Dharma Talks are offered on Sunday mornings by teachers or senior students. These talks are designed to present some element of a dharmic theme in a way that is accessible to a public audience. Each of our teachers has a different dharma “voice,” sharing their understanding for the benefit of all in a way that is unique to them. More formal than a teisho (a talk given during a sesshin), and less structured than a class or lecture, Dharma Talks bring a personal, human element to the articulation of zen topics.
Recent Dharma Talks
| Date | Title & Details | Speaker | Listen | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/10/2024 |
Where the Bodhisattvas StandJyoshin explores the Wisdom Sutras in relation to where a bodhisattva stands in relation to this changing world of conditions. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Jyoshin Clay | ||
| 11/03/2024 |
RespectKakumyo explores the continuum of respect and reverence, and how this might feed or confuse our enthusiasm for practice. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 10/20/2024 |
The Sacred EmotionsThe 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 |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| 10/06/2024 |
BrightnessKakumyo explores some of the side effects of meditation and a mindful life and how these have been worked with over time. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 09/29/2024 |
A Zazen of the HeartHow 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 |
Robert Reian Glass | ||
| 09/22/2024 |
The Teaching of the ArhatsThere 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 |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 09/15/2024 |
Vow and Practice in PrisonGenko 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 |
Genko Rainwater | ||
| 09/08/2024 |
WishingWe 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 |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| 09/01/2024 |
Dharma Talk by JyoshinCategories: Dharma Talks |
Jyoshin Clay | ||
| 08/25/2024 |
Cutting Through Spiritual IdealismYincheng’s dharma talk explores practicing non-attainment with Yongjia. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Yincheng Shih | ||
| 08/18/2024 |
Spiritual BypassSpiritual 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 |
Mike Gyoshi Kaplan | ||
| 08/11/2024 |
Most HarmoniousHarmony 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 |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 08/04/2024 |
Belonging and IndifferenceCategories: Dharma Talks |
Mark Sosetsu Stauffer | ||
| 07/28/2024 |
Responding to the Cries of the WorldThere 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 |
Shin’yu Vitells | ||
| 07/21/2024 |
Fix MeWe 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 |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| 07/14/2024 |
Dharma Talk by Flying FishCategories: Dharma Talks |
Flying Fish Murphy | ||
| 07/07/2024 |
Dharma Talk by KakumyoCategories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 06/30/2024 |
Making SenseJyoshin tells three stories that illustrate some aspect of non-verbal ways to experience the world. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Jyoshin Clay | ||
| 06/16/2024 |
The Dharma Gate of Joyful Ease“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 |
Todd Tsuho Sattersten | ||
| 06/09/2024 |
Identity and the SelfGenko explores the relationship between pride in an identity that has experienced oppression and attachment to a constructed self. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Genko Rainwater | ||
| 06/02/2024 |
Staying Sane and Compassionate in this Wired WorldFaced 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 |
Mike Gyoshi Kaplan | ||
| 05/19/2024 |
Taking RefugeMost 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 |
Zonnyo Riger | ||
| 05/05/2024 |
Talk by JikoCategories: Dharma Talks |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| 05/12/2024 |
TempleJyoshin 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 |
Jyoshin Clay | ||
| 04/28/2024 |
Listening to the InsentientIt’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 |
Shin’yu Vitells | ||
| 04/21/2024 |
Talk by KakumyoKakumyo speaks about Nyogen Senzaki, Hongshi, and meditation practice. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 04/14/2024 |
Sangha ForumTwice 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 |
Dharma Council | ||
| 04/07/2024 |
Regrets Dosage RecommendationsRegret 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 |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 03/31/2024 |
Wishes and QuestionsWe all have three wishes, and one is a secret. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| 03/24/2024 |
Flying Fish Dharma TalkCategories: Dharma Talks |
Flying Fish Murphy | ||
| 03/17/2024 |
ESLT Dharma TalksThree participants in the ESLT (Emerging Sangha Leadership Training) program each give a short Dharma Talk. Categories: Dharma Talks |
ESLT Participants | ||
| 03/10/2024 |
Jyoshin’s Dharma TalkCategories: Dharma Talks |
Jyoshin Clay | ||
| 03/03/2024 |
Visible MindCategories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 02/25/2024 |
Ambivalence, Resistance, and VowWhat 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 |
Genko Rainwater | ||
| 02/11/2024 |
Dharma Talk by KakumyoCategories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 02/04/2024 |
Thoughts on Buddhism and LoveWhat 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 |
Robert Reian Glass | ||
| 01/21/2024 |
Hiding the SelfJiko 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 |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| 01/28/2024 |
Integration of Formal PracticeThis 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 |
Mark Sosetsu Stauffer | ||
| 01/14/2024 |
Bodhisattva PostureThis 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 |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 01/07/2024 |
The Perfect QuiltJyoshin 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 |
Jyoshin Clay | ||
| 12/17/2023 |
Everyday PracticeDogen 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 |
Shin’yu Vitells | ||
| 11/19/2023 |
Kakumyo’s Dharma TalkCategories: Dharma Talks |
Kakumyo Lowe-Charde | ||
| 11/26/2023 |
Include EverythingChan Master Hongzhi instructed us, “Contact phenomena with total sincerity, not a single atom of dust outside yourself.” Gyoshi explores implications of this instruction. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Mike Gyoshi Kaplan | ||
| 12/03/2023 |
We Can’t Help but SmileAs Rohatsu begins, we consider our relationship to awakening. Is it near or far? Vast or ordinary? Sometimes we can’t help but smile. Categories: Dharma Talks |
Sallie Jiko Tisdale | ||
| Date | Title & Details | Speaker | Listen | Download |