Kyogen Carlson

“There’s so much to learn and so much to know. It’s good to keep moving forward. And yet whatever we have is, in a very profound way, absolutely complete and always enough.”—Kyogen Carlson Kyogen Carlson (1948–2014) was a Soto Zen priest whose writings, teachings, and commitment to interfaith dialogue supported and inspired countless Buddhist, Christian, and other spiritual practitioners. Set to the rhythm of the seasons, You Are Still Here is the first published collection of Carlson’s dharma talks. It illuminates key elements of contemporary Zen practice, such as the experience of zazen meditation, the pitfalls and intimacies of the teacher-student relationship and of sangha life, the role of community in personal practice, and the importance of interfaith dialogue reaching across political lines. Carlson’s teachings also underscore his commitment to lay Buddhist practice and women’s lineages, both significant contributions to American Buddhism. The beautifully distilled talks have been carefully edited and introduced by Sallie Jiko Tisdale, a respected writer, teacher, and Dharma heir to Carlson. Her masterful presentation highlights the significance of these illuminating teachings, while preserving Carlson’s distinct style of authenticity, humor, and conviction on the Zen path.

Zen Teachings of Kyogen Carlson

You Are Still Here

Lex Hixon

Babaji Bob Kindler

Sumita Roy

OP Sharma

Father Abbot Joseph Homick

Professor Sivaramkrishna

Divine Reality is all-encompassing, ever-present, and all-pervasive — that is the testament of the enlightened beings throughout countless ages and seems to be the consensus of the writers featured in this issue of Nectar of Nondual Truth. And not only are the seemingly varied perspectives of philosophy brought together in such a profound and unilateral insight, the assumed divisions between man and man, man and woman, nation and nation, religion and religion, and even heaven and earth are also harmoniously conjoined therein. Further, the very concepts of transcendence and immanence, something beyond and something present, also get a thorough revamping in our minds, particularly if we imagine that they represent a contrasting dichotomy, when in truth they do not. As the Indian poet/sage, Ramaprasad, is wont to sing repeatedly: “Mother’s Reality escapes every mind that imagines sets of dualities to be real.” In the pages of this bold and well-intentioned journal, as well as in the hoary leaves comprising the revered scriptures of the world, the idea of Nonduality, Advaita, persists. Regardless, there are always and predominantly two things on the minds of living beings, whether they are awakened or unawakened: those are Reality and relativity. The unawakened either do not know about Reality, do not think of It, attempt to escape it in themselves, or remain antagonistic to It. If they accept it at all, in what the seers call the beginnings of spiritual awakening, there is still the considerable problem of overcoming procrastination, prevarication and compromise and swiftly approaching It. As for relativity, the world of name and form perceived via the five senses as being ultimately real, those unawakened to the Divine Verity mistake it to be the Reality, “bartering the infinite wealth at the center of their being for a world of mere colored glass,” as the poet sings. Thus, through lack of natural realization, and unconscious of the underlying presence of Brahman, they default to what the senses report and dictate, and remain satisfied — even through persistent suffering and obvious limitation — with relative existence and what it has to offer.

Truth, Transformation, and Transcendence

Nectar #13

Lama Surya Das

Yitzhak Buxbaum

Islam, Vedanta, Yoga, Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism — one finds all these and more represented in Nectar of Nondual Truth. And never mind that there are points of difference with regard to practice and approach. You will find a nearly unanimous agreement around the Essence. On the cover, in the scriptural quote for this issue, we find the rishis of ancient India referring to this nondual Reality in terms of “something hidden.” It is indicated by religious traditions as the Pearl of Great Price, the White Dove Ascending, the Bourne of Freedom from Fear, the Ultimate Quest and other expressions which indicate both the beauty of and the difficulty involved in finding this Treasure, and infer the huge amount of self-effort that will have to be undertaken to succeed in this most excellent endeavor. But purity, practice, patience and perseverance — what can stymie the aspiring soul who approaches Divine Reality with such resolve? If one wants to see patina exude from a copper penny, one places it in a damp atmosphere and watches for days, weeks, even months, until that green substance finally issues forth. What a huge amount of work and effort is involved in gaining a few drops sesame oil from hundreds of seeds! Reality is “hidden,” then. Nature is Its sporting-ground, the universe Its Cosmic Mind, thought-force is Its power to create, revealed scripture is Its revelation, and forms and objects are solid reminders of both Its power to create and Its transcendent and unlimited nature. Yet, all of these are reflections, are insentient material principles. The one Spirit, though It pervades them, is independent of them, and they all get their existence and their ability to shine with reflected light from That. It is Svarupa, to quote the ancients, Essential Being, and everything, everyone else, is Svarupavishranti — always resting in this one essential Being.

Extracting Essence

Nectar #10

John Forman

Our small but dedicated staff at Nectar of Nondual Truth is pleased to offer the Autumn issue of this contemporary journal of religious and philosophical teachings to all who value spirituality and its continued existence in this world. Each issue is filled with writings of substance created by deep and thoughtful minds steeped in the principles and practices of their chosen tradition. Such commitment, as rare as it is in present times, is the result of long-standing study, conscious action, inner compassion and deep-seated meditation. Wherever these kinds of qualities are made manifest, humanity is reminded of the many blessings being bestowed upon it continually. Nectar of Nondual Truth concentrates mainly on the nondual element of religion, philosophy, and spirituality, but maintains a close watch on all other perspectives as well. This is because true nondualism is never narrow and exclusive, but latitudinous and all-encompassing. The contents of these pages are a testament to that universal orientation. From the seriously sought after humility which Christianity enjoins upon its monastic communities, to the duality-dissolving, mind-unifying insight which radical nondual Buddhism epitomizes, the avid seeker of Truth perceives the One working among the many in order to reveal to them the One. If that revelation of homogenous unity gets expressed via the treasures of religious tradition, or instead happens to appear in the serendipitous setting of the spontaneous

The Sorrowless Space of Light

Nectar #17

Swami Aseshananda

Swami Brahmeshananda

Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Annapurna Sarada

DS Lokanath

Tabriz Parinda Lowe

Reyhan al-Jerrahi

Monica Miller

Swami Akhilananda

In this 2009 issue, and to greet the new year in the characteristic fashion of all those who wish to live a dharmic life dedicated to the manifestation of God on earth via the practice of purificatory disciplines, we include articles depicting the wisdom contained in the sacred traditions of Judaism, Jainism, Christianity, Sufism, Taoism, Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen buddhism, and Vedanta, all underscored by the crucial and foundational element of nondualism, or Advaita. We also invite all those who come in contact with Nectar of Nondual Truth to duly submit articles, writings, poems, or personal questions and experiences from any other faith or belief system so as to give an even more complete and fulfilling expression to this religiously and philosophically committed literary journal.

Harmonization of Religious Traditions

Nectar #24

Anam Thubten Rinpoche

Judaism, Jainism, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Vedanta, and Advaita Vedanta, are all represented in full in this issue of Nectar of Nondual Truth, and if we had the available pages and writers we would certainly include all the rest of the world’s religious traditions herein as well. For, The Religion of the coming age, and of all ages — recognized as such or not — is Universality, and its underlying essence is Nonduality (advaita). Different liquids may be pleasing to the palate, but only water really slakes our thirst. Similarly, religion brings solace to embodied souls, but only nonduality slakes the inner thirst of the soul yearning to be free. Odors of cooked food wafting on the air bring children running for their meal, but only eating it truly satisfies their hunger. Like this, the inward fragrance of religion attracts the soul to perform worship and meditate, but only merging with Divine Reality fulfills all their aims and ends. The holy water and sacred food of the soul, then, is Universality based in Nonduality. Universality is beyond interreligious harmony and outstrips eclecticism. It breathes free, grows, and expands in the rare and exalted atmosphere of the open mind of the sincere and dedicated aspirant. Like the headiness of breathless heights one feels on pilgrimage in the Himalayan mountains, or the inspiration felt by taking pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or the power present when going on Hajj to Mecca, just so Universality verily transports the human mind to lofty experiences of Consciousness felt nowhere else — not even in the life heavens or the causal realms!

Nectar #30: The Desire for Freedom

Kyogen Carlson

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