The Zen of Everything

By Jundo Cohen & Kirk McElhearn

Society & Culture Comedy Religion & Spirituality Buddhism

What's The Zen of Everything about?

The Zen of Everything presents a zen take on life, love, laughter, and everything else. With Jundo Cohen, a real zen master, and Kirk McElhearn, a guy who knows a bit about zen.

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The Zen of Everything episodes:

09.01.2023
Episode 108: A Look Back
How did we get here? Jundo and Kirk discuss how they got involved in Buddhism and Zen. Treeleaf 108 What are the 108 Defilements (Bonno) Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind Zen Flesh, Zen Bones Meditation in Action Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation John...
08.18.2023
Episode 107: Bad Buddhists
Aren't buddhists supposed to maintain equanimity all the time, not have bad thoughts, not be jealous or angry? Treeleaf Vinaya rules about sex James Austin: Zen and the Brain If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you...
08.04.2023
Episode 106: Was Buddha a Revolutionary or a Conservative?
Was the Buddha a proto-communist, or did he go with the flow and the status quo? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance - Karl Marx: Capital If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast,...
07.21.2023
Episode 105: The Monk with a Mortgage
Some zen practitioners get ordained, becoming unsui, or "clouds in water," which means they are trainee zen monks or priest. We discuss ordination and what it means. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Renpo Niwa Zenji If you want to get in touch,...
07.07.2023
Episode 104: The Best Zen Books
Zen is the transmission outside of words. But there sure are a lot of books about Zen. We look at some of the best books on Zen. Soto Zen, that is. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Kosho Uchiyama Roshi: Opening...
06.23.2023
Episode 103: Jundo's Decluttering Tips
We have too much stuff. We discuss the CohenJundo method of decluttering. Treeleaf - Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or...
06.09.2023
Episode 102: Buddha Basics 15: The Heart Sutra Explained in 25 Minutes
Jundo attempts to explain the Heart Sutra in 25 minutes. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance The Heart Sutra Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) Buddha Basics 02: Dukkha Sucks If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please...
05.26.2023
Episode 101: Big and Small
Big and small, two extremes, but, in zen, there's no difference. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Ushiku Daibutsu If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your...
05.12.2023
Episode 100: Two Guys in a Zen Pub
For our 100th episode, we have a freewheeling chat about what we've learned from making this podcast. Like two guys chatting in a pub... The universe is a cosmic joke, and we are the punchline. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Kirk's...
04.28.2023
Episode 99: Buddha Basics 14: The Five Hindrances
The five hindrances are sensual desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, anxiousness and worry, and doubt. But if there's nothing to obtain in Zen, do they even matter? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send...
04.14.2023
Episode 98: Flying Rabbits on the Moon
Do we know anything? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.
03.31.2023
Episode 97: Prayer
Is there prayer in zen? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer If you want to get in touch,...
03.17.2023
Episode 96: Thinking about Thoughts
We think thoughts all the time. Why do we have these thoughts, and how do we deal with them? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Episode 95: Buddha Basics 13: Practice, Practice, Practice If you want to get in touch, send an email...
03.03.2023
Episode 95: Buddha Basics 13: Practice, Practice, Practice
What does it mean to practice zen? "Every tick of the clock holds all of time in the universe." Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Nishijima Roshi: The Dish Rack Teachings Steve Howe: Clap If you want to get in touch, send an...
02.17.2023
Episode 94: Zen and Creativity
The Zen arts have very strict rules, which you can break when you've mastered them. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Chiku Za (Kodama Hiroyuki): Koku (shakuhachi music) Takemitsu: From me flows what you call Time Photo: Tea Tray Enso John Daido Loori: The Zen...
02.03.2023
Episode 93: Rules and When to Break Them
Part of Zen tradition is to follow silly rules in order to become free of silly rules. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow...
01.20.2023
Episode 92: Motivation
How do zen people get motivated? Is sitting zazen a form of procrastination? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts...
01.06.2023
Episode 91: Monastic Life at Home
Should you try to live a monastic life at home? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Monty Python: Four Yorkshiremen If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts...
12.23.2022
Episode 90: Buddha Basics 12: Equanimiousness
We discuss why a Zen vacuum cleaner comes with no attachments. We speak passionately about equanimity, and revel in non-attachment. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Episode 15: I'm Dreaming of a Zen Christmas Tsundoku Historical European new year dates Theme music by Kiku Day....
12.09.2022
Episode 89: Buddha Basics 11: DharmaSangha
In the triumvirate of the three jewels, dharma and sangha are inferior to the Buddha, but are they really? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Theme music by Kiku Day. If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]....
11.25.2022
Episode 88: Buddha Basics 10: Is Zen (Even) Buddhism
Some people say that Zen isn't really Buddhism. We disagree. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche What Makes You Not a Buddhist The Cup Mubi Episode 62: Buddhisms John Cage: Indeterminacy Theme music by Kiku Day. If you want to get...
11.11.2022
Episode 87: Buddha Basics 09: The Divine Abodes
We discuss the bramavihara, or four divine abodes, and Jundo chants to bring the moon back. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance Bramavihara Life Is Hard by Kieran Setiya review Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]....
10.28.2022
Episode 86: Buddha Basics 08: Let's Meet the Paramitas
We discuss the paramitas, or the virtues of a bodhisattva. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance Paramitas Episode 31: The Precepts Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in...
10.14.2022
Episode 85: Buddha Basics 07: WhatsaWhosaBodhisattva
We answer the timeless question of, what is, who is a Bodhisattva. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance List of bodhisattvas (Wikipedia) Stephen Batchelor, Living with the Devil Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you...
09.30.2022
Episode 84: Buddha Basics 06: Born-Again Buddha
What's all this stuff about rebirth? Can we really be reborn as the god of the perfect bagel, or as slugs? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance Episode 35: Karma Hungry ghosts Gil Fronsdal, Should I Believe in Rebirth? Pascal's wager Theme music by...
09.16.2022
Episode 83: Buddha Basics 05: The Octo-Holistic Lifestyle
The eightfold path describes how we should live. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance The Eightfold Path Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts...
09.02.2022
Episode 82: Buddha Basics 04: Break That Chain!
The twelve steps of dependent origination describe how the self is formed, how we perceive the world, and how we grasp and desire things. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance Dependent origination Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send...
08.19.2022
Episode 81: Buddha Basics 03: No Self, No Problem
Buddhism often talks about how there is no self, but there is a self; if not, we couldn't take selfies. But at the same time there's no self. No problem. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance Theme music by Kiku Day. To...
08.05.2022
Buddha Basics 02: Dukkha Sucks
But dukkha is about much more than suffering: it also means dissatisfaction, anxiety, frustration and disappointment. Its opposite is sukha, which means satisfaction, equanimity, ease, flowing with conditions. "Dukkha is sucky, but sukha is ducky." Treeleaf Jundo Cohen, The Zen Master's Dance Theme music...
07.28.2022
Episode 80: Is Your Car the Next Security Risk?
Cars are the next target for hackers; we look at vulnerabilities in standalone GPS devices, and we also discuss how Honda shrugged when presented with security vulnerabilities. We also go over the recent Apple operating system updates, and look at...
07.22.2022
Buddha Basics 01: Oodles of Buddhas
This is the first episode of our Buddha Basics series, which looks at the basics of Buddhism as never expressed before, featuring the irreverent comments of Reverend Jundo, a real Zen Roshi. No Buddha BS here. In this Buddha Basics...
07.08.2022
Episode 78: Buddhasplaining
We discuss abortion and women's right to choose from a Buddhist perspective. Treeleaf Mizuko kuyō Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite...
06.24.2022
Episode 77: The Universe
How big is the universe? How long is time? Treeleaf Edwin A. Abott: Flatland Where Is The Center of the Universe? Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in...
06.10.2022
Episode 76: Guns
We generally avoid politics, but with the increased gun violence in the US, we had to talk about zen and guns. Treeleaf Water Margin Daiho Hilbert Osaka school massacre Dr. Stef Aupers: Conspiracy theories between secular scepticism and religious salvation Theme music by Kiku Day....
05.27.2022
Episode 75: Music
What is the zen of music? How does music touch us and make us feel one with the world? And was the Eurovision Song Contest was very good this year? Treeleaf Eurovision 2022 participants Guo Gu The Zen Master's Dance Grateful Dead, Morning Dew (Live...
05.13.2022
Episode 74: Feeling Better
After the blues, the good times. Treeleaf Shunryu Suzuki: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and...
04.29.2022
Episode 73: Monks' Blues
Even zen monks get the blues sometimes. Treeleaf Thelonius Monk: Blue Monk Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please...
04.15.2022
Episode 72: Beauty
What is beautiful to zen practitioners? Treeleaf Ryōan-ji garden John Cage: Ryōan-ji Treeleaf NOW! calendar, to find Washin's sittings Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your...
04.01.2022
Episode 71: Zen in Space
Jundo announces a new beginning for the future of zen in the universe. Treeleaf Zendo April 1 Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your...
03.18.2022
Episode 70: Technology
We use technology frequently, but we need to handle it wisely and respect it, with balance and moderation, and, occasionally, honor it. Treeleaf Zendo Treeleaf Memorial for Electronics Plum Blossoms in Japan: Best Places to See 2022 Dogen on plum blossoms Daisy, Apple's recycling robot Theme...
03.04.2022
Episode 69: Love
Zen doesn't often talk about love: romantic love, love for family, love for country, or just a simple love of tea. Treeleaf Zendo Theme music by Kiku Day. To submit a question, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast,...
02.18.2022
Episode 68: Dissent
We don't always have to agree with everyone. Sometimes we have to dissent. Treeleaf Zendo George Lakoff: Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think Episode 62: Buddhisms Where the Heart Beats; John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists Soto Buddhist Zen...
02.04.2022
Episode 67: Good for Nothing
Zazen is good for nothing, according to Kodo Sawaki. If so, then why do we sit? Also, ice cream sundaes and Möbius strips. Treeleaf Zendo The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo Good for Nothing, interview with Shohaku Okumura Theme music by Kiku Day....
01.21.2022
Episode 66: Dropping
A key phrase of Dogen's teaching is "dropping body and mind," a description of his enlightenment. Jundo and Kirk discuss what this means, and how you can drop body and mind when sitting zazen. Treeleaf Zendo The Zen Master's Dance Treasury of the...
01.07.2022
Episode 65: New
It's a new year, and everything is always new, except when it's not. "The past is today that was yesterday. And the future is yesterday that will be tomorrow." Treeleaf Zendo The Zen Master's Dance Theme music by Kiku Day. To...
12.24.2021
Episode 64: I'm Dreaming of a Zen Christmas (Rebroadcast)
Our 2019 Christmas episode was so good, and we realized that we would never be able to record a better Christmas episode, so we decided to rebroadcast it this year. Jundo and Kirk discuss how Christmas and Zen can find...
12.10.2021
Episode 63: Choices
How do we choose among the many things available to us? There are too many breakfast cereals; do we really need them all? Which coffee or tea do you choose? And what about big choices? Should we stay or should...
11.26.2021
Episode 62: Buddhisms
Jundo and Kirk talk about the various flavors of Buddhism. They are not all the same, and we discuss the differences between the various schools that have changed over the centuries. Treeleaf Zendo Schools of Buddhism (Wikipedia) Stephen Batchelor Theme music by Kiku Day....
11.12.2021
Episode 61: Tradition
Jundo and Kirk discuss tradition in zen. What are those funny sticks that the zen masters have, and what are they used for? Treeleaf Zendo Shippei Jundo on the Secular Buddhist Podcast The Zen Master's Dance Theme music by Kiku Day. To get in...
10.29.2021
Episode 60: Animals
Jundo and Kirk examine whether Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals deserves a critical reappraisal. And they talk about animals, sentience, and eating meat (or not). Treeleaf Zendo Rationale for not Eating Meat in Buddhism (Treeleaf forum) Steven Heine: Like Cats and Dogs: Contesting...

What's The Zen of Everything about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Zen of Everything episodes:

Episode 108: A Look Back

Episode 107: Bad Buddhists

Episode 106: Was Buddha a Revolutionary or a Conservative?

Episode 105: The Monk with a Mortgage

Episode 104: The Best Zen Books

Episode 103: Jundo's Decluttering Tips

Episode 102: Buddha Basics 15: The Heart Sutra Explained in 25 Minutes

Episode 101: Big and Small

Episode 100: Two Guys in a Zen Pub

Episode 99: Buddha Basics 14: The Five Hindrances

Episode 98: Flying Rabbits on the Moon

Episode 97: Prayer

Episode 96: Thinking about Thoughts

Episode 95: Buddha Basics 13: Practice, Practice, Practice

Episode 94: Zen and Creativity

Episode 93: Rules and When to Break Them

Episode 92: Motivation

Episode 91: Monastic Life at Home

Episode 90: Buddha Basics 12: Equanimiousness

Episode 89: Buddha Basics 11: DharmaSangha

Episode 88: Buddha Basics 10: Is Zen (Even) Buddhism

Episode 87: Buddha Basics 09: The Divine Abodes

Episode 86: Buddha Basics 08: Let's Meet the Paramitas

Episode 85: Buddha Basics 07: WhatsaWhosaBodhisattva

Episode 84: Buddha Basics 06: Born-Again Buddha

Episode 83: Buddha Basics 05: The Octo-Holistic Lifestyle

Episode 82: Buddha Basics 04: Break That Chain!

Episode 81: Buddha Basics 03: No Self, No Problem

Buddha Basics 02: Dukkha Sucks

Episode 80: Is Your Car the Next Security Risk?

Buddha Basics 01: Oodles of Buddhas

Episode 78: Buddhasplaining

Episode 77: The Universe

Episode 76: Guns

Episode 75: Music

Episode 74: Feeling Better

Episode 73: Monks' Blues

Episode 72: Beauty

Episode 71: Zen in Space

Episode 70: Technology

Episode 69: Love

Episode 68: Dissent

Episode 67: Good for Nothing

Episode 66: Dropping

Episode 65: New

Episode 64: I'm Dreaming of a Zen Christmas (Rebroadcast)

Episode 63: Choices

Episode 62: Buddhisms

Episode 61: Tradition

Episode 60: Animals