AUDIO TALKS
Allan Marett discusses the Buddha's awakening and relates it to an Australian Aboriginal song about Morning Star from the Goyulan song series from North and Central Arnhem Land.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett, on Day 1 of the 2017 Rohatsu sesshin, 9 December 2017
"If there is even a bit of difference, it is the remote distance between heaven and earth." This is a famous Zen saying that has been used many times by the masters of the past and present, but what does it mean? Difference between what and what? Allan Marett explores a famous exchange between Fayan and his pilgrimage companion Xiushan that focuses on this phrase, from the Book of Serenity, Case 17 - 'Fayan's bit of difference'.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett on Day 5 of his Transmission sesshin, 24 July 2018.
Not knowing is central to Zen practice. When Fayan and his companions were on pilgrimage, they ran into a snowstorm and took shelter at the temple of Dizang. Dizang asked him why he was wandering around on pilgrimage (a question that pilgrims frequently encounter) and Fayan replied, "I don't know." This story is from the Book of Serenity, Case 20, Dizang's Most Intimate. Allan Marett explores not knowing, intimacy and how the spirit of pilgrimage can enhance our practice.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett on Day 4 of his Transmission sesshin, 23 July 2018
TALKS ON THE BOOK OF SERENITY (Click on titles of talks to listen)
Here is the Buddha, mounting the rostrum to teach the assembly, and yet he says nothing at all. Here is Manjusri, the Wisdom bodhisattva, who is committed to saving or liberating all beings, seeking to help out those who don’t grasp the significance of the Buddha’s silent presentation. In this, the first of a series of dharma talks on The Book of Serenity, Allan Marett discusses Case 1, The Buddha Ascends the Rostrum.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett Rōshi on Day 1 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn Sesshin, 23 April 2021.
Today’s case is about the importance of transmitting the dharma correctly, even if that might pose grave dangers, particularly when your interlocutor is someone as powerful, and possibly ruthless, as a medieval Chinese Emperor.In this day and age, the story of Bodhidharma’s steadfast and brave commitment to the faithful transmission of the true dharma, is as important as it has been at any other point in history.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett Rōshi on Day 2 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn Sesshin, 24 April 2021
In response to an Indian King’s question about why he did not recite sutras before the meal as expected, the great sage Prajnātārā, who was the teacher of Bodhidharma, explains how he steers a course between objectivity and subjectivity, thereby reciting millions of millions of sutras.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett Rōshi on Day 3 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn Sesshin, 25 April 2021
In Case 4 of The Book of Serenity we once again encounter the Buddha, here out walking with his disciples. The Buddha then points with his hand to the ground and say, "Here would be a good place to erect a temple." Indra, the King of the Gods, then takes blade of grass, inserts it in the ground, and says, "The temple is erected." That single blade of grass is the complete temple, or to put it another way, it is the entire universe.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett Rōshi on Day 4 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn Sesshin, 26 April 2021
Case 5 of The Book of Serenity is very short. A monk asked Qingyuan, “What is the essence of Buddhism?” Qingyuan said, “What is the price of rice in Luling?” Now, you might think that responding to a question about the essential truth of Buddhism with such an everyday matter as a question the price of rice in a local market town is rather strange. But here it is—the essence of Buddhism: “What is the price of rice in Luling?”
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett Rōshi on Day 1 of the Guanyin Sangha’s Winter Sesshin, 2 July 2021.
Case 6 of The Book of Serenity records a little drama that was put on by three great Chinese Zen Masters— Mazu, Zhizang and Baizhang. We see three great Zen teachers in action, working together to bring an unnamed monk to realization. We are invited to admire their skill and the particular flavor of their teaching. Sometimes, as was the case with the Buddha’s presentation in Case 1 of The Book of Serenity, the dharma is transmitted by silence; in today’s case, it is the skilful use of words that does the trick.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Marett Rōshi on Day 3 of the Guanyin Sangha’s Winter Sesshin, 4 July 2021.
The monks had become restless because their master, Yaoshan, had not given a dharma talk for a long time. The Head Monk called the sangha together, Yaoshan ascended the rostrum, sat there for some time, and then descended. The Head Monk complained, "You consented to give a sermon. Why didn’t you say anything?" Yaoshan said, "For sutras there are sutra teachers, for sastras there are sastra teachers. Why do you find this old monk’s way strange?"
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi on Day 1 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Spring Intensive, 6 November 2021
Case 8 of The Book of Serenity presents a shortened version of the story that occurs as Case 2 of The Gateless Barrier, namely Baizhang’s Fox. When Dōgen Zenji tells us, “In learning to practice the Buddha-Dharma [that is in learning how to carry realization into the world], the first priority is to clarify cause and effect’ he is echoing his great grandfather in the dharma, Tiantong Hongzhi (the compiler of the Book of Serenity).
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi on Day 2 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Spring Intensive, 7 November 2021
The monks of the eastern and western halls at Nanquan’s temple were arguing over a cat. Seeing this, Nanquan picked up the cat and said, "If someone can say a true Zen Word I will not kill it." Since the assembled monks could not say anything, Nanquan cut the cat in two. Later Nanquan told Zhaozhou about this. Zhaozhou placed his sandals on his head, and walked out. This famous and somewhat shocking story reveals the sword that takes life, and the sword that gives life. But how many swords is that?
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi on Day 1 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn sesshin, 15 April 2022.
Case 10 of The Book of Serenity, which tells the story of Zhaozhou’s examination of the Old Woman of Taishan, also occurs as Case 31 of The Gateless Barrier. The focus in The Book of Serenity is very much upon Zhaozhou’s skill and discernment as a teacher.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi on Day 2 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn sesshin, 16 April 2022
Yunmen’s ‘Two Sicknesses’ are in fact four sicknesses. Two that we experience before awakening and two that we experience after awakening. This talk focuses not just on Yunmen’s words, but also the words of Tiantong Hongzhi, whose verse to this case is both enlightening and beautiful.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi on Day 3 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn sesshin, 17 April 2022
Xiushan was one of Fayan’s companions, when their pilgrimage brought them to the temple of Luohan Guichen, who was commonly known as ‘Dizang’ (Jizō in Japanese'). In what was probably his first interview, Xiushan makes the mistake of thinking that this rural priest was something of a country bumpkin, and as a result, he comes a bit of a cropper.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi on Day 5 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Autumn sesshin, 19 April 2022
In Case 13 of The Book of Serenity Linji Yuxuan is on the point of dying. In one final interview he tests his dharma successor, Sansheng Huiran, who comes through with flying colours. This case not only examines the great matter of birth and death, but also the matter of transmission from one great master to another.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi on Day 2 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Winter sesshin, 9 July 2022
In Case 14 of The Book of Serenity we see how a great master such as Deshan Xuanjian handles a series of challenges thrown at him by his attendant, Huo. Here Deshan, known as as a firebrand in his youth shows nothing but kindness and restraint in the face of disrespect and arrogance.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi on Day 4 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Winter sesshin,11 July 2022
In Case 15 of The Book of Serenity Yangshan responds to a question from his teacher, Guishan, by thrusting his hoe into the ground and standing bold upright. What is he presenting? He then puts his hoe onto his shoulder and head off to help his fellow monks cut reeds for thatch.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi on Day 4 of the Adelaide Zen Group’s Rohatsu sesshin, 11 December 2023
In Case 16 of The Book of Serenity we encounter three disciples of the great Zen master, Mazu Daoyi (709–788): Zhangjing Huaiyun, Nanquan Puyi and Magu Baoche. Magu first circles the Zen seat of Zhangjing, shakes his bell staff and stands upright. Zhangjing responds with ‘right, right.’ He then makes the same presentation to Nanquan, who responds ‘not right, not right.’ Who is it that gets caught up in the matter of right and wrong, and who has the true dharma eye?
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Roshi at a one-day zazenkai, held by the Adelaide Zen Group on 20 July 2024
In Case 17 of The Book of Serenity Fanyan asks Xiushan, “‘If there is a bit of difference, it is the remote between heaven and earth.’ How do you realise that?” Difference between what and what? you might ask. The ensuing dialogue illustrates how two mature masters respond to one another, and underlines the importance of confidence.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi at an AZG online Rohatsu sesshin on Friday 13 December 2024
In Case 1 of The Gateless Barrier, a monk famously asks Zhaozhou whether a dog has Buddha Nature or Not. Zhaozhou replies “Mu” (literally, “does not”). When this case is revisited in Case 18 of The Book of Serenity, Zhaozhou gives not one, but two reponses, “Mu” (literally, “does not,” and “Yu” (literally, “does.”) In his Pointer, Wansong likens Zhaozhou to a gourd turning over and over in the water. What is the Old Buddha up to in this case?
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi at an AZG online Rohatsu sesshin on Sunday 15 December 2024
In Case 19 of The Book of Serenity, a monk asks Yunmen. “Not a single thought arises: is there any fault or not?” Yunmen said, “Mt. Sumeru.” In his verse to this case Hongzhi says, “Yunmen presents the Dharma is not stingy at all/If you can accept it, he gives it to you with both hands. Are we able to accept Yunmen’s fine gift?
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi at an AZG on-day zazenkai on Saturday 15 March 2025
In Case 20 of The Book of Serenity, Fayan is wandering around on pilgrimage when he meets the country priest Dizang in a snowstorm. When Dizang asks Fayan the purpose of his pilgimage, Fayan replies “I don’t know.” Dizang replies, “Not knowing is most intimate.” We ask, what is ‘not knowing’ and why is it ‘most intimate?”
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi at the AZG winter sesshin on Sunday 31 August 2025
Case 21 of The Book of Serenity is a dialogue between Yunyan and Daowu that points to the Oneness of Form and Emptiness. The case also includes comments from Xuansha and Yunmen (both descendants of Xuefeng) in which the matter of Form and Emptiness is given another twist.
This talk was given by Allan Kyōun Rōshi at the AZG winter sesshin on Monday1 September 2025