Cold Mountain Zen Center





The tradition of Zen points, in a very direct and simple way, to the clinging aspects of the mind which cause suffering in our lives. The practice of Zen enables us to let go of this conditioning -- of ideas, opinions, judgements -- so we can perceive more clearly the present. As we learn to live our lives in this simple way, it allows us to respond to people and situations with compassion. The Human Route Coming empty-handed, going empty-handed -- that is human. When you are born, where do you come from? When you die, where do you go? Life is like a floating cloud which appears. Death is like a floating cloud which disappears. The floating cloud itself originally does not exist. Life and death, coming and going, are also like that. But there is one thing which always remains clear. It is pure and clear, not depending on life and death. Then what is the one pure and clear thing?


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