Dharma Talks

On the day that Rohatsu sesshin begins, amidst cold, dark, and rain, Genko explores the value of rest, going deep, nourishing the roots of the earth.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo talks about one aspect of our oryoki form, its symbolism, and what it shows us about dealing with our karma skillfully.

Categories: Dharma Talks

At the conclusion of Rohatsu Sesshin, Kakumyo gives a dharma talk that draws from and comments upon the talks he gave during retreat.

Categories: Dharma Talks

The political climate in our country is causing strong emotions to arise on both sides of the political spectrum. Our practice can help us respond skillfully, with wisdom and compassion.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin explores the Wisdom Sutras in relation to where a bodhisattva stands in relation to this changing world of conditions.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo explores the continuum of respect and reverence, and how this might feed or confuse our enthusiasm for practice.

Categories: Dharma Talks

The virtuous states of mind known as the brahmaviharas are a foundation of Buddhist teaching. It’s easy to get caught in their subtle net. We explore why these “sacred emotions” can be so difficult.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo explores some of the side effects of meditation and a mindful life and how these have been worked with over time.

Categories: Dharma Talks

How many ways are there to work with what arises in the heart/mind of meditation? Thoughts and feelings may not be two, but they are not one either. It may be helpful to explore at least one approach to feelings that differs from that of thoughts.

Categories: Dharma Talks

There are many models that we elevate to inspire and inform our practice. One model that we don’t talk about a whole lot is the arhats. This talk fixes that.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Genko describes how she came to prison work and shares some of what she’s learned in doing it for the last 16 or so years.

Categories: Dharma Talks

We begin to practice because of a wish – an aspiration. In Buddhism, this takes the form of the vow. Shohaku Okumura calls this “a stupid way of life.” Jiko’s talk explores what this means.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

Yincheng’s dharma talk explores practicing non-attainment with Yongjia.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Spiritual bypass can be defined as the use of spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks. However, it also provides a unique perspective through which we can view many aspects of our practice. Gyoshi explores some of these.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Harmony is one of those underrated states. It seems like a good idea but doesn’t tend to be a critical priority, and may be a bit of an acquired taste in practice. Kakumyo talks about some of our tools for increasing, maintaining, and protecting interpersonal harmony.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

There seems to be so much suffering in the world right now that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How can we respond appropriately?

Categories: Dharma Talks

We all come to practice with an expectation of what practice will give us. In our not-so-secret hearts, we are hoping to get fixed. Jiko discusses.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin tells three stories that illustrate some aspect of non-verbal ways to experience the world.

Categories: Dharma Talks

“All beings want to move toward a state of ease.” What is ease in the Buddhist sense? And how do we move towards it?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Genko explores the relationship between pride in an identity that has experienced oppression and attachment to a constructed self.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Faced with the ongoing barrage of emotionally-hooked news of all that’s wrong in the world, we may experience reactivity. How can we lighten up on our reactivity, and find ways to meet global dukkha with wisdom, compassion, and non-separation? Gyoshi explores these challenges in his dharma talk.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Most of us can identify one (or more) of the Three Poisons of greed, hatred and delusion that most closely matches our karmic patterns. This sometimes results in shame, which makes it difficult to progress in practice. In her student talk this Sunday, Zonnyo explores how taking refuge in the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha can help in our work with the Three Poisons.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin asks “What is a temple?” and goes on to explore different ways of viewing that. She talks about Nagarjuna’s The Precious Garland of Advice for a King, which contains myriad Buddhist Teachings, with a concise summary at the end.

Categories: Dharma Talks

It’s said that all beings, sentient and insentient, expound the Dharma. How can we listen to the Dharma of trees, rocks and compost buckets? How can we meet them?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo speaks about Nyogen Senzaki, Hongshi, and meditation practice.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Twice a year, the sangha has an opportunity to hear from our governing bodies and to ask questions and give feedback. In the spring, the forum is sponsored by the Dharma Council, giving updates on liturgy, classes, etc. The Board and Dharma Garden Council will also give updates.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Regret is one of those phenomena that can go different directions; it can provide wholesome clarity or throw us off our seat. How we perceive and relate to responsibility, and the quality of awareness that we offer the arising of regret plays a major role here. Kakumyo explores this dynamic.

Categories: Dharma Talks

We all have three wishes, and one is a secret.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

Three participants in the ESLT (Emerging Sangha Leadership Training) program each give a short Dharma Talk.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

What happens when we set an intention, make a vow to change something in our lives? Often, resistance arises. What is that, what causes it, and how can we work with it?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

What if the whole of Zen practice, from meditation to the precepts to kensho and back again, is all about learning how to love? What if the only reason we come into being is to learn to love?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jiko explores a concept from Developmental Psychology of the true self and the false self in the light of Buddhist practice. In what ways do we hide, and in what ways do we hope to be seen?

Categories: Dharma Talks

This talk centers around questions of how to integrate formal practice into ordinary daily life. Our formal practice can feel separate from our everyday way, and at times, we might long for it to be otherwise. Questions around integrating precept work, mindfulness, sesshin, and zazen are not uncommon.

Categories: Dharma Talks

This isn’t a talk on body mechanics, but on how, as aspiring bodhisattvas, we situate ourselves in relation to the suffering around and within us. How do we structure our life, how do we frame the events and interactions around us in a way that nurtures and expresses our bodhisattva nature?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin uses an illustration from her hospital chaplain work to talk about some of the ways we get caught trying to be perfect and in so doing lose sight of the reality and importance being present with things as they are.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Dogen says, “Continuous practice, day after day, is the most appropriate way of expressing gratitude. This means that you practice continuously, without wasting a single day of your life”. What does continuous practice look like in our everyday lives?

Categories: Dharma Talks