2022-04-12 Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha (Richard von Sturmer)

How Zen masters approach death and how their dying can act as their final teaching. Shortly before his death, Master Mazu (Ma) and his attendant had this famous exchange, recorded in the Blue Cliff Record:

Blue Cliff Record, Case 3

Great Master Ma was unwell. The temple superintendent asked him, “Teacher, how has your venerable health been in recent days?” The Great Master said, “Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha.”

In this Dharma talk given at the Auckland Zen Centre, Richard von Sturmer explores this exchange and what we can learn from it.

Automated transcript

https://otter.ai/u/dLq33lJrz09DGO_OCI6BP4KCCWc