Recording Category: Dharma Talks
Flying Fish explores the skillful use of imagination in the cultivation of our practice, and the importance of imagining a more expansive world view as a means to open our practice to wisdom.
In his dharma talk, Sosetsu explores the second of Dogen’s Eight Awakenings of Great Beings.
With precepts classes starting this week, and with Jukai sesshin in early March, it seems appropriate to make the first dharma talk of 2025 about precepts practice. In this talk we’ll explore together how the precepts can be an essential part of our Zen spiritual path and some ways we can all bring precepts practice… Read more »
Sometimes life is vibrant and luminous. Sometimes it is…not
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.
Kakumyo talks about one aspect of our oryoki form, its symbolism, and what it shows us about dealing with our karma skillfully.
At the conclusion of Rohatsu Sesshin, Kakumyo gives a dharma talk that draws from and comments upon the talks he gave during retreat.
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.
Jyoshin explores the Wisdom Sutras in relation to where a bodhisattva stands in relation to this changing world of conditions.
Kakumyo explores the continuum of respect and reverence, and how this might feed or confuse our enthusiasm for practice.
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.
Kakumyo explores some of the side effects of meditation and a mindful life and how these have been worked with over time.
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.
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.
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.
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.