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
12/01/2024
Going to the Root

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

Genko Rainwater
11/24/2024
An Acquired Taste

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
12/08/2024
Right Now!

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
11/17/2024
Interconnectedness in Divisive Times

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

Shin’yu Vitells
11/10/2024
Where the Bodhisattvas Stand

Jyoshin 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
Respect

Kakumyo 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 Emotions

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

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
10/06/2024
Brightness

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
09/29/2024
A Zazen of the Heart

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

Robert Reian Glass
09/22/2024
The Teaching of the Arhats

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
09/15/2024
Vow and Practice in Prison

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

Genko Rainwater
09/08/2024
Wishing

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

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
09/01/2024
Dharma Talk by Jyoshin

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin Clay
08/25/2024
Cutting Through Spiritual Idealism

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

Categories: Dharma Talks

Yincheng Shih
08/18/2024
Spiritual Bypass

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

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
08/11/2024
Most Harmonious

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
08/04/2024
Belonging and Indifference

Categories: Dharma Talks

Mark Sosetsu Stauffer
07/28/2024
Responding to the Cries of the World

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

Shin’yu Vitells
07/21/2024
Fix Me

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

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
07/14/2024
Dharma Talk by Flying Fish

Categories: Dharma Talks

Flying Fish Murphy
07/07/2024
Dharma Talk by Kakumyo

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
06/30/2024
Making Sense

Jyoshin 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 Self

Genko 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 World

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

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
05/19/2024
Taking Refuge

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

Zonnyo Riger
05/05/2024
Talk by Jiko

Categories: Dharma Talks

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
05/12/2024
Temple

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

Jyoshin Clay
04/28/2024
Listening to the Insentient

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

Shin’yu Vitells
04/21/2024
Talk by Kakumyo

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

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
04/14/2024
Sangha Forum

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

Dharma Council
04/07/2024
Regrets Dosage Recommendations

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
03/31/2024
Wishes and Questions

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

Categories: Dharma Talks

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
03/24/2024
Flying Fish Dharma Talk

Categories: Dharma Talks

Flying Fish Murphy
03/17/2024
ESLT Dharma Talks

Three 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 Talk

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin Clay
03/03/2024
Visible Mind

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
02/25/2024
Ambivalence, Resistance, and Vow

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

Genko Rainwater
02/11/2024
Dharma Talk by Kakumyo

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
02/04/2024
Thoughts on Buddhism and Love

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

Robert Reian Glass
01/21/2024
Hiding the Self

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

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
01/28/2024
Integration of Formal Practice

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

Mark Sosetsu Stauffer
01/14/2024
Bodhisattva Posture

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

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
01/07/2024
The Perfect Quilt

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

Jyoshin Clay
12/17/2023
Everyday Practice

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

Shin’yu Vitells
11/19/2023
Kakumyo’s Dharma Talk

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
11/26/2023
Include Everything

Chan 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 Smile

As 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

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