana, the formless form, the mysterious gate of Dharma. Beyond the words and beyond all teachings to be transmitted, I now pass this on to Mahakashapa."

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From Here to Here

Ryudo’s Social Action Koan:   Denise started a statewide agency that provided foster care and intensive family-based services to children and families. She began the agency in the living room of a rented house and seven years later had built it into a highly regarded and innovative human service agency. When it was time to move on, she was asked to name the next Executive Director. She recommended Bill, who, along with his wife Sharon, were the first foster parents trained by Denise. He then became one of the first family-based service workers in the agency. He then became a foster parent trainer and consultant for the agency. Finally, Bill was promoted to the position of Coordinator of the Family-Based Service program. What did Denise transmit to Bill?

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March 13, 2008

Giving 5

Lebowski Koan:   “What Do You Need That For, Dude?”

Mark's Life Koan:   What Does it Really Mean to Give Freely?

From 101 Zen Stories:   Whenever he met a Zen devotee Hotei would extend his hand and say: "Give me one penny."
And if anyone asked him to return to a temple to teach, again he would reply: "Give me one penny."

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Selling Water by the River

Ryudo’s Social Action Koan:   Tommy who had been placed out of his home and had not lived with his family for over five years ran away from the group home where he was living and got drunk. The cops picked him up and brought him back to his group home where Jeff, his houseparent, started to counsel him about drinking and running away. Tommy told Jeff that he was going to continue to drink and run away until he got kicked out of the program, forcing his family to take him back home. Jeff, who knew Tommy’s parents didn’t want him back home, asked him, “So you think that you can force your parents to love you enough to take you back home by acting this way?”

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March 12, 2008

Practice Without Believing

Lebowski Koan:   The Stranger: Now, Dude, that’s a name no-one would self-apply where I come from. But then there was a lot about the Dude that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived likewise. But then again, maybe that’s why I found the place s’durned innarestin’.

A Harvard student asks:   Do you think one can practice a religion fully without completely believing in all of its teachings? For example, Buddhism without reincarnation?

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March 09, 2008

Giving 4

Lebowski Koan:   “What Do You Need That For, Dude?”

Mark's Life Koan:   What Does it Really Mean to Give Freely?

From 101 Zen Stories:   Hotei lived in the T'ang dynasty. He had no desire to call himself a Zen master or to gather many disciples about him. Whenever he met a Zen devotee he would extend his hand and say: "Give me one penny." And if anyone asked him to return to a temple to teach, again he would reply: "Give me one penny."

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March 04, 2008

Giving 3

Lebowski Koan:   “This is a Family Restaurant”

Mark's Life Koan:   What does it really mean to give freely?

From 101 Zen Stories:   Hotei lived in the T'ang dynasty. He had no desire to call himself a Zen master or to gather many disciples about him. Instead he walked the streets with a big sack into which he would put gifts of candy, fruit, or doughnuts. These he would give to children who gathered around him to play. He established a kindergarten of the streets.

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March 03, 2008

Giving 2

Lebowski Koan:   “Am I wrong?" "You’re not wrong, You’re just an a**hole!”

Mark's Life Koan:   What does it really mean to give freely?

Traditional case koan from the Gateless Gate, Case 11: Joshu Examines the Hermit
Joshu went to visited a hermit and asked him: 'What is it?"
The monk raised his fist.
Joshu replied: "Ships cannot remain where the water is too shallow." And he left.
A few days later Joshu went again to visit the monk and asked the same question.
The monk answered the same way.
Joshu said: "Well given, well taken, well killed, well saved." And he bowed to the monk.

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March 01, 2008

Giving 1

Lebowski Phrase:   “Put the Piece Away, Walter”.

Mark's Life Koan:   What Does it Mean to Give?

Traditional case koan from the Gateless Gate, Case 41: Bodhidharma Puts the Mind to Rest
Bodhidharma sat facing the wall.
The Second Patriarch of Chinese C'han (Zen), Eka, stood long in the thick snow.
Finally, he severed his own arm and presented it to Bodhidharma.
He said, "My mind is not at rest. Please pacify it for me!"
The First Patriarch replied, "Bring me your mind and I will calm it!"
The Second Patriarch said, "I have searched for it everywhere, but I cannot find it!"
Bodhidharma replied, "There, I have put your mind at rest for you!"

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