Given by Gengyoko Tim Wicks at City Center on May 13th, 2026

Gengyoku Tim Wicks explores Dogen Zenji's famous teaching, "To study the Buddha way is to study the self," through the lens of recovery, trauma, and meditation practice.

Given by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler at Green Gulch Farm on May 10th, 2026

Jiryu Rutschman-Byler explores and invites the practice of profound ease, which we can touch by exhaling completely enough to “let go of hundreds of years,” and which can feel like, as Suzuki Roshi teaches, being back in the lap of our mother, or of the Buddha.

Given by Kim Kogen Daiho Hart at City Center on May 6th, 2026

Kim Kōgen Daihō Hart, who was raised in apartheid South Africa, explores themes of accepting what is unacceptable and what our practice asks of us.

Given by Gengyoko Tim Wicks at City Center on May 2nd, 2026

The talk discusses the significance of the Platform Sutra in Zen practice, highlighting its role in the exploration of sudden versus gradual enlightenment and the inherent purity of the mind. The discussion also emphasizes the historical continuity of Zen teachings through the teacher-student lineage, notably the transmission from Bodhidharma to his disciple Huike, and the subsequent teachings encapsulated in the Platform Sutra during the Tang Dynasty. The talk underscores the importance of direct experience and mindfulness in daily activities as a means to realize liberation from suffering.

• Platform Sutra: Explores sudden vs. gradual enlightenment, emphasizing the inherent purity of the mind, and the unity of all things.
• Lankavatara Sutra: Referred to as the mind-only sutra, it discusses the manifestation of all phenomena from the mind and relates to the central Buddhist theme of transforming suffering through mindfulness.
• Dhammapada: An early Buddhist text illustrating the precedence and influence of the mind on lived experience and suffering.
• Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki: Explores the importance of having a beginner's mind, which allows for many possibilities, as opposed to an expert's mind, which is more limited.
• Lineage of Bodhidharma: Chronicles the teacher-student relationship which maintains the Zen tradition, beginning with Bodhidharma as the first ancestor bringing Chan (Zen) to China.
• Koans: Referenced to illustrate important Zen teachings, such as the dialogue between Huike and Bodhidharma about pacifying the mind.

Given by Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道 at City Center on April 29th, 2026

Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道 explores the theme of the Spring Practice Period and explores the relationship between “nothing lacking” and “continuous practice”.

Given by Kiku Christina Lehnherr at Green Gulch Farm on April 26th, 2026

Kiku Christina Lehnherr teaches that cultivating generosity, patience, tolerance, compassion, gentleness and steadfastness are essential to create, and be in intimate relationship with our body. Taking care of it is simultaneously taking care of all existence.

Given by Ben Connelly at City Center on April 25th, 2026

Ben shares from his new book “Inside the Flower Garland Sutra, Huayan Buddhism and the Modern World.” Ben illustrates the teachings with stories and lessons from his recent involvement with an array of nonviolent community responses to the violence ICE brought to his hometown Minneapolis in 2026.

Given by Shosan Victoria Austin at City Center on April 22nd, 2026

Shosan Victoria Austin, in this Earth Day lecture, invites us to contemplate how practicing ethics protects both us and the world.

Given by Doshin Dan Gudgel at City Center on April 15th, 2026

Doshin Dan Gudgel expresses a hope for lasting peace in this world, based on deep belief in interconnection and impermanence, and the incredible cosmic rarity of life itself.

Given by Rinso Ed Sattizahn at Green Gulch Farm on April 12th, 2026

Rinso Ed Sattizahn reflects on the meaning of Jizo’s staff and comments on David Chadwick and the Shunryu Suzuki teaching story “Everything Changes.”