In DOUGHGEN'S SHOBOTENZO it clearly states that making SOURDOUGH BREAD rather than YEASTED BREAD is the activity of a true practitioner. For a while, i concentrated deeply on following this principle. Sourdough breads take a long time to effect (SOTO practice) whereas Yeasted breads can be more sudden (Rinzai practice). But let us not fall into delusion, thinking one bread is superior to the other...All roads lead to Rome...and look at what the Romans did with dough!........Golden GOJI Hermitage - 19th/april/2014.

KWIK WORK : 7 : A "NEW" TEACHING from MASTER DOUGHGEN

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COOK :

If possible, always choose organic quality ingredients. Honour the environment and your own place in it. Do not rely on others. Prove things for yourself.

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250gms White Spelt Flour

250gms Wholemeal Wheat Flour

250gms Malthouse Flour

2tsp Dried Yeast

2Tsp Blackstrap Molasses

1tsp Sea Salt

2Tsp Oil

450mls Warm Water

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[All quantities are approximate. Be guided by your intuition and experience.]

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"There is a pleasant equation between the practice of Zazen and Breadmaking. One can regard the time for kneading the dough (10 minutes), as the time for which one does kinhin. And the baking (40 minutes), and the proving (60 minutes) as relating to times for sitting periods."
[This is a quote from MASTER DOUGHGEN'S "SHOBOTENZO." ANOTHER QUOTE from the same source = "THE PROOF OF THE BAKING IS IN THE KNOCKING.... KNOCK THREE TIMES (on the bottom of the just-baked loaf. If fully cooked, a hollow drum-like noise will resound.) This has been the tradition handed-down to us from the precedent of having to knock on 3 separate occasions to gain entrance, and be accepted for training, at a monastery. This is part of what I learned during my time in China."]
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Golden GOJI Hermitage
13th/april/2014
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"I PRAISE THOSE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS TAKE FOR GRANTED."

Thru  two top windows
only blue sky and
corners of clouds
passing by
now and then


thru one bottom window
plum's fresh green leaves and
branches abound


but 'tis too hot
reading thru Jennings'
"Praises" naked in 
squares of sun


so one top window's opened
allows breeze that
bottom one will not


praise and purpose enough
view of waving plum and
dark pines beyond.


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Golden GOJI Hermitage
9th/april/2014
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N.B. The title of this poem is taken from the first line of Elizabeth Jennings' poem, "Praises", in the book of the same name = "PRAISES", Carcanet, 1998.


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Life is one big road with lots of signs - BOB MARLEY

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On Newstead Road
circa 7p.m.
Golden GOJI Hermitage
circa 9p.m.
5th/april/2014
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BLOGPOST #304

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Golden GOJI Hermitage

3rd/april/2014

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