Zenshin Florence Caplow: SESSHIN: On Shantideva’s the Perfection of Meditation (Part 4)

In this dharma talk, Zenshin Florence Caplow highlights the value and depth found with lay practice.  She points to Shantideva’s sparse attention given to meditation in his chapter, The Perfection of Meditation, and asks us to inquire, what has Shantideva chosen to speak about? How does it speak to us about our meditation practice? Also, Zenshin addresses Shantideva’s charnel ground practice of not only the loathsomeness of the body but specifically the loathsomeness of women. It is this sort of discourse that still perpetuates the marginalization of women practitioners. She quotes fascicles from the 13th century Soto Zen Patriarch Eihei Dogen on his view that regardless of gender, all can equally attain awakening. She ends by reminding us that we ‘…are all members of the world,’ and to inquire, ‘what is so special about me that I strive for my happiness and not of others? Can we see ourselves as members of the world?’ This SESSHIN is part of the Spring Practice Period 2021. For Program/Series description and to access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: Spring Practice Period 2021: The Way of the Bodhisattva