In this talk, Ryoshin examines one of the Paramitas or perfection practices, Nekkhamma, from the Theravadan tradition. It’s translated as renunciation or relinquishing. It means letting go of whatever causes us suffering. Our practice breaks down our identification with self-centered thoughts and behaviors and ultimately brings us freedom.

On Thanksgiving weekend, Kansho shares some thoughts about gratitude, particularly being grateful for this one, precious human life.

Ten years on, one student’s gains and losses.

In light of Halloween — picking and choosing the masks we put on — Seizan encourages us to become intimate with our day to day ordinary, day-today reality

“So often, I find myself lashing out at someone I intended to help. The expectation that my generosity would require only so much effort, and would lead to a predictable payoff, is the culprit. How can I practice a Beginner’s Mind that has no expectations?” — Jiryu

Stopping is given a lot of emphasis in our Zen practice and in our koan literature. What is it? How can we allow stopping to enter our lives?

In his talk, Soten uses the Möbius Strip in the explication of “The Diamond Sutra’s Scornful Revilement,” case 97 from The Blue Cliff Record, and how this koan points to the karmic interweaving of suffering and freedom from suffering.

Kaku Hoshi reads from and talks about the first two volumes of his memoir, One Bright Pearl, along with readings from MyoGetsu Christine Swann, Howard Thoresen, and a Q&A from a Village Zendo audience. These first two books of a planned trilogy deal with the seeming dichotomy of being a Christian Pastor and a Zen […]

Traven Fusho Rice encourages us to cultivate open-hearted attention to our strongest emotions.

Stopped in his tracks by a clear, direct, intimate question, Kenko finds himself in an ongoing exploration of not knowing, of bearing witness, and of being moved to connect and act: feeling the pain, witnessing the habitual mind labeling so much of what is encountered, seeing the labeling solidify into a world of separation, and […]