Ōryōki (Zen Style Three Bowl Cuisine)

** Check out Patrick's new book for desk workers at http://knowledgeworkerssurvivalguide.com **

On a recent meditation retreat to Tokei-in temple in Shizuoka Japan, Patrick made this video about the Zen monk 3 bowl eating tradition of ōryōki.

Many thanks to Brad Warner (http://hardcorezen.blogspot.com ) for leading the retreat and to Dogen Sangha
(http://www.dogensangha.org ) for organizing it.

Also thanks to Colin Cecil for filming and Ben Gibson for serving!

Music from John Williams

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• zen
• oryoki
• oriyoki
• ōryōki
• three
• bowls
• sesshin
• retreat
• Patrick
• pickle
• napkin
• chopsticks
• Yoga
• Garden

[earlra]

I have attended a Zendo where they give you hot tea to clean with, then you can either drink it or pour it back into the bucket.

[yogagarden]

Whoa, tea? What a fancy place! Living it up, zen style!

[Stratus128]

hey patrick.. great instructional video. um.. your bowl cloths look like they could use a hem... and maybe the big cloth could be a bit bigger so you could get a slip knot in on the final knot? ... ok sorry.. no.. i'm just being nit-picky.. not criticising.. I probably need a hobby or something

The background music .. is that a flute? it's cool.

[yogagarden]

You just use what they give you at the temple, and just like the whole meal, it's only enough for what you need and no more.

[henry4a]

What happens to that last pickle?

[yogagarden]

I have been asked this so many times! I think it's wonderful that people are paying such close (mindfull) attention.

You can either eat the pickle or give it to the hungry ghosts. Most people eat it.

[gwendolynbell]

A calm, clear explanation-demonstration of what oriyoki is and how it's done. I love that you show the simplicity of it...sometimes people talk about it like it's mysterious. Although the hungry ghost part is a bit, eating in this style is all about, as you say at the very end, cultivating mindfulness.

Thanks for the video, Patrick. Awesome, smooth editing and explanation. You are the Video Master!

[deadwoodsweep]

Thank you! I felt like that was a 4 minute zen retreat in itself!

[skmlnkrlsnk2041]

NEW`''IPAD2;`;ＦＲＥＥ';;SITES`:;;­':

ＷＷＷ.ＹＥＳＩＰＡＤ２Ｓ.ＴＫ

COPY SITE & PASTE

[Treehuggerapryl]

Are the cloths washed daily?



[eldruidacosmico]

It's amazing how zen practicioners have managed to make beautiful rituals to perfect every single mundane activity. Cooking, Eating, doing the dishes, sweeping, painting, gardening. I've heard you actually transformed all this simple tasked into an oportunity for silent meditation i.e. not thinking about anything but the task itself am I right patick?

[starfishyinthesky]

I love oryoki. It was my favorite part of staying at Sogen-ji in Okayama (well, minus the meditation)

[dragateli]

I have a question of this, is this how you eat for all meals? Is this enough nutrition?

I am interested in picking up zen style of eating :)

thanks

[idontcare321]

Patrick: so sexy! You are one of those guys who drives women crazy.

[iluvdancin]

Absolutely excellent, I learnt a lot from this video, thanks Patrick.

[BjornGunn]

I want more of these Ōryōki videos.

Their so soothing and relaxing to watch.

Or maybe i should purchase myself a set and eat in this particular fashion.

[reptilian]

I couldn't help but noticing how beautiful your arms seemed in the video. Would that be because of the gestures? I wonder