Mike Oliver's Journal – December 2012 Archive (3)

I've been researching the recent upsurge in armed robberies in Downtown Sacramento over the past two weekends. I wanted to share what I've learned with everyone associated with our dojo.

There are some common themes in the nature of the robbery and in the chosen victims. Most, but not all, of the robberies are targeting female…

I first heard this story from Kyoshi Joslin. It is a very common Zen story and it is often told in class. There is value in emptying our cup, both in the dojo and out.

A Cup of Tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could…