Katagiri Roshi gave this series of seven talks on the Platform Sutra in March and April of 1987. The talks focus on Chapter 1, “Action and Intention,” and Chapter 2, “Prajna.”

Platform Sutra – Talk 1
March 6, 1987 Dharma Talk by Dainin Katagiri Roshi

Katagiri Roshi introduces a series of seven talks on the Platform Sutra, the recorded teaching of Hui Neng, the Sixth Ancestor in China. This talk comments on Chapter 1, “Action and Intention,” which includes the famous “poetry contest.” He discusses the controversy of whether the point of Zen is really “to see into one’s own nature.”

Platform Sutra – Talk 2
March 20, 1987 Dharma Talk by Dainin Katagiri Roshi

Katagiri Roshi begins commenting on Chapter 2 of the Platform Sutra, “Prajna,” or “Wisdom.” This talk includes the meaning of the term maha prajnaparamita, and three aspects of prajna.

Platform Sutra – Talk 3
March 27, 1987 Dharma Talk by Dainin Katagiri Roshi

Katagiri Roshi continues his commentary on Chapter 2 of the Platform Sutra, further discussing the meaning of the terms maha, prajna and paramita. He discusses the relation of the sutra to the three kinds of emptiness, how life and death and nirvana are the same, kanno-doko or spiritual communion between you and the universe, and transforming the three poisons into the Precepts.

Platform Sutra – Talk 4
April 3, 1987 Dharma Talk by Dainin Katagiri Roshi

Katagiri Roshi continues to comment on Chapter 2 of the Platform Sutra, further discussing whether the point of Zen is actually “to see one’s own nature and realize the Buddha Way.” He connects this to a passage from the “Scripture of Mountains and Waters” in Shobogenzo which relates to four kinds of misunderstanding of Buddhism, including the one we usually practice. The main point of practice is to achieve continuity of going beyond. We have to pay attention to Buddhist teaching and simultaneously produce creative life, like morning flowers blooming from a trellis.

  • Platform Sutra – Talk 5
  • Platform Sutra – Talk 6
  • Platform Sutra – Talk 7