In this session of Gathering Dharma, Roshi Joan Halifax emphasizes the importance of courage, community, and compassionate engagement in turbulent times, encouraging people to transform fear into an ally and pursue joy […]

In this session of Gathering Dharma, Roshi Joan Halifax begins with a heartfelt reflection on the moral call to engage with the suffering of the world. She emphasizes the connection between Buddhist […]

On the sixth and final day of the Fall Practice Period sesshin, Senseis Shinzan, Monshin, Kathie, and Kozan reflect on the essence of Zen practice following six intense days of […]

On the fifth day of the Fall Practice Period sesshin, Sensei Kozan uses the striking scarlet runner bean hidden in its pod as a metaphor for the profound practice of sesshin. He emphasizes […]

On the fourth day of this Fall Practice Period sesshin, Sensei Monshin delves into the phrases “Thusness” or “Suchness” as a path to direct experience. She illuminates the interplay between […]

In this Fall Practice Period sesshin day 2 talk, Sensei Shinzan delves into the poem The Jewel Mirror Samadhi, focusing on key lines that highlight how clarity and awakening are […]

On this first full day of the Fall Practice Period sesshin, Sensei Kathie introduces the teaching of The Jewel Mirror Samadhi and shares stories about Zen Master Dongshan, the co-founder of the Caodong School of […]

Sensei Kathie Fischer discusses the Song of the Jewel Mirror Awareness, emphasizing the importance of stillness and presence in Zen practice. She explores how complications and difficulties in practice are “auspicious” […]

In this Zazenkai day Dharma talk during the Fall Practice Period, Sensei Kozan introduces us to the teachings of the sixth Chinese ancestor, Hui-neng. He focuses on Hui-neng’s written work, the Platform Sutra, […]

In this session of the Fall Practice Period, Senseis Monshin, Kozan, and Shinzan introduce key teachers, teachings, and historical context which impacted the era of Zen this practice period focuses on.  Each of the Five […]