The Zen Mountain Monastery Podcast

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - Zen Center of New York City, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 07/10/2022 - How can we recognize the mechanics of proliferation in our thoughts? How can we skillfully meet the "grasper" in our minds? In this talk, Hojin Sensei speaks to the natural capacity of our mind to proliferate and the similarly natural capacity to make space. She draws upon the practice instructions of Zen master Hongzhi in The Bright Boundless Field.

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 07/03/2022 - From Master Wu-men's Gateless Gate, Case 44 - Pa-chiao and a Stick - "What is it that we attach to? Anything that is perceived as being outside ourselves becomes an object and therefore becomes a very likely candidate for clinging. Because to grasp at anything, it has to be ‘not me’. So what’s actually being grasped in our grasping? Is it the object? So there is something that I want. It might be an object, a car, clothing, a plate of food, a house, a person. It could be anything. Am I grasping at the object itself? Or am I grasping at my idea of the object? Or am I grasping at my desire for the object? Or am I grasping at whatever I want that object to do for me? Whatever I want to get from it: happiness, satisfaction, a thrill. Or am I grasping at what I want all of that to make me feel about myself? Worthy, capable, intelligent, smart, successful. What are we actually grasping at?"

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - Zen Center of New York City, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 07/03/2022 - What is sincere practice? How can we look at ourselves and the world honestly and gently? Hojin Sensei speaks about the role of sincerity in Zen practice and how to enter every moment with a sincere heart.

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 06/26/2022 - Drawing from the teachings of Longchenpa (14th Century Tibet), Shantideva (8th century India) and Dogen (13th century Japan) Shugen Roshi speaks of The Four Immeasurables. He reminds us of the importance of reciting them as a practice each morning. The recitation is a raising of intention, a setting of our attitude - an attitude of love, compassion, sympathetic joy and impartiality. What's next? Shugen Roshi encourages us to keep that intention in mind all day long, to "set out" to actualize them for others and ourselves in our everyday activities, continuously practicing and opening, with the guidance of the precepts and the Six Paramitas (Giving, Discipline, Patience, Diligence, Concentration and Wisdom.)

Patrick Yunen Kelly, Senior Lay Student - Zen Center of New York City, Sunday 06/26/2022 - In this talk, Yunen delves into the Heart Sutra, exploring how this important teaching comes to us and the depth of what it has to offer.

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 06/25/2022 - Drawing from the teachings of Shantideva (8th century India), Dogen (13th century Japan) and Longchenpa (14th Century Tibet), Shugen Roshi speaks of bodhicitta, the wish to realize enlightenment for the benefit of others. "This bodhicitta is not something. It’s alive, it’s inexpressible, it’s inconceivable. It doesn’t belong to buddhism but buddhism understands it profoundly, and we have our own language for it. It’s available to every person but you cannot possess it. You can’t lose it. But it can grow dim. It is born from faith, it is nurtured by faith, it is verified by faith, within ourselves. Bodhicitta requires an opening, a softening, to find its way in to our discerning mind that is beyond calculation. Where does this come from? In response to affinity between the dharma and the student. You feel it when it’s there. You know it. You may not understand it, be able to express it. But there is something going on. Something is stirring, something is coming together. It’s as if it is something you already know. It is not a stranger. But it is strange..."

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Friday 06/24/2022 - How do we relate to all that comes up in our everyday life - our "ingredients" - and what are the attitudes with which we conduct ourselves? How do we practice our lives? Hojin Sensei guides us through Master Dogen's "Tenzo Kyōkun - Instructions for the Cook", and explores Dogen's "Secrets of Enlightenment": 1) Living with a joyful heart 2) Caring with the deep concerns of a parent 3) Performing all activities with compassion.

Degna Chikei Levister, Senior Lay Student - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Thursday 06/23/2022 - From a poem, "Friend", by an early Buddhist Nun, Mita. - How do we know when we are acting out of our conditioning? Are we always aware of our emotional drivers, our fears? From the Early Buddhist nuns to Master Dogen to our contemporaries, Chikei shares her inspiration to diligently and continuously practice everything in our life ("Don't waste your suffering."), be vigilant of our conditioning ("Know thyself.") and remember to hold ourselves with compassion ("Make everyone a friend, especially ourselves.").

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Wednesday 06/22/2022 - From Master Dogen's Shobogenzo Fascicle "King of Samadhis" - We speak of Samadhi as being meditation, concentration, single-minded focus. In this talk Shugen Roshi points out that in the Buddhist sense Samadhi is based in morality and compassion. It's not separate. It's one aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path, all eight of which are to be cultivated together.

Zen Mountain Monastery - From The Book of Serenity, Case 70 - Jinshan Asks About Nature - "What happens in the moments when the self has been seen through and we are still being held back? In that moment, that which has been seen is not being actualized. Having tamed the untamed, having freed the buddha from its entanglements, those entanglements still have energy, still have life. That’s why the idea that we can practice, apply effort, have an experience that we call enlightenment and be done is a false idea. What is this whole idea of being ‘done’. If you’re an artist, when are you done? If you’re a school teacher, a parent, when are you done? Not just done in the sense that there is something more to do, but done in the sense of strengthening your strength, refining your skill..."