Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 12/3/23 - From "The Hidden Lamp, Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women" - Hojin Sensei presents a koan of Lingzhao and her father, falling together. How do we fall with someone? How do we accept somebody’s support? And do we ever know that we are helping?

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 11/26/23 - Hojin presents a koan based on a Chinese folk tale that takes on the question of identity, and speaks about its relevance for us today.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 11/12/23 - From "The Hidden Lamp, Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women" - Hojin Sensei examines the nature of Mara, the "lord of delusion," who comes to Soma and to all of us in many forms. What are the particular ways in which Mara hooks us? How can we bring awareness to Mara's revelations about our delusion, while not giving those voices more power?

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 11/5/23 - In this story, from The Hidden Lamp, an old woman hears and breaks though Hakuin’s teaching: "Your mind is the Pure Land, and your body is Amida Buddha. If you want to understand, look into your own heart.” Hojin weaves a tapestry of intimate expressions encouraging practitioners to heed the Buddha’s words: “Dwell! You are the light itself.” — the light reaches everywhere. Trust this!

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZMM - 10/27/23 - Given in the context of a Fusatsu: Renewal of Vows Ceremony, Sensei explores the mythical lore around one of the primary bodhisattvas of the Buddhist world, Samantabhadra, the bodhisattva of “enlightened activity,” an emanation of our own practice activity in the world.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 10/22/2023 - What happens to the moon when its reflection vanishes? In the same vein, where do we go when we truly open up and let go? Becoming more aware that we and all things are without self, we'll experience the freedom to choose; to "hold it together" or "let things fall apart", in accord with our situation.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 10/21/23 - During this Zazenkai talk it’s brought out that as we practice we see how much strength and training the mind needs so it doesn’t go off the rails. Zazen may be the most useful skill to develop in bringing the mind to the end of suffering, something no other skill can do. How fortunate we have Zazen and the path in our lives.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 10/15/2023 - How do we walk the path of peace in this life, especially in times of great conflict and violence? How do we practice intimacy with our tendency to create conflict in our actions, words, and thoughts? And how do we manifest (as Shantideva puts it) "May even acts of harm help the violent to awaken"?

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 9/03/2023 - Hojin Sensei opens the Fall Ango practice period at Fire Lotus Temple and introduces this Ango's theme of "Intimate Language." She speaks about the historical roots of the Ango tradition, what "intensification of practice" can look like, and some of the ways in which the sangha is invited to delve into training these next 90 days.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - ZCNYC - 9/2/2023 - From The Gateless Gate, Case 41: "Bodhidharma and Peace of Mind." - In this talk given during the Peaceful Dwelling Zazenkai at Fire Lotus Temple, Hojin Sensei asks what it means to truly walk the path of peace. She invites us to consider how we work with the aspects of ourselves and the world that are not at peace.