Our world has changed.  Many of us are afraid and are grieving.  Ryoshin talks about his experience of the present crisis, and how we can live up to the Bodhisattva ideal, responding with compassion and wisdom. Recorded by video April 16, 2020. Audio only podcast version here:

In his talk Jiryu reminds us that Japanese-Americans founded our Zen practice, and they preserved and adapted it while living in the internment camps during World War II. Today we must also adapt our practice while living amidst a crisis. How will we meet this challenge? Recorded by video April 9th 2020. Video also available […]

In this talk, senior student Musho takes on the koan “Tung Shan’s No Heat or Cold” as it relates to the fear, grief and anger we experience during the Coronavirus crisis. Musho calls on 17th and 18th century Zen masters Hakuin, Tenkei and Bankei to help him bear the heat and cold. Recorded on video […]

Bringing up the example of Henry David Thoreau, senior student Jean Yugetsu Carlomusto reminds us that solitude can be fertile ground for cultivating compassionate action. Recorded by video March 29th 2020. Podcast audio only here:

We know these are transformative times for society. Neil Soten Theise brings up “Dasui’s Aeonic Fire” to consider how each of us might use this time to transform and awaken.   Podcast audio only here:

February 23, 2020 Fusho examines the ecological benefits of oysters and how they relate to the wisdom that emerges in zazen.

You can work with fear, so long as you remember who you are and your intention to practice. Panic, however, obliterates you. It leaves you naked and alone in the dark. This talk offers two methods to prevent fear from growing into panic. Recorded January 23, 2020.

Gessho explores our relationship to planetary crisis through the koan Nanquan Kills a Cat

Jiryu give the third talk of our winter retreat: The conventional image of Zen is a monk in robes, sitting in lotus position. But whoever you are, wherever you are—on retreat, at home, or even in a floating jail—you’re Zen when you improvise a response to the situation.

Yuuka confronts an ALS diagnosis with the help of Baochi’s verse from Case 27 of Zen Echoes. Where is the true person without rank? (Note: The talk begins with a few moments of Noble Silence) Recorded December 28th, 2019.