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Kusen

Teaching given in the dojo during meditation is called kusen (ku: the mouth, and sen the teaching). It is a means of guiding the practitioner, not to go further but to protect them from themselves and allow them to enter silence, beyond words.

It helps the practitioner to let go of the self and blend into existing in just this moment.

Kusen allows us to explore what is happening in our body-mind. It should lead the practitioner to see, feel, listen, perceive, and look within without relying on habitual mental patterns. It allows the practitioner to emerge from the confusion of our personal stories, and effortlessly rediscover  a healing silence. It shows us what it means to grasp, reject, surrender , and what each of us needs in order to allow us to be reached by the heart of zazen.

Publications

The English Language book “Teachings: The Pau Seshins” by Guy Mokuhō Mercier was first published in French in 2015 and republished in English in 2022 – it was translated by Hilary MacRae and is composed of kusen given during sesshins with the Pau dojo and Bayonne Group at the Benedictine monastery in Urt, France.

This book is available to buy from the IZAUK (UK Sangha) Boutique for £10 (please confirm) plus postage – Please contact the boutique by email on  boutique@izauk.net.


The following publications are available IN FRENCH – and include delivery (there may be an additional fee for delivery to the UK).  These books are in French.

  • La Présence Silencieuse – €18
  • Reposer Dans le Non-né – €20
  • ŌGU: Donner, Recevoir, Transmettre  – €18
  • La lumière s’illumine elle-même par elle-même – €18
  • ŌGU 2: Donner, Recevoir, Transmettre  – €13 (**le plus récent!**)

Order

To order one of the french language books, contat – livret-kusen@tenborin.org

OR – Complete the following form

Payment

We will contact you by email to organise payment and send you the book.