In this Father’s Day talk, priest and senior student Jisei explores her emotional search for her father who died while she was an infant. Throughout her life she would experience his presence through stories and artifacts, and always be aware of father figures around her. Jisei then describes the archetypes of mother and father, and […]

Senior Student Kokyo starts out this talk with a little Dharma from the play “Of Mice and Men.” She then relates an experience of disapproval from a stranger on a train, as she gave money to someone begging. Kokyo sees a deep connection and mutual exchange going on all around us all the time. Gravity, […]

In this talk Bokushu exhumes the myth of the vampire, and defines the undead as people who live totally self-centered lives. Our habits of reacting to circumstances with assumptions and a predigested view of reality is less than being truly alive. Bokushu asks what is it that we can not bear to look at in […]

In this talk senior student Musho ask the question “What’s your thing?” and wonders if Zen is asking us to face this same question. Inspired by a recent article in the New York Times, “your thing” is defined as “that particular behavior, habit or mind-set that is self-destructive but that we’re completely blind to… it’s something […]

In this talk Yuuka celebrates Mother’s day by examining and questioning the various notions of motherhood. Must they subjugate their own desires? Conform to the oppressive standards,  engage in permitted suffering, hide their passions and somehow create unattainable happiness for their families? As Yuuka watches a single leaf dance, suspended in mid air by a […]

In this talk senior student Ryoshin is inspired by the book “Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale” by Frederick Buechner. “A sermon arises out of silence” says Buechner, and Ryoshin sees our Zen practice in a similar way. Our meditation allows us to point ourselves directly at the truth, which […]

In this talk senior student Seizan appreciates the opportunities he has had to be the Tenzo (chief cook) for our temple. Subtle and profound are the black-eyed peas that he has prepared for us, with a hint of smoked paprika. As Seizan enjoys the detail and care of our liturgy and and chanting, so he […]

On Earth Day Senior Student Fusho takes up case 33 from The Blue Cliff Record “Ministry President Ch’en Sees Tzu Fu.” Inside that koan Fusho asks what is it that we include or leave out of the circle of our lives? A whale who dies on the beach with a belly full of plastic waste, […]

Senior Student Kansho takes a deep look into his own long history of anxiety. His shyness as a child, his inclination to worry, and his bouts with serious illness compounded his troubles.  Only when he took up a career in acting was he able to put aside his worries while playing someone else. From that […]

Senior student Jisei starts with the prayer of Sister Theresa of Calcutta. She then talks of a recent documentary about mountain climbing called “Meru.” Jisei compares the arduous and moment by moment practice of seasoned mountain climbers with our Zen meditation practice. The challenges of studying the self are daunting and full of obstacles like […]