Dharma Bytes - Silent Thunder Order

Thoughts From Our Abbot: Sensei Michael Elliston

Dharma Bytes blog posts are essays written by the Silent Thunder Order’s guiding teacher; Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston, Roshi. These posts are updated regularly and include a wide range of topics related to Zen Buddhism, politics, and society. For blog posts written by other Silent Thunder Order disciples and priests check out Dharma Bits: Community Blog.

I Believe

March 1, 2008

March 2008 My dad was, among other things, a musician. He played piano and vibes […]

Quitting Zen

February 1, 2008

February 2008 Nobody likes a quitter, and nobody wants to be seen as a quitter. […]

The Perfect Gift

January 1, 2008

January 2008 It seems our lives have taken on a different kind of twist Now […]

Giving Thanks

December 1, 2007

(Dec 2007) We just celebrated our Founder’s Birthday (Sensei would have turned 95), and the […]

An Introduction to Soto Zen Buddhism by Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka, Roshi

October 22, 1964

To answer the question, “What Is Zen?” I might say Zen can be compared to an arctic iceberg, floating in the northern seas. To the eye, only the sharp peak is visible while its greatest part lies concealed by the cold water.