Zen Heaven and Hell

A Contemplative Anthology

Celestial Sutras

The Heart of Zen

Zen Heaven and Hell

Wheel of Life - Realms of Existence

Buddha Speaks

21st Century Zen Dhammapada

Tai Sheridan

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author. For more information, contact the author at tai@taisheridan.com.

ISBN: 979-8-9899002-2-0

eBook Edition

Tai Sheridan

1240 W Sims PMB 113

Port Townsend WA 98368

www.taisheridan.com

tai@taisheridan.com

Praise for Buddha in Blue Jeans

A single page gives such a gift that I take in my breath and am drawn to stop and take it in.

The simplest things are always the most precious. Tai Sheridan has shown this to be true.  

Tai Sheridan delivers quality books over and over.  This is one of them, enjoy. Short and sweet as ever.

Concise, accessible, remarkable. Seems like everything we need to know is found in these pages. 

All of Tai's books are straight to the point Zen at its best.

Wisdom stripped to its bare bones.

This is one of the most basic yet insightful books I have read on Buddhism. It is a good short read for anyone with a serious life-threatening illness.

Read This!! This will blow your socks off! Simple as that!

If there was a higher rating to grant this small taste of beauty and reality, I would grant it.

Mindfulness at its peak.

You can pick up any of his books, flip them open to any page, and find inspiration.

Heart-awakening. Written with simplicity and clarity.

This poetic meditation on death is a wonderful gem. 

I absolutely love this book and all of Tai Sheridan's writing.

Clear and kind, it calls me to simple things that make a big difference. 

This is a very accessible and immediately essential book, filled with prayers anyone can use.

Dedication

For wise teachers from all traditions

Contents

Introduction

Celestial Sutras

Introduction

The Lotus Sutra: The Bodhisattva Path

The Diamond Sutra: Lightening in an Empty Sky

The Heart Wisdom Sutra: The Commingling of Things

The Loving Kindness Sutra: Arms Open Wide

Zen Heaven and Hell

Introduction

The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra

The Wheel

The Human Realm

The Hungry Ghost Realm

The Titan Realm

The Animal Realm

The Heavenly Realm

The Hell Realm

Blessing

The Blind Man

The Potter

Monkey Climbs a Flowering Tree

Four People in a Boat

House Windows Five Doors

A Couple Embraces

A Man With Arrow in Eye

A Woman Offers a Man a Drink

A Man Gathers Fruit

A Pregnant Woman

A Woman Gives Birth

A Corpse

The Blessing

Buddha Speaks

Introduction

1 luminous being

2 alert joy

3 refined mind

4 fragrant miracles

5 foolish ways

6 wise folks

7 awakened being

8 one word

9 essential goodness

10 no harm

11 creaky bones

12 loving myself

13 living wise

14 buddha being

15 big happy

16 sweet contentment

17 rage not

18 light barriers

19 non harming

20 light road

21 wise bits

22 clear intentions

23 steady virtue

24 untamed hungers

25 settled way

26 buddha you

About The Author

Books by Tai Sheridan

Introduction

The concept of Heaven and Hell, along with everything between them, refers to Buddhism's six realms and stages of consciousness. This is depicted as a Wheel of Life Mandala in Buddhist iconography. Tibetan monks use Wheel of Life Mandala scrolls to teach Buddhism, while Zen incorporates the mandala into its teachings and discussions. The content of the mandala represents the core of Buddhist enlightenment and wisdom.

The Sutras are the teachings of Buddha, but they can be lengthy and written in an outdated style. They are often recited as prayers and chants in a shortened version. In my book, Celestial Sutras, I have rephrased them into modern language to make them easier to understand. The teachings revolve around having a unified mind and a compassionate heart.

The Dhammapada is a text that dates back to ancient times and contains the teachings of Buddha. In my book "Buddha Speaks,” I have logically categorized its 423 aphorisms to make them easier to understand. I have also removed outdated beliefs, assumptions, and language while attempting to preserve the original meanings as much as possible. By using modern language, I hope to have enhanced the readability of the text.

The purpose of these three books is to make ancient wisdom and meanings easily understandable to readers. Buddha encouraged his teachers to use the language commonly understood by the people rather than the high church Sanskrit that was dominant during his time. I hope my translations have successfully conveyed these teachings to a wider audience.

Tai Sheridan

Port Townsend

2024

Celestial Sutras

The Heart of Zen

by Tai Sheridan

Dedication

To the rhythm and beat of things

Nor do I hear in my imagination the parts successively, I hear them all at once. What a delight this is! All this inventing, this producing, takes place in a pleasing, lively dream.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Introduction

The Buddhist sutras are lengthy discourses attributed to the Buddha. The chants condense their wisdom. They journey through the mountains and valleys of human experience: living and dying, love and loss, anguish and peace.

The Lotus Sutra is about the compassionate Bodhisattva path.

The Diamond Sutra is a short and dense treatise on non-dual wisdom.

The Heart Wisdom Sutra expresses the balance of form and emptiness.

The Loving Kindness Sutra models a compassionate life.

 I have condensed, re-structured, and amplified the ancient chants based on the sutras to render them more accessible than the ancient wordings.

I hope these contemporary Sutra versions invite wonder, loving-kindness, and peace.

The Lotus Sutra: The Bodhisattva Path

Introductions

The Lotus Sutra is often called the “King of Sutras.” It lays the groundwork for the Bodhisattva ideal, which aims to promote enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings. The Sutra contains parables that clarify teachings on dharma, practices, realization, and the transmission of truth.

It explores the negative attitudes that cause human suffering and provides a way to heal and transform oneself. The sutra suggests that even listening to a single word or verse can turn an individual into a Buddha, with divine light taking the form of their Buddha body.

The Lotus Sutra introduces the concept of "no self" in Buddhism, which may be challenging to comprehend for some people. The idea is based on a non-dualistic perspective, which means that an individual's existence is not separate from the various phenomena of the universe. Buddha emphasizes this by saying, "There is no 'self' that can attain enlightenment." In simpler terms, attaining enlightenment is not a state that one can achieve as an individual but a process of letting go of all attachments.

The aim was to simplify the sutra by creating a poem and chant that can be easily understood. This required removing certain elements from the original text, such as repetitive sections, complex concepts, outdated references, and fancy language. I hope that this modern version of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law will be meaningful to people.

The Lotus Sutra

In this brief life

May I treasure and liberate

All beings with wisdom and love

Thus have I heard of the Lotus Sutra

The Lotus Flower Sutra

of Wondrous Reality

Frees all from misery

Awakens joy and peace

Buddhas beat celestial drums

Shaking all things

A fragrant breeze

All things commingled

Dharma Rain

Subtle and mysterious

Free of twigs and leaves

The Seal of Reality

From the beginning

All things complete

With nothing to attain

Buddhas realize the Lotus Way

Thus have I heard

of Practicing the Way

Your house is burning down

Fueled by flames of desire

Listen with a unified mind

To Dharma beyond words

With a soft mind

And respectful heart

Pay homage to all Buddhas

Have faith in the Way

Delight in silent contemplation

Motionless in body and mind

Devote yourself to quiet places

Enjoy real nourishment

Stabilize in bodhisattva realms

Of action and intimacy

Harmonize with inter-being

Contemplate no self nature

With a pure loving heart

live the Undivided Way

Study Realize Teach

for the benefit of all beings

Thus have I heard

of Realizing the Way

Dharma rains pour on everything

Trees plants herbs flourishing

Sprinkled with sweet dew

Joyfully enter the Buddha-way

In mountains a bird song

Ear sound song without gap

All senses originally non-dual

Pure as lapis lazuli

People attach to shapes colors

The bodhisattva sees luminosity

The infinite boundless body

Revealed in the clay body

Hear the sound of spaciousness

The snap of buddhas fingers

echoes throughout the universe

Earth trembles with Realization

Practice endlessly

Realize instantaneously

All things impermanent

Without self nature

The earth splits open

Everything springs forth

Let the lamp blow out

Welcome infinite happiness

Be like the world-honored One

with wise and pure eyes

All nets of doubts gone

A heart peaceful as the sea

Thus have I heard

of Teaching the Way

Walk the Bodhisattva Path

With enthusiasm and courage

Awaken all Beings

from self centered activity

Buddha entrusts you with Reality

Wholeheartedly teach the Way

End the sorrows of

birth age disease death

All Buddhas past present future

Dispel darkness disperse gloom

Use infinite tactful means

Lead beings from attachments

Beating the Drum of Truth

Patiently reveal the essence

Teach according to each nature

Expect nothing in return

Be at ease and confident

Responsive and kind

Never anticipate

Never disparage

Be like a great cloud

Rise above the world

full of beneficial moisture

Pouring rain abundantly

Never weary of teaching

This King of Sutras

The Lotus of Wondrous Reality

Bringing gladness to all

The Diamond Sutra: Lightening in an Empty Sky

Introduction

The Diamond Sutra offers insights into the concepts of emptiness or shunyata and the transcendent Buddha body or dharmakaya. According to Zen, the diamond light symbolizes the universe as one's own being, often called "the ten-thousand things.” These arise simultaneously and are intermingled in the present moment. On the other hand, Lightning is a Zen metaphor for Satori, which means the moment of awakening and is essentially every moment of clear awareness.

The Diamond Sutra most directly expresses the reality of emptiness, balancing the noumenal and phenomenal worlds. The Diamond Sutra is a concise text; my restructuring may be noticeable to those familiar. I have altered the order of the content to make the meanings more coherent and comprehensible. I hope you will appreciate the profundity of the sutra, much like how you would admire the brightness of the morning star at dawn.

The Diamond Sutra

In this brief life

May I treasure and liberate all beings

With wisdom and love

Thus have I heard of the Diamond Body

A dewdrop a cloud a star

a flash of lightening in empty sky

without a fixed self anywhere

the Diamond Body includes all things

Thus have I heard of Calm Sitting

Countless truth seekers

sincere and fearless

clarify the Diamond Body

wishing benefit for all beings

Sitting upright and calm

with courage balance detachment

self centered intentions wane

the miracle of inter-being arises

Thus have I heard of Awakening

Grasping a cloud or star an impossibility

be one with spacious presence

Give freely - awaken!

Let go of identity – awaken!

Self centered foolishness

creates attachments disturbs harmony

See conditioned views as illusory

awaken the Diamond Body

With nothing to eliminate

Awakening not attaining a state

the Diamond Body without substance

actualizes true selflessness

Without attaining mind

subjects objects merge

no gap between things

everyone awakening simultaneously

Without attachment

all things brilliant unique

all things the luminous total dynamic

things and no-things instantaneous

All things arise in the present

beyond thinking and not thinking

beyond beginning end true false

beyond ignorance enlightenment self other

All things a confluence

of the world-cosmos

within spacious presence

each place sacred

Seeing things precisely

without self or attachment

the Diamond Body of No Body

beyond coming going birth death

Auspicious beyond name or concept

Present within shapes and colors

An incomprehensible subtle totality

The unconditioned unified world

Thus have I heard of Wise Living

Love awakens in an empty sky

patience tolerance grow

be awake in the Diamond Body

ordinary without special traits

Wise people treasure awakening

calm minds rest in the present totality

without gain or self inflated pride

live for the benefit of everything

Wise people renounce self centeredness

honor truth wherever spoken

clothe themselves in spacious presence

receive and manifest the great blessing

Wise people continually renew

the liberation of no liberation

intuitive wisdom recognizes no self

within Diamond Body no self to save

Wise people keep aspiration alive

All things clear light lacking substantiality

Without a promise of attainment

Diamond Body the original blessing

The Heart Wisdom Sutra: The Commingling of Things

Introduction

The Heart Wisdom Sutra is recited daily in Zen temples as a fundamental teaching of Buddha-dharma. It explains that there is no separation between oneself and others and that everything emerges simultaneously from emptiness in the present moment (co-dependent arising).

I have made some significant changes to the current versions of the sutra. The most well-known phrase from the sutra is 'form is emptiness and emptiness is form,’ which expresses the idea that phenomena and noumena are blended together. However, I have updated this sacred verse to read 'form, and emptiness is one,' which is a simpler concept to understand.

Additionally, I have changed the reference to the skandhas, which originally read 'no eye, no ear, no nose, no body, no mind,' to a more easily understandable expression that reads ‘senses-sensing-sensed are one.'

Finally, I have decided to interpret the name of Shariputra as 'beautiful eyes' rather than using his actual name. The sutra concludes with the transcendent and graceful line, “Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha!" which means "Beyond beyond, always going beyond, yes!" I hope that this sutra version helps clarify the non-dual world of the Buddha-Dharma.

Heart Wisdom Sutra

In this brief life may I treasure

And liberate all beings

With wisdom and love

With open and beautiful eyes

Invoke the compassionate wisdom of Avalokiteshvara

Clarify that all things have no fixed identity

Form and emptiness do not differ

Shape and spaciousness are one

Clarify everything as unique yet commingled

See clearly with a calm balanced view

Senses sensing sensed flowing undifferentiated

Clarify phenomena arising from unconditioned emptiness

With open and beautiful eyes

Everything unique interconnected

Dissipate the anguish of separation

Before emotions senses thoughts ideas

Before habits judgments views consciousness

Enter warm spaciousness the total dynamic

With open and beautiful eyes

Everything emanating from spaciousness

Enter the luminous realm of now

View things with complete acceptance

Old age death anguish knowing

Enter the infinite realm within beyond

Troubles and fears calmed

Trust rely on spacious wisdom

No special experience to attain

Throughout time people have awakened

By no longer viewing things as separate

Resting in spaciousness awakens complete being

The wisdom of spaciousness is the truthful

Incomparable mysterious light of existence

Each moment continuously going beyond the known

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha

The Loving Kindness Sutra: Arms Open Wide

Introduction

The Loving Kindness Sutra guides leading a kind and virtuous life. It is based on the desire for all beings to experience happiness and outlines the spiritual path of non-violence. For those practicing meditation, it validates what has been observed and heard with a pure heart and a clear mind.

I made some changes to the traditional phrases in the sutra. For instance, I replaced the phrase "a mother protects her only child" with "a parent protects.” While I value the original phrase, I believe all caregivers should be acknowledged as providers of true nurturing. Additionally, I modified the statement about wishing love towards "all beings in low, middle, and high realms of existence" by including people of all races, colors, creeds, and abilities. I prefer being specific in this case rather than using generalizations, as we must constantly remind ourselves that prejudice lies at the root of widespread diseases, wars, and threats to the planet's environment.

Although the sutra's sentiments are easy to understand, embodying Big Love in ourselves takes a lifetime. May all beings be happy!

Loving Kindness Sutra

In this brief life

May I treasure and liberate

All beings with wisdom and kindness

May I Live

kindly toward all

content and competent

honest with integrity

gentle and humble

speaking directly and truthfully

willing to learn

May I Treasure

living simply without overextending

neither denying the senses nor overindulging

respecting all without self inflation

nourishing and supporting my life

May I not act in ways wise people might question

May all beings be happy

all genders races creeds

all bodies personalities roles

all capacities incapacities

all known unknown

all past present future beings

May all beings be happy

May I not deceive nor despise anyone

May I maintain good will and wish no harm

Like a parent protecting children

I open my boundless heart to all

Releasing all ill will

Never betraying loving kindness

May I practice mindful kindness in all activities

May Love here-now be my spiritual foundation

With an open mind I am whole

With senses in balance I am healthy

With oneness I am peaceful

With an alert spacious mind I am free

Zen Heaven and Hell

Wheel of Life

and Realms of Existence

by Tai Sheridan

Dedication

To the infinite mystery

The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.

Thomas Merton

Contents

Introduction

The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra

The Wheel

The Circle of Anguish

The Circle of Consequences

The Circle of Six Realms

The Human Realm

The Hungry Ghost Realm

The Titan Realm

The Animal Realm

The Heavenly Realm

The Hell Realm

Blessing

The Circle of Arising Reality

The Blind Man

The Potter

Monkey Climbs a Flowering Tree

Four People in a Boat

House Windows Five Doors

A Couple Embraces

A Man With Arrow in Eye

A Woman Offers a Man a Drink

A Man Gathers Fruit

A Pregnant Woman

A Woman Gives Birth

A Corpse

The Blessing

Introduction

The Bhavacakra—The Wheel of Life— is an ancient mandala representing the most important Buddhist teachings. This mandala reflects on the causes and conditions that lead to suffering and guides individuals on a spiritual journey toward non-dual wisdom, loving-kindness, compassion, and equanimity.

I have written a poetic expression of the Bhavacakra. The poem starts by introducing spaciousness as the foundation of existence. The Wheel comprises four concentric circles that revolve around a central hub. Each circle represents a different aspect of human experience and consciousness. Starting from the innermost circle and moving outwards, they signify dimensions of anguish, consequences, psychological experience, and the functioning of consciousness.

The Wheel is a manifestation of fundamental Buddhist principles, including no-self (all things are interconnected), impermanence (everything is constantly changing), and co-dependent origination (all phenomena manifest simultaneously in the present moment).

Like all Buddhist doctrines, the Wheel offers inspiration on the illumination path.

The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra

The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra

Buddha's generous song

of Luminous Wisdom and Love

The Zen Wheel

turns on the axis

of emptiness

Its myriad spokes

seamless moments

of infinite time

Its garments

luminous dark

spaciousness

Whole heartedly enter

the mysterious way

of the unconditioned

The Wheel

contains the whole

of myriad existences

Delicately held

by jaws of death

King of Impermanence

Transform anguish

into warm presence

May you live beneficially

Pay close attention

to the great commingling

May you harm no more

Meet the obstacles

of six realms

May you transform your character

Refining your attention

each arising moment

is the whole of it

Travel the wheel

liberate all

from apparent isolation

The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra

Buddha's generous song

of Luminous Wisdom and Love

The Circle of Anguish

I enter the circle

of bewilderment and anguish

the truth of unhappiness

I am the pig

groveling in lust

chasing mind filaments

I entitle myself

to desire myriad things

an illusion of true fulfillment

I am the snake

sidewinding hatred

bashing people and things

I entitle myself

to strike out at the world

an illusion of true fulfillment

I am the rooster

crowing self importance

a world unto myself

I entitle myself

to self centered living

an illusion of true fulfillment

Oh wise buddhas shine on me!

Oh loving bodhisattvas transform me!

Oh commingled mystery awaken me!

May my lust

transform into contentment

I am peace in life

May my enmity

transform into loving kindness

I embrace all life

May my selfishness

transform into sympathetic oneness

I am one with life

Now I awaken

the heartfelt desire

for the well being of all

May All Beings Be Happy

May All Beings Be One

May All Beings Be Free

The Circle of Consequences

I enter the circle

of consequences

my activity ripples the matrix

I have acted unwisely

harming myself and others

sorrow upon sorrow

In darkness I have descended

into anxiety depression worse

the maw of great unhappiness

I drown

dragging the world

down with me

I have yet to learn

kindness begets kindness

harm begets harm

Oh let me hear

the dharma rain

of non-harming

Oh let me hear

that each action

ripples the entire cosmos

Oh let me hear

that each step

spins the earth

I am the clear one

knowing my intentions

moving with tact

I am the responsive one

studying reactivity

walking with care

I am the beginning one

meeting the world anew

each dawning moment

As light and dark

compliment each other

like phases of the moon

May all of my

actions merge

in essential goodness

The path of consequences

wends through mountains rivers

a vast heart mind

May All Beings Be Happy

May All Beings Be One

May All Beings Be Free

The Circle of Six Realms

Invitation

I enter the circle

of six transmuting realms

each a mirror of my being

Not only one self

many manifestations

of difficulty and grace

The three realms above

seemingly dwell in light

I forget things come and go

The three realms below

seemingly dwell in darkness

I forget things come and go

The Human Realm

I enter the human realm

face arms legs breath

stunning miracle of life

I am needs longings

I am friends family work

I am the potential human

I am dignity because I was born

I am dignity because I live

I am dignity because I die

May I live humbly

in the human family

treasuring the miracle of life

The Hungry Ghost Realm

I enter the hungry ghost realm

decrepit malnourished starving

unable to find true nourishment

I am the lonely one

I am the unloved child

I am the unwitnessed being

I am full because I am

I am full because I give

I am full because I love

May I live fulfilled

easy to please and delight

a smile in each exchange

The Titan Realm

I enter the titan realm

so many graceful blessings

lost in pride and envy

I am jealous of blessed ones

denying ego's solid grip

falling from daily grace

I am whole already

I am unique already

I am awake already

May I delight in other's joy

unconcerned with fate

content with my lot

The Animal Realm

I enter the animal realm

raw instincts arising

grabbing pushing annihilating

Primitive naïve untrained

yet to hear the celestial drum

I justify the wily senses

I am the body at ease

I am the joy of emotion

I am ground and center

May I practice sincerely

resting in peaceful moments

allowing sensations to come and go

The Heavenly Realm

I enter the heavenly realm

awake blissful reposed

delighting in play of Mind

One thought of attachment

a world of suffering born

thinking this is it! opens hell's gate

All existence my Buddha Body

without a self Pure Mind

ordinary as grass in Spring

May I welcome commingling

remembering everything as Buddha

non attachment the way

The Hell Realm

I enter the hell realm

burning in delusional thought

on fire with my harmful ways

I suffer a living death

unhappy to my core

the doors of peace afar

I am the truth of suffering

I am the opportunity of learning

I am the seed of awakening

May I suffer consciously

heal and transform

on the luminous path

Blessing

The six realms

each light and shadow

infinite circles of being

In attachment weeds grow

in aversion leaves fall

may I let go continuously

Awake in the moment

witnessing experience

I study the gap of duality

May sight seen sound merge

may I walk daily

into the mist of not-knowing

May All Beings Be Happy

May All Beings Be One

May All Beings Be Free

The Circle of Arising Reality

Invitation

I enter the circle

of arising reality

things as they are

All points of the wheel

empty of self nature

mirroring the infinite whole

Twelve links

within and beyond

cause and effect

Four circles spinning

on the axis of emptiness

flowing through each other

The Blind Man

avijja – ignorance

I wander blind drunk

on this dusty road

tripping over myself

Disconnected from

true intimacy

in the world

My hunger

for love and meaning

leaves me anguished

Where will I find

there is more

to life

The Potter

samskaras - volitional action

I live from habits

old reactions drives

views I'm stuck on

Spinning like potter wheels

endlessly busy scattered

frustrated with the mess

From what clay

shall I make a cup

to drink from

From what stream

shall I sip

to fill my thirst

Monkey Climbs a Flowering Tree

vijnana - arising consciousness

From moment to moment

body heart mind

things not one not two

Monkey mind moving

swinging thoughts emotions

within just so moments

Arrow points

meeting in mid air

a thunderous awakening

Lotus petals open

now now now

unborn past future

Four People in a Boat

nama rupa - mind body

What I call body

is an open party

for everyone onboard

Not one part of me

beats grows moves

without all others

Why do I persist

in substantiating myself

over and again

Despite my wounds

and cryptic actors

the moon always full

House Windows Five Doors

shaddayatanas - senses

Gazing at red poppies

through windows

eyes poppies sight

In spring I breathe

the fragrant nectar

of sweet wisteria

Some people

call it insight

for me no name

Wax still remains

in my ears

sounds come from afar

A Couple Embraces

sparsha - contact

In this big place

let's embrace

hold hands walking

We've never parted

yet seemingly alone

between us a thread

Where am I

a drop of rain

or one moon

A flash of lightening

a clap of thunder

no second person

A Man With Arrow in Eye

upadana - grasping

Every day world

moving around

through me

My arrowed eyes

orbs of pleasure pain

endless cycling

Yet neutrality

unconcerned about

what's under skin

With calm breathing

I settle rest

in acceptance

A Woman Offers a Man a Drink

trishna - thirst

Some days I drink

her offered waters

other days not

My sweet tooth

insatiable madness

refined proclivities

Complete delusion

controlling life

tenacious self will

I've heard

of a middle road

gardens of peace

A Man Gathers Fruit

upadana - grasping

Grabbing ripe persimmons

overextending again

thinking all okay

Proud fool

stubborn convictions

Still seeking great heights

Round and round

wanting and resenting

reinforcing inner troops

A friend said

look within wake up

inside this mess

A Pregnant Woman

bhava - becoming

Within pear belly

mother child

not separate

No certainty

for me in birth

each moment wild

One two mixing

all born simultaneously

wonder upon wonder

Mysterious inter-being

takes up residence

in bones marrow

A Woman Gives Birth

jati - giving

A mysterious tunnel

woman birthing an infinite child

earth heaven gushing now

Life waters flow

with cosmic rain

all things family

Your mothers face

before she was born

see the whole dynamic

I am this

filling emptying

the spacious womb

A Corpse

jaramarana - decay and death

I am a corpse

on river banks

great spiritual death

Buddha awoke

the morning star

living dying treasure

Stars for eyes

mountains for feet

each breath beyond

Today a good day

beginner's mind

original blessing

The Blessing

Twelve stones

on a path to nowhere

walking with calm alertness

Honestly studying myself

courageously releasing myself

avoiding harming

May I die

the great death

and awaken Reality

From the beginning

I am Buddha

the authentic me

May All Beings Be Happy

May All Beings Be One

May All Beings Be Free

Buddha Speaks

21c Zen Dhammapada

by Tai Sheridan

Dedication

To the essential goodness

of everyone

To be awake is to be aliveHenry David Thoreau

Contents

Introduction

1 luminous being

2 alert joy

3 refined mind

4 fragrant miracles

5 foolish ways

6 wise folks

7 awakened being

8 one word

9 essential goodness

10 no harm

11 creaky bones

12 loving myself

13 living wise

14 buddha being

15 big happy

16 sweet contentment

17 rage not

18 light barriers

19 non harming

20 light road

21 wise bits

22 clear intentions

23 steady virtue

24 untamed hungers

25 settled way

26 buddha you

Introduction

The Dhammapada is a Buddhist text with 423 aphorisms attributed to Buddha and focuses on enlightenment, love, integrity, and kindness. It is thought that many individuals were involved in compiling the text. However, it bears the weight of outdated styles and concepts from the early and middle ages. I have transformed it and used contemporary, minimalistic images to make it more relevant and positive for modern readers. Moreover, I have given the sections new names that are more meaningful and optimistic.

The new version has removed elements like asceticism, monasticism, literal interpretations, chauvinism, anachronisms, conceptualizations of evil, rebirth, gods, shame, and sensual denial. This updated version offers universal truths relevant to a contemporary audience, regardless of gender, lifestyle, or spiritual inclination.

I hold the classic Dhammapada in high regard. Although this poetic rendition maintains the intended meaning, it does not replace the original. Rather, it seeks to more directly and immediately convey Buddha's wisdom. My aspiration for Buddha Speak is to inspire and motivate you, the reader, to lead a genuine and compassionate life.

1 luminous being

1

everything luminous mind

ego invites anguish

2

everything luminous mind

calmly move with totality

color your shadow happy

3

resentment broils innards

shuts out blue green peace

4

drop vengeful mind

sip clear calm

5

hate gets you hated

kind gets you kinded

6

don't race from death

welcome short life

quell conflict

cool calm collected

7

passion habits torque

laziness a trap

you topple easy

8

rip pleasure out

of the driver's seat

mountains of faith

pizazz blows in

9

when ego habits drive

you can't hear real

10

practice be honest don't harm

truth opens big sky mind

11

hang ups on material

numbs spacious light being

12

real is real

garbage is garbage

ditch your ego

unity falls into place

13

lust leaks through mind holes

no practice no restraint

14

lust doesn't hang out

in calm mind

15

do bad anguish

do bad grieve

16

do good

dance joyfully

17

correct harms

offer continuous apology

18

do good throw a party

on the path sing and dance

19

wisdom sans integrity big foolishness

denial manipulation crowd pleasing big foolishness

20

intellectual study not required

address ego passion aggression

happiness lives

2 alert joy

1

scatter brains walking dead

clear light mind vital

2

delicious attention

dancing with the awake

3

swim in oneness

awaken joyful harmony

4

integrity attention kindness truth

miracle of real you

5

an island of alertness

tactfulness equanimity

drowning in peace

6

stay alert

strike buddha gold

7

forget forgetfulness

side step sense indulgence

endless bliss waves

8

alertness a wide view

big love embraces all

9

gallop into now

leave dull mind in dust

10

hone your mind

ditch distractions

11

torch what binds you

revel in now

12

delighting in now

no going backwards

3 refined mind

1

stabilize monkey mind

the toughest task

2

as refined mind awakens

insane mind trembles

3

zig zag mind unreliable

stable mind happy

4

mind unknowable

watching it invites happy

5

watching wandering small mind

awakens big mind big heart

6

wishy washy attention

blocks wide open mind

7

sans passion ego

aggression duality

fear won't roost

8

fragile clay body

slice through duality

live wisely

9

you will die

everything humus

10

ill guided mind

harms you big

11

alert mind

your best friend

4 fragrant miracles

1

in death's domain

seek your miraculous lotus being

2

in death's domain

find your miraculous lotus being

3

body a mirage

romantic love foolish

go beyond habits

4

lost in pleasures

a flood of misery

5

lost in pleasures

living in harms way

6

sweetly meet people

a bee finding nectar

7

forget judging others

look in the mirror

8

flowery words garbage

if not living them

9

practice what you preach

lotus in full blossom

10

do a quintillion petals

worth of good

11

the perfume of your goodness

permeates the cosmos

12

the perfume of your integrity

jasmine essence

13

the perfume of your virtue

delightful infinite expansive

14

walk upright aware whole

nothing throws you off course

15 / 16

fragrant lilies grow in garbage

wise students grow amidst foolishness

5 foolish ways

1

long nights endless roads

foolish traveling sans truth light

2

don't hang with fools

choose light friends or solitude

3

money family no replacement

for true self big heart

4

studying foolishness

gets you wise

5

hanging with wise

doesn't guarantee wisdom

6

hanging with wise

invites big love big mind

7

no self love

big foolish crime

8

causing harm

endless grief

9

doing good

endless delight

10

sneaky manipulations

only foolish misery

11

foolishness wasted time

essential goodness the blessing

12

harming eventually

bursts into flames

13

fools arrogant with knowledge

lose essential goodness

14 / 15

seeking power praise corrupts spirit

looking down nose spoils essential goodness

16

chase fame gain

walk in peace

you choose

6 wise folks

1

stick with wise

invite feedback

breathe in support

2

deter foolish others

disregard what folks say

3

avoid harmful foolish folks

hang with wise kind folks

4

drink contentment joy

delight in truth

5

computer programers program

wise folks tame themselves

6

don't let praise blame run you

rest in mountain mind

7

rest in big calm

clear lake mind

8

grabbing lust thin air

balance happiness sorrow

9

material cravings manifest misery

just enough big integrity

10

hither thither yon folks chasing tails

big love big peace home sweet home

11

ditching ego the task

no self no birth no death

12

walk out of darkness

come home to homelessness

smile in solitude bliss

13

let it all go

settle into everything

as it is

14

want not

empty mind

joyful inter-being

7 awakened being

1

unbridled passion

won't touch you

when flying free

2

continual practice

letting everything go

home anywhere now

3

don't hang onto things

live balance

leave no traces

walk into emptiness

4

greed wrecks spiritual practice

muddy tracks everywhere you go

5

ditch ego pride

calm passions

maintain integrity

moon smiles on you

6

solid calm straight shooter

the misery stops here

7

calm mind calm activity calm speech

clear buddha stream runs this show

8

truthful sans passion surges

unbounded body flying free

wonderful noble you

9

each spot sacred

big mind blessing

10

forests of solitude

invite peaceful contemplation

8 one word

1

one wise word

annihilates a bunch of drivel

2

one wise verse

annihilates a thousand tomes

3

one truthful peace word

annihilates a thousand vacuous articulations

4

self possession

beats possessing others

5

wresting with your ego

beats controlling others

6

nobody can rob you

of calm big life

7

treasuring wise folks

beats tons of sacrifices

8

treasuring wise folks

beats tons of rituals

9

treasuring wise folks

beats tons of sacrifices and offerings

10

treasuring the elderly

uplifts life beauty joy energy

11

a day of honest contemplative living

beats ego's wanton ways

12

a day of honest contemplative living

beats a foolish unsettled life

13

a day of energetic focused living

beats a sleepy impoverished life

14

a day of clear insight and peace

beats a blind habitual mind

15

a day of transcendent being

beats a life mired in egoism

16

a day of big body big heart big mind

beats a lifetime of egoism

9 essential goodness

1

don't dilly dally

do good quit bad

2

fix mistakes quickly

repetition brings misery

3

repeat fine acts

essential goodness thrives

4

sometimes you get away with harm

trouble eventually catches up

5

harm awaits

around the corner

stick to goodness

6

don't be naïve

harming always a possibility

watch for small signs

7

trust patient practice

refinement arrives like rain

8

live well

by avoiding harm

9

essential goodness

wards off harm

10

offending innocent folk

always nasty blowback

11

goodness awakens liberation

harming awakens sorrow

12

nowhere to hide

from consequences

13

nowhere to hide

from death

10 no harm

1

death frightens

non harming the way

everybody one body

2

life so sweet

non harming the way

everybody one body

3

happiness impossible

if harming others

4

happiness possible

if not harming others

5

harsh words

boomerang back

6

welcome deep silence

one body peace

everything harmonious

7

living dying

torques everyone

8

ignoring harm done

a personal inferno

9

harming others

wracks up ten losses

10

harming others wracks up losses

screeching pain scads of losses busted bones

11

harming others wracks up losses

cross wired brains fingers pointing at you

loved ones dying poverty

property destroyed house on fire

12

harming others wracks up losses

hellish daily life

13

nothing saves you

from big spiritual doubts

14

anybody anywhere cultivating

calm mind steady practice

wholesome sex non harming

a living a buddha

15

rare people

practice tact

16

practice spiritual delights

vigor mindfulness truth seeking

kindness wisdom devotion

anguish slips away

17

chefs cook

wise people practice

11 creaky bones

1

no joy when hungers reign

walk out of shadows into light

2

dressing up illusory ego

won't end roller coaster passions

sickness hangs around

nothing to grab onto

3

fragile body

death awaits

4

this body

a sack of bones

5

temple of blood and bones

a full congregation of

disease death vanity deceit

6

body ages

timeless truth wise

7

without wisdom

you grow old

not wise

8

no awakening reality

sorrow upon sorrow

9

awakening big buddha body

hungers self die

10

no steady practice

begs lonely aging

11

no steady practice

sad regrets

12 loving myself

1

love yourself

watch yourself closely

2

daily goodness first

then guiding others

3

model goodness

minimize ego

4

you are your own wise teacher

quiet ego awaken peace

5

harming life

crushes you

6

you become

the harm you do

7

harming yourself easy

loving yourself harder

8

belittling wise folks

harms you

9

you create

goodness harm

who else?!

10

serve others

sans self neglect

13 living wise

1

help folks find

integrity vigor

truth acceptance

2

open big mind

follow truth path

big happiness

3

live ethically

big happiness

4

see world as mirage

transcend death

5

ah this beautiful world

fools drown in it

wise flow through it

6

waking from sleep

you illumine world

7

when your goodness thrives

you illumine world

8

blind people traipse through world

fly free see things as they are

9

liberate ego fly free

walk into marketplace

10

liars faithless unethical

harm at will

11

stingy foolish unhappy

giving the big happy

12

dharma path

beats owning

world universe

14 buddha being

1

all seeing

quelling passion

the unknown road

2

all seeing

sans hungers

the unknown road

3

silent indwelling

calm delightful restraint

buddhas hug you

4

incomprehensible human birth

incomprehensible suffering

incomprehensible dharma

buddhas rare birds

5

no bad deeds

doing good deeds

a clear mind

buddha being

6

harming uncool

toleration cool

big mind cool

7

no contempt no harm cool

restraint moderation cool

solitude kind thoughts cool

buddha school

8 / 9

passions never fill up

delight in unhooking

10

fearful folks

seek worldly refuge

11

no worldly safe harbor

from anguish

12

buddha dharma sangha

only safe harbor

13 / 14

noble truth suffering is

eight stone path suffering ends

15

awakened folks rare

everyone benefits

16

buddha blessed

dharma blessed

sangha blessed

17 / 18

honor all end hungers

sans sorrow fear

big benefit

15 big happy

1

in hating world

live lovingly

2

in sick world

live healthy

3

in pleasure world

live content

4

in materialistic world

live simply

5

in competitive world

live intrinsically

6

passions aggressions raging wildfires

body suffering certain

inner peace the blessing

7

greed bad habits reap sorrow

get it end it be peace

8

health contentment friendships finest gifts

ego detachment finest joy

9

calm solitude the nectar

anguish harming gone

joyous truth prevails

10

awakened friends yes!

continuous big love fest

11

foolish friends big unhappy

wise friends big happy

12

follow wise love folks

like moon follows stars

16 sweet contentment

1

violate your essential goodness

spiritual journey abandoned

2

painful disregarding tender

painful regarding distasteful

detach from pleasure pain

3

loss always hurts

cherish sans attachment

detached folks beyond pleasure pain

4

pleasure brings sorrow fear

non attachment awakens contentment

5

affection brings sorrow fear

non attachment awakens contentment

6

attachment brings sorrow fear

non attachment awakens contentment

7

desire brings sorrow fear

non attachment awakens contentment

8

craving brings sorrow fear

non attachment awakens contentment

9

people love virtuous

honest buddha folks

10

longing for miraculous reality

fuels your spiritual journey

11

long lost friends

welcome you

buddha coming home

12

live well

die well

17 rage not

1

ditch anger pride attachments

with nothing to grab - freedom!

2

quelling anger's march

big practice

3

love cooks anger

good cooks harm

giving cooks greed

truth cooks falsehood

4

speak real quell anger donate self

shimmering buddha light you

5

non harming settled body

just so peace

6

honed alertness truth study light seeking

drown out passion habits

7

whatever you do

some folks resentful

8

praise blame

passing winds

9 / 10

praise wise folks

spiritual maturity

11

stop wiggling about

settle down

12

stop uptight words

practice love words

13

calm monkey mind

refine head

14

restrain body speech mind

live centered presence

18 light barriers

1

are you spiritually

prepped for death's door?

2

a lamp unto yourself

wise kind awake

3

death arrives

sad you weren't ready

4

a lamp unto yourself

wisdom practice beyond birth death

5

work out habits

tad by tad

6

harming invites anguish

7

put your back

into spiritual path

8

immorality stinginess distorted intentions

blemish spirit endlessly

9

ignorance a grand pollution

may you fly free

10

egotists liars

the rude shameless

prideful polluted

lazy ignorant living

11

modest humble

searching detached kind

walking light path

arduous spiritual effort

12 / 13

killing lying stealing adultery addiction

grand self-destruction living deaths

14

ill intentioned folks sans restraint

avoid harm greed misery

15

envy wrecks calm mind

16

when envy ditched

peace reigns

17

passion aggression ego hungers

singe integrity

18

quit judging folks

gaze in mirror

19

fault finding stokes passions

no hunger appeasement here

20

nothing to hold onto

quit grabbing air

21

nothing to hold onto

stabilize emptiness

19 non harming

1

force destroys solutions

listening opens viewpoints

2

non-violence illumines

wisdom justice

3

wise folks live calm

sans fear hate

4

watering dharma practice

the essential life

5

age alone

won't make wise

6

wise elders manifest

truth non harming

moderation restraint

7

looking good

fancy words

ego envy slick

wisdom path not

8

sans envy aggression ego

wise respectful indeed

9

self image won't abate

rampant passion greed

10

spiritual students

quell habits

11

don't confuse outer support

with inner worth

12

awake good

beyond fame blame

real buddha now

13 / 14

quiet won't wise up fools

a sage essential goodness

seeing things as is

15

all harming ignoble

non-violence noble

16 / 17

detachment from desire

true freedom

20 light road

1

four nobles finest

eight stones finest

detachment finest

clear seeing finest

2

clear path

clear insight

contented being

take this road

3

end suffering

yes!

4

only you awaken you

end habits find luminosity

5

all things pass

wake up!

6

sorrow abounds

find big happy!

7

all things insubstantial

find big real!

8

laziness bedevils enlightenment

9

stay alert talk kind act kind

the integrity road

10

devotion brings wisdom

follow true heart

11

discard whole passion deck

ditch fear fly free

12

lust trashes peace mind

13

gently destroy illusory ego

no self ever was

14

no better circumstances

than what you got now

15

death seeks out

distractions attachment

16

nobody cancels

death's invitation

17

know death is coming

practice vigorously fly free

21 wise bits

1

drop small tinglings

for big bliss

2

hating others

zeroes out happiness

3

neglecting tasks harms

arrogant passions unbridle

4

alertness doing good restraining harm

arrogant passions quelled

5

sans cravings ego attachments

contentment reigns

6

sans lust laziness

angst doubt hate

contentment reigns

7

buddha students

awaken sky mind

moment by moment

in light

8

buddha students

awaken sky mind

moment by moment

in truth

9

buddha students

awaken sky mind

moment by moment

in community

10

buddha students

awaken sky mind

moment by moment

in ceaseless body aging

11

buddha students

awaken sky mind

moment by moment

in non harming

12

buddha students

awaken sky mind

moment by moment

in contemplation

13

life difficulties always abound

unhook sorrows fly free

14

virtue devotion

world blessed

15

harmful folks dark shadows

good folks light beacons

16

enjoy solitudes

enjoy quelling passions

22 clear intentions

1

lying invites anguish

2

even spiritual

seekers teachers

can cause harm

3

don't use others

when out of sorts

4

sexual insanity

wrecks havoc

5

sexual acting out

brings fear ridicule

6

self-denial harms

7

half hearted practice

wastes time

8

act with total commitment

9

harming torments

kindness settles

10

ever vigilant

avoids anguish

11

self-blame harmful

lacking contrition harmful

12

inappropriate fear distressful

no appropriate fear distressful

13

seeing mistakes when none problematic

not seeing mistakes when real problematic

14

clear eyes see

mistakes as mistakes

truth as truth

23 steady virtue

1

when slammed

turn the other cheek

2

tolerance

the noble bearing

3

best when you

are passions boss

4

refinement presence peace

awaken emptiness

5

rampant mind

difficult to settle

6

indolence greed flip-flopping about

stuck in earthly mud

7

tame monkey mind

each moment

8

watch yourself closely

run from loathsomeness

9

stick with wise friends

joyfully climb spirit mountain

10

if no wise friends

solitude next best

11

solitude and kindness

better than immature friends

12

good friends good works

refined contentment

big happy

13

serving parents bliss

serving disenfranchised bliss

serving buddhas bliss

14

steady virtue bliss

steady faith bliss

steady wisdom bliss

steady goodness bliss

24 untamed hungers

1

cravings geometric

monkey mind cycles

2

dark cravings

feed sorrows

3

settling passions

awakens contentment

4

bless your effort

moderating passions

5

passions invite

repeated anguish

6

passion surges

drown you

7

wisdom slices

through passion

8

passion addiction

destroys transcendence

9

addiction cycles endless

big ego trap

10

hunger cycles endless

freedom flies beyond

11

backsliding passion easy

watch out!

12

attaching to people things

hinders happy inter-being

13

strong practice

walks away

from attachments

14

lust fires a spider web

wisdoms avoids being caught

15

beyond past present future

loathsome thoughts grow hungers

let go fly free

16

worldly mind treats arouse passions

hungers on the rise

17

settle mind

contemplate anguish

slice through attachments

18

fearless and content

big body big heart big mind

19

ending passions attachments

the sage within

20

big body big love big mind

you your own teacher now

21

truth the big gift

equanimity the king queen

22

materialism wipes out integrity

23

passion blights

love fields

24

non harming

fruitful benefit

25

making offerings

to kind folks

fruitful benefit

26

make offerings

to contented folks

fruitful benefit

25 settled way

1

moderating senses

a very good thing

2

moderating body speech mind

shackles drop away

freedom awakens

3

students of the way

practice grounded presence

delightful meditation

4

conquer ego

awaken light

sweet words

5

students swimming in truth

don't look back

6

envy destroys calm

big gratitude quells it

7

gratitude knows no bounds

opens vigorous living

8

fly free of mind body

dwell happy beyond sorrows

9

compassionate living

awakens big happy

unconditioned wonder

10

ditch ego passion aggression

resplendent clear light

11

work with your life until

flying free in empty sky

12

meditation focuses mind

awakens contentment

13

wisdom concentration

big emptiness the open door

14

self contented

calm heart mind

clear eyes yes!

15

watching things come go

wisdom bliss nectar

16

fine friends moderate senses

calm mind easy restraint

living buddha!

17

welcome all live integrity

big joy ends anguish

18

shed passions aggressions

dead ego petals

19

calm body speech mind

real deal buddha

20

big self encourages little self

happiness thrives

21

big self protects vulnerability

big self your destiny

settle yourself down

22

fill with spirit delights

fill with faith in buddha you

unconditioned peace arising now

23

dharma students illumine world

moon from behind clouds

26 buddha you

1

stop hungers practice sincerely

welcome uncreated realize no self

2

other shore awakens

calm insightful

nothing binds

3

detached from sense

fearless free

buddha everywhere you

4

contemplative sans passion

stable good awake

buddha everywhere you

5

radiant buddha wisdom

lights day night

6

essential goodness

balanced views clean living

buddha everywhere you

7

don't slight buddhas

don't react to slights

8

let go pleasure attachments

let go harmful thoughts

suffering wanes

9

maintain non harming

body speech mind

buddha everywhere you

10

honor all buddhas

with big heart big mind

11

truth not inherited

truth integrity awakened

12

outwardly good-looking

inwardly obsessed

passion jungle

13

humble simple contemplative

buddha everywhere you

14

free from passion

materialism attachments

buddha everywhere you

15

fearless detached

gone beyond

buddha everywhere you

16

beyond aggression passions

beyond conditioned habits

beyond duality

buddha everywhere you

17

patiently endure harm

buddha everywhere you

18

sans aggression guile

practicing vigorously

kind present restrained

buddha everywhere you

19

detached from pleasure

buddha everywhere you

20

sans anguish attachments

not identified with body

buddha everywhere you

21

vast wisdom clear mind

essential goodness prevailing

one big body

buddha everywhere you

22

open to all

living simply

buddha everywhere you

23

stopping harm

buddha everywhere you

24

calm tolerant unattached

buddha everywhere you

25

sans lust hate pride doublespeak

buddha everywhere you

26

gentle talk truth words

buddha everywhere you

27

stealing naught

buddha everywhere you

28

sans hungers passions habits

buddha everywhere you

29

sans hunger doubts

awakened inter-being

no birth no death

buddha everywhere you

30

no attainment

happy free

buddha everywhere you

31

clear moon mind

essentially good serene

beyond living dying

buddha everywhere you

32

through the open door

sans self hungers doubts attachments

contemplative calm

buddha everywhere you

33

detached pleasure ditched hungers

a floating cloud everywhere home

buddha everywhere you

34

detached pleasures ditched thirsts

a floating cloud

beyond living dying

buddha everywhere you

35

beyond folks

beyond buddhas

beyond awakening

beyond attachments

buddha everywhere you

36

beyond pleasure pain

beyond passion

beyond body identity

buddha everywhere you

37

seeing arising mind

detached from things

content within

one light body

buddha everywhere you

38

continual not knowing

detached senses

buddha everywhere you

39

not mired in past present future

commingled with things

detached from things

buddha everywhere you

40

fearless spiritual warrior

free from passions bad habits

buddha everywhere you

41

all seeing eye

no body no mind

luminous wisdom

buddha everywhere you

About The Author

Tai Sheridan

Tai Sheridan was born in 1948 and raised in Southern California. He attended U.C. Berkeley in the sixties, earning a degree in Anthropology and a life based on counter-culture values. A doctorate in Professional Psychology led to careers as a therapist and organizational consultant. He also raised four children in the San Fransisco Bay area.

Tai practiced Zen for fifty years with the Berkeley, San Francisco, and Dharma Eye Zen Centers. After his ordination, he pursued the path of a teacher-writer. He authored The Buddha in Blue Jeans series based on his Zen experience and transformed Buddhist classics into contemplative poetry.

Tai's home studio in Port Townsend looks out at Whidbey Island and the Cascades. He enjoys walking beaches, writing fiction, and sitting quietly at dawn.

Acknowledgments

It took me a lifetime to understand that you are never alone, even on a mountaintop. Since I rely on everything and everybody, I live in profound gratitude.

Bows to my root and ordaining Zen teacher, Sojun Mel Weitsman—you’re always near. For Zen training with Roshis Shunryu Suzuki, Sotan Tatsugami, Dainin Katagiri, Jiyu Kennet, Myogen Steve Stucky, and scores of unnamed teachers.

To Berkeley, San Fransisco Zen Centers, Sanghas, and the Shogaku Zen Institute for Zen in the West. For mentors and dear friends Phil Helfaer, Bill Quinn, and Pat Waters.

To my family and friends who hold me to account and keep me in blue jeans. And to all who have loved me.

Books by Tai Sheridan

Buddha in Blue Jeans

A One Hour Short & Sweet Zen Retreat

Buddha in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Being Buddha

Living in Buddha’s Three Bodies

Relax, You're Going to Die

Secrets of True Happiness

Zen Prayers For Repairing Your Life

Buddhist Classics in Verse

Celestial Music: Sutras of Emptiness

The Bare Bones Dhammapada: Big Mind Big Love

The Buddhacarita: A Modern Sequel

The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra

Dogen’s Zen in Verse

Rice Eyes: Enlightenment in Dogen's Kitchen

Snow Falling in Moonlight: Odes in Praise of Shobogenzo

Warm Zen Practice: A Poetic Version of Bendowa

Contact Tai Sheridan through his website

www.taisheridan.com

tai@taisheridan.com