Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Tuesday 12/28/2021 - From Dongshan's "Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi" - This is Part 2 of Shugen Roshi's teaching on Dongshan's poem. Here he focuses on the metaphor of the mirror; how it's been used throughout various Buddhist teachings, what it means and how it helps us relate to our own experience.

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 12/19/2021 - Shugen Roshi offers this dharma discourse on the monastic life.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - Zen Center of NYC, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 12/12/2021 - Dharma talk at the completion of the vigil commemorating Buddha's enlightenment. - Hojin sensei speaks to the life of Buddha before and after his enlightenment. Her skillful narration points to the same experiences we may share with Shakyamuni, and we can find an inspiration to practice wholeheartedly.

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 12/12/2021 - From Dongshan's "Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi" - Shugen Roshi offers this Dharma Discourse as a fitting teaching at the completion of this year's Buddha's Enlightenment Vigil. We do the vigil to endeavor what the Buddha did. And there is indeed something to celebrate; that the Buddha decided to teach and transmit what he realized. Dongshan's song starts out by imploring us to take care of this intimate, profound teaching. "Now you have it, keep it well."

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 12/05/2021 - From Wumen's Gateless Gate, Case 39 - Yunmen says you've missed it. - When we experience suffering, more often than not, we disseminate it in various ways so that others also experience suffering. However, the Buddha realized that we can actively bring suffering to rest. Don't wait. Examine it when it arises.

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei - Zen Center of NYC, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 12/05/2021 - Hojin Sensei speaks on the practice of patience, drawing on historical and modern day bodhisattvas, skillfully showing that it is in the very moments when we do not want to practice patience that we can step into and see our mind.

Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Senior Monastic and Dharma Holder - Zen Mountain Monastery, Sunday 11/28/2021 - From Bodhidharma's "Breakthrough Sermon" - Drawing inspiration from Bodhidharma's "Breakthrough Sermon", Gokan encourages us to behold our mind; this is the essential practice of Zen. When we are not attentive, the thoughts we allow to develop in our mind separate us from this world. However, we can choose to not be swallowed by our thoughts; by giving our awareness to this moment.

Patrick Yunen Kelly, Senior Lay Student - Zen Center of New York City, 11/28/2021 - Yunen explores the universal experience of grief, examining how it can come into our lives through tremendous loss and also through smaller disappointments. Yet in this grief, large or small there is space to practice and realize ourselves.

Degna Chikei Levister, Senior Lay Student - Zen Mountain Monastery, Sunday 11/21/2021 - True Dharma Eye, Case 2 - Baizhang Remains Seated - On November 21st, we concluded our Fall 90-day ango training period with this Shuso Hossen ceremony. Shuso Hossen means "chief disciple (or, literally, 'head seat') dharma encounter." It is a centuries-old tradition that empowers a Zen student to represent the teachings and help guide other students in their own cultivation. In this case, Degna Chikei Levister completed her training in the role of Shuso by offering her first public talk to the sangha in which she presented her understanding of a koan from the collection found in the teachings of Eihei Dogen.  Following her talk, there was a "dharma encounter" in which Chikei was asked questions by those in attendance for further clarification. After an acknowledgement from her teacher, Shugen Roshi, a number of monastics and fellow practitioners offered Chikei congratulatory poems.

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi - Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 11/20/2021 - From Transmission of the Light, Case 22 - The 21st Indian Ancestor, Vasubandhu - As we practice to free ourselves, we are constantly in the midst of change. And in this endlessly changing world, we unknowingly try to create a substantial, permanent self. This interaction between Vasubandhu and Jayata illustrates the essence of middle way. By not denying, not grasping or seeking something eternal, we will encounter a true way of patience, generosity, perseverance, faith, respect and devotion. Practice is not about a perfect life, it is about living this life completely.