In this talk senior student Tokuyu starts with issues his music students have with recognition, and the feeling of lack and never achieving enough.  Tokuyu looks at how psychology and physiology combine to create internal anger that can lead to chronic pain. This theory is expressed in the book “Healing Back Pain” by the late […]

In this talk senior student Kenko looks into the traditional Buddhist teaching of “The Five Faculties” Faith, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration and Wisdom. Kenko carefully interprets them through the eye of our Zen practice. He then explores the koan case 7 from the Blue Cliff Record “Hui Ch’ao Asks About Buddha” and ends with a poem […]

The punchline to the old stories is always the same: some monk was suddenly enlightened. What really happened back then, and what happens to us today when we have an experience of insight?

In this talk senior student Yuuka asks “How do we atone for Trump?” and looks to the koan “Nanquan’s Peony” for guidance. Yuuka sees a billion year old rage being brought up by the Kavenaugh hearings, and she responds with a look into female sexuality through wise words from “Come As You Are” a book […]

In this talk, Jiryu offers the following message: If we treat the Zen precepts as a set of rules to obey, that’s just conformity. Let’s use them instead as a tool for busting the hierarchy!

In this talk Kansho explores the various benefits of sitting together in community, and the importance of the treasure of Sangha. He talks about how when he first came to the Zendo he was looking for relief from anxiety in meditation, but later discovered the inspiring forces of community and collaboration, which were to be […]

In this talk Musho responds to the #meToo movement and the conformation hearings of supreme court judge Brett Kavenaugh. Searching for a source of women’s oppression, Musho looks into intense male sexual desire, and how it transforms into wide spread suffering. Musho digs into an episode of his own adolescence as well as case 9 […]

In this talk, Soshin shares her experience bearing witness at the Montparnasse Cemetery and on Wikipedia. Recorded October 14, 2018.

In this talk, Kaku Hoshi offers an idea of what Dogen’s report to the MeToo movement might be.

Recounting a tender reunion with his ailing sister, Seizan tells us how his practice as come to help him with the Great Matter — Life and Death. Shortly after the beginning of this recording you will hear Seizan lie down on the Zendo floor, where, perpendicular to the Sangha, with his hands in Gassho, he […]