Jiryu speaks on September 11th 2016 about how he strives to incorporate the Buddhist ethical precepts in his own life, amidst the dangerous injustice and intrinsic impurity of our world. He quotes Zen Master Seng Ts’an’s teaching “Faith in Mind”, and the words of renowned peace activist AJ Muste.     Transcript: We’re studying the precepts up at Sing […]

Roshi describes how our Zen practice can liberate us from default thinking.

In this the last talk of our summer retreat Shuso Sesshin, Roshi comments on a poem by Dogen Zenji called “Everyday Life” Not seeming to protect the paddy field Scarecrow standing on the hillside — By no means useless. Roshi asks us to see ourselves as inseparable and integral parts of the whole world, and […]

In this talk from our summer retreat Shuso Sesshin, Kaku reviews the Buddha’s fable of the man about to be eaten by tigers, who finds a delicious wild strawberry. Kaku asks us to look at our own lives and see if we are living to our fullest. He tells the story of his own search for truth, […]

In this talk from our summer retreat Shuso Sesshin, Yugetsu asks what happens when we are thrust into a situation beyond our comprehension? How can we keep our bowls open in times of great sorrow? Recorded Thursday August 18th, 2016.

At our summer retreat, Ryotan Sensei gave the first talk of our Shuso Sesshin. He compares the extraordinary and ordinary aspects of our lives from the point of view of the whole universe, and the moment right now. He asks us to see our feelings of both bliss and aversion as the true manifestation of the Buddha […]

Enkyo Roshi delivers her final Dai Sesshin Dharma talk, teaching us how to manifest our practice; taking it from idea to everyday activity. Summarizing this sesshin’s teachers talks she brings them all home, to this grass hut, with Sufi stories and tales of ancestors Daokai and Touzi. Recorded July 30th, 2016

In this Dharma talk by Ryotan Sensei, he teaches us how the Buddhadharma is constantly being transmitted to us, and how we are constantly transmitting it. Using the monk’s bowl as a metaphor for our complete openness. Recorded July 29th, 2016.

Shinryu Sensei explores the central theme of our Ango study text; just what does it mean to “eat rice and drink tea”? Is it a metaphor, is it everyday activity, is it our lives right and now? Recorded  July 28th, 2016

Tokuyu speaks during Dai Sesshin, about the soft approach to opening the hard stuck places, and the lessons learned from decades as professional musician. Recorded July 27th, 2016