Plum Blossom Zendo
A Pittsburgh Zen Meditation Center
5228 Beeler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.687.7128

Plum Blossom Zendo, a Zen meditation center in Pittsburgh formed in 2005, is in the Soto-Rinzai lineage of Zen Master Taizan Maezumi Roshi and the White Plum Asanga.  Our founder and resident teacher, Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels, is dharma successor to Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy in this Zen lineage as is Sensei Gregory Hosho Abels, the other resident Zen teacher at Still Mind Zendo in New York.  Plum Blossom Zendo is an affiliate of Still Mind Zendo.  Local experienced and new Zen practitioners are welcome, as are visitors to Pittsburgh who practice Zen.

Cover Photo copywrited by Andrew Gray – http://www.japanwindow.com

When the old plum tree suddenly opens,

the world of blossoming flowers arises.

At the moment when the world of blossoming flowers arises,

spring arrives.

- Dogen, Japenese Soto Zen Master

The true mind of every sentient being itself teaches and leads each sentient being.  The is the vow of the Buddha.

COMMENTARY ON “THE AWAKENING OF FAITH”

You will never know the world aright till the Sea floweth in your Veins, till you are Clothed with the Heavens, and Crowned with the Stars; And perceive yourself to be the Sole Heir of the Whole World; And more then so, because Men are in it who are every one Sole Heirs, as well as you.  Till you are intimately Acquainted with that Shady Nothing out of which this World was made; Till your spirit filleth the whole World and the Stars are your Jewels; Till you love Men so as to Desire their Happiness with a thirst equal to the zeal of your own.

THOMAS TRAHERNE

In this triple world,
all is my domain;
the living beings in it
are all my children.

THE LOTUS STRA

One day Chao-chou, when he was practicing Zen in the monastery under his master, Nan-sen, shut the kitchen door and stoked the fire until the room filled with billows of smoke.
     “Fire! Fire!” Chao-chou shouted.  “Put it out!”
     When Nansen and all the monks hurried to the kitchen to help put out the fire, Chao-chou refused to open the door.  Instead he said: “If anyone can give me one word that will turn my delusion into enlightenment, I will open the door.”
     All the monks were speechless, except for Nan-sen, who quietly handed Chao-chou a key through the kitchen window.  With that key Chao-chou opened the door.

ZEN STORY

When cold, be a cold buddha.  When hot, be a hot buddha.

DOGEN

Just keep clear mind, go straight ahead, try, try, try for ten thousand years.

SOEN SA NIM

One morning Suzuki Roshi gave a brief talk to the people sitting in zazen:  “Each of you is perfect the way you are…and you can use a little improvement.

SUZUKI ZEN

One day a student of the great Master Nasrudin passes by his house and finds him on his knees rummaging in the grass.  “What are you doing sir?”
     “I’m looking for my key.”
     “But, sir didn’t you lose it in your house?”
     “Yes,” says Nasrudin, “but there’s more light out here.”

SUFI TALE

The raindrops patter on the basho leaf, but these are not tears of grief; this is only the anguish of him who is listening to them.

ZEN SAYING

Shaggy hair past the ears,
A worn-out robe resembling white clouds and dark smoke.
Half drunk, half sober, I return home.
Children all around, guiding me along the way.

RYOKAN