Plum Blossom Zendo
A Pittsburgh Zen Meditation Center
5228 Beeler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.833.5832

Plum Blossom Zendo, a Zen meditation center in Pittsburgh formed in 2005, is in the Soto-Rinzai lineage of Zen Master Taizan Maezumi Roshi and the White Plum Asanga.  Our founder and resident teacher, Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels, is dharma successor to Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy in this Zen lineage as is Sensei Gregory Hosho Abels, the other resident Zen teacher at Still Mind Zendo in New York.  Plum Blossom Zendo is an affiliate of Still Mind Zendo.  Local experienced and new Zen practitioners are welcome, as are visitors to Pittsburgh who practice Zen.

Cover Photo copywrited by Andrew Gray - http://www.japanwindow.com

When the old plum tree suddenly opens,

the world of blossoming flowers arises.

At the moment when the world of blossoming flowers arises,

spring arrives.

- Dogen, Japenese Soto Zen Master

The believing mind is the Buddha-nature.

THE NIRVANA SUTRA

One day Te-shan gave a sermon, in which he said, “When you question, you commit a fault.  When you do not, you give offense.”  
     A monk came forward and began to bow, whereupon the master struck him.
     “I hve just begun my bowing!” said the monk.  “Why did you strike me?”
     “If I wait for you to open your mouth, all will be over.”

ZEN MONDO

These are the thoughts of all men in all ages and lands,  they are not original with me,

If they are not yours as much as mine they are nothing or next to nothing.

If they do not enclose everything they are next to nothing,

If they are not the riddle and the untying of the riddle they are nothing,

If they are not just as  close as they are different they are nothing.

WALT WHITMAN

We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts we make the world.

THE BUDDHA

Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

THE RED QUEEN

Insects on a bough

     floating downriver

          still singing.

ISSA

All things that are born must die.  Work hard for your own freedom from sorrow.

THE BUDDHA

The mind that does not understand is the Buddha.  There is no other.

MA-TSU

A monk asked Wei-kuan:  “What is Tao?”
     Wei-kuan replied:  “What a fine mountain!”
     “I am asking you about the Tao–why do you talk of the mountain?”
     “As long as you only know about the mountain,”  said Wei-kuan, “you can never attain the Tao.”

ZEN MONDO