Recordings

As we begin Rohatsu, our longest and most solemn sesshin of the year, Genko looks at sesshin practice and the intimacy it fosters in the midst of deepening silence.

Categories: Dharma Talks

This week Kakumyo discussed the most subtle and difficult of the brahma viharas or divine abidings. Equanimity is a key factor in creating the relational context that we function in. Given Zen’s emphasis on the interdependence of life, practice and enlightenment, this relational content becomes important. Holidays are approaching, get your equanimity booster while you can.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Number 10 of 10. On Bodhisattvas

Categories: Wednesday Classes

In the Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Lines, bodhisattvas are described as “being armed with the great armor.” This week, Jyoshin will look at what this armor might be, how we tend to think about armoring, and how we may be able to shift towards utilizing spiritual armor instead of defensive armoring.  

Categories: Dharma Talks

The ninth class in a series of 10

Categories: Wednesday Classes

In Taking Our Places: The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up, Norman Fischer quotes Dogen as saying: “Only a Buddha and a Buddha can understand it.” Fischer goes on to say: “Even a Buddha by himself can’t understand it. Only a Buddha AND a Buddha can. Only through profound relationship, deep encounter, ineffable meeting, can we ever hope to appreciate the immense dimensions of our human life.”
Our Zen practice isn’t just sitting on the cushion by ourselves, though that’s a central component of it. Where do we find these profound relationships, deep encounters, ineffable meetings? What do they look like? Genko explores some facets of sangha, and invites others to contribute their own experiences.

Categories: Dharma Talks

This class is on the Brahmaviharas

Categories: Wednesday Classes

These are familiar words to any Zen student. But what does it really mean to forget the self? What is body and mind falling away? It is both nearer and more precious than we think. 

Categories: Dharma Talks

This class failed to record.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

This Sundays’ dharma talk was replaced by the Sejiki Festival.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Wednesday Classes

This Sunday, Kakumyo will talk about the trade offs between practices which tend to be subtle but thorough, and practices that tend to be easier, but only go so far or leave some kind of residue.  We need some of both, and there’s an art to the assessing of our level of awareness and choice of an appropriate method.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Dependent origination

Categories: Wednesday Classes

This is a recorded talk from Kyogen Carlson

Categories: Dharma Talks

The fourth Class in a series of ten. Skandhas and Abhidharma

Categories: Wednesday Classes

With the Two Ancestors Memorial taking the place of morning service this Sunday, Jyoshin will speak on the importance of inspiration in spiritual practice. From lineage ancestors to modern day muses, what/who is the source of your inspiration? 

Categories: Dharma Talks

There was no recording of this class.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Between what, you may well ask? Perhaps between two extremes. Perhaps between one season and the next, or what happens in the middle of a transition from one state, or one life, to another. Perhaps it’s a moment between thoughts on the cushion. It may be another way of saying the Middle Way. Genko explores some of these ways of looking at the theme of this weekend’s retreat.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Between what, you may well ask? Perhaps between two extremes. Perhaps between one season and the next, or what happens in the middle of a transition from one state, or one life, to another. Perhaps it’s a moment between thoughts on the cushion. It may be another way of saying the Middle Way. Genko explores some of these ways of looking at the theme of this weekend’s retreat.

Categories: Dharma Talks

The second class in a series of ten.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

  Buddha did say, “I teach suffering…” but he went on to say “…and an end to suffering.” In a spiritual tradition rooted in the teaching of suffering, what role does joy play? How does practicing with our suffering facilitate or inform our joy? Senior lay disciple Thomas Bruner explores the concept of turning toward joy with the same curiosity, attention and intention as turning toward suffering

Categories: Dharma Talks

 Buddha did say, “I teach suffering…” but he went on to say “…and an end to suffering.” In a spiritual tradition rooted in the teaching of suffering, what role does joy play? How does practicing with our suffering facilitate or inform our joy? Senior lay disciple Thomas Bruner explores the concept of turning toward joy with the same curiosity, attention and intention as turning toward suffering.

Categories: Dharma Talks

This is the first class of a ten class series on the basic teachings of the Buddha

Categories: Wednesday Classes

On the kickoff for Fall Ango 2019, we’ll explore our connection to our sense of purpose and meaning. How do our deepest wishes ripple through the intentions and aspirations of our everyday life? Are we feeding this process, and are we drawing from it appropriately?

Categories: Dharma Talks

On the kickoff for Fall Ango 2019, we’ll explore our connection to our sense of purpose and meaning. How do our deepest wishes ripple through the intentions and aspirations of our everyday life? Are we feeding this process, and are we drawing from it appropriately?

Categories: Dharma Talks

This week we will talk about interdependence, dependence, and the practice of meeting old age, disease and death around us, drawing on some early Pali sources for inspiration

Categories: Dharma Talks

For many zen practitioners – oldtimers, newcomers, and those in their zen-midlife, there is a question of “how much?” How much formal practice? How much time spent at the temple? How much time spent studying Buddhism? Often the reply that comes is a perplexing, “find a balance.” What does this even mean? What does a balanced practice look like? How do we recognize that sweet spot?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Categories: Dharma Talks

 With late summer settling in, the coast beckons. A cool breeze, ocean waters, little purple anemone. Anticipation and delight fill the mind. How do we keep refreshing enjoyment from becoming sticky attachment? What happens when anticipation meets actual experience? This Sunday Jyoshin talks about the dharma teachings of tide pools.    

Categories: Dharma Talks

This Sunday, Kakumyo will give a numerical answer to this often asked question about Zen practice. Should be a short talk.    

Categories: Dharma Talks

In a society that trains us for standing out and being special; collecting likes and retweets; and developing our personal brand, how can the teachings of our ancestors even be relevant? Did Dogen offer anything that comes close to addressing the needs of this world? (hint: the answer is ‘yes’.)  

Categories: Dharma Talks

There are many invisible beings supporting our practice. Sometimes we think of our tasks as small or unimportant. But in the matrix of Buddha Nature, no task can be greater or smaller than another. How do we approach our tasks when there seems to be a difference in importance?  

Categories: Dharma Talks