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Dharma Transmission Talks
In Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' (kechimyaku) theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself." The dharma lineage reflects the importance of family-structures in ancient China, and forms a symbolic and ritual recreation of this system for the monastic "family".
In Rinzai-Zen, inka shōmei (印可証明) is ideally "the formal recognition of Zen's deepest realisation", but practically it is being used for the transmission of the "true lineage" of the masters (shike) of the training halls. There are only about fifty to eighty of such inka shōmei-bearers in Japan.
In Sōtō-Zen, dharma transmission is referred to as shiho, and further training is required to become an oshō.
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A Path of Zen HealingDoshin Patti Mitchell shares how meditation and community helped her face suffering, expectations, and self-judgment. Speaking about the importance of honesty, gratitude, and spiritual friendship,... Dharma Transmission |
Mar 18 2026 City Center |
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Expanding How We See ThingsSerial: SF-12420 Talk by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel Osho at City Center on 2025-10-18 Politics, Suzuki Roshi, Dharma Transmission |
Oct 18 2025 City Center |
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Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions of PracticeSerial: SF-08220 04/26/2025, Sozan Miglioli, dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
Apr 26 2025 City Center |
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Elevating Women's VoicesSerial: SF-08235 04/10/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Suffering |
Apr 10 2024 City Center |
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Elevating Women's Voices in Zen Dharma Transmission, Suffering |
2024 |
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Saying Yes to What’s HappeningSerial: SF-08942 02/15/2023, Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission |
Feb 15 2023 City Center |
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Flowing Wisdom: Zen's Water PathSerial: SF-12170 Talk by David Zimmerman The Way Of Water at Tassajara on 2019-12-11 Dharma Transmission, Zazen, Dogen |
Dec 11 2019 Tassajara |
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Surfing Zen's Fluid WavesSerial: SF-12211 Talk by David Zimmerman at Tassajara on 2019-12-11 Dharma Transmission, Zazen, Dogen |
Dec 11 2019 Tassajara |
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Doing NothingSerial: SF-10801 4/24/2019, Anshi Zachary Smith dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Ceremony |
Apr 24 2019 City Center |
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Meeting the Ancestors, Meeting OneselfSerial: SF-11583 1/17/2018, Tenzen David Zimmerman dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Ceremony |
Jan 17 2018 City Center |
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Silent Bloom: Zen's Wordless WisdomSerial: SF-12222 Talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson at Tassajara on 2017-10-28 Transmission, Sangha, Dharma Transmission |
Oct 28 2017 Tassajara |
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How Am I Now? I Don't KnowSerial: SF-10503 2017-07-05, Zesho Susan O'Connell, dharma talk at City Center Ceremony, Bowing, Dharma Transmission |
Jul 05 2017 City Center |
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Flower PowerSerial: SF-10351 5/6/2017, Zenshin Greg Fain dharma talk at Tassajara. Dharma Transmission |
May 06 2017 Tassajara |
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Face-to-Face with Dharma TransmissionSerial: SF-12097 Talk by Ehz Konin Cardenas on 2016-01-18 Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
Jan 18 2016 |
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Taking Buddha's SeatSerial: SF-07418 9/17/2013, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at Tassajara. Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Transmission |
Sep 17 2013 Tassajara |
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What Is Dharma Transmission?Serial: SF-07386 8/24/2013, Keiryu Lien Shutt dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
Aug 24 2013 City Center |
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There's No Place Like HomeSerial: SF-07354 6/5/2013, Zesho Susan O'Connell, dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission |
Jun 05 2013 City Center |
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Dharma Transmission and GratitudeSerial: SF-09398 12/29/2012, Kyoshin Wendy Lewis dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Effort |
Dec 29 2012 City Center |
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Dharma TransmissionSerial: SF-09336 4/17/2012, Sojun Mel Weitsman dharma talk at Tassajara. Transmission, Dharma Transmission |
Apr 17 2012 Tassajara |
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Water StylesSerial: SF-09318 3/28/2012, Eijun Linda Cutts dharma talk at Tassajara. Suzuki Roshi, Dharma Transmission |
Mar 28 2012 Tassajara |
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Dharma Transmission: A Family AffairSerial: SF-09274 1/4/2012, Anshin Rosalie Curtis dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Transmission |
Jan 04 2012 City Center |
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A Special Transmission without WordsSerial: SF-11715 12/17/2011, Shosan Victoria Austin dharma talk at City Center. Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Bodhidharma |
Dec 17 2011 City Center |
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The History of our Relationship with Rinso-inSerial: SF-11656 11/6/2011, Sojun Mel Weitsman dharma talk at Tassajara. Japan, Suzuki Roshi, Dharma Transmission |
Nov 06 2011 Tassajara |
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Transformation HeartSerial: SF-10700 12/18/2010, Michael Wenger dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Ceremony |
Dec 18 2010 City Center |
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Further Details on the Great Activity Under the Patched RobeSerial: SF-10630 10/28/2010, Tenshin Reb Anderson dharma talk at Tassajara. Bowing, Dharma Transmission |
Oct 28 2010 Tassajara |
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Good and PlentySerial: SF-10671 8/10/2010, Eijun Linda Cutts dharma talk at Tassajara. Dharma Transmission |
Aug 10 2010 Tassajara |
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The Inner Fire and the Outer FireSerial: SF-09645 7/5/2008, Michael Wenger dharma talk at City Center. Dharma Transmission, Tassajara |
Jul 05 2008 City Center |
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Intimate Journeys in Zen TransmissionSerial: SF-09986 Talk by Mark Lancaster at City Center on 2007-01-10 Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
Jan 10 2007 City Center |
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On Dharma TransmissionSerial: SF-03486 Zendo Lecture - duplicate Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
May 02 2005 Tassajara |
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On Dharma TransmissionSerial: SF-03519 Zendo Lecture Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
May 02 2005 Tassajara |
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On Dharma TransmissionSerial: SF-03544 Zendo Lecture - duplicate Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
May 02 2005 Tassajara |
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Way-Seeking Mind Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
Mar 15 2005 Tassajara |
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Resonant Journeys in Zen Dharma Dharma Transmission, Transmission |
Mar 24 2004 City Center |
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Weaving Zen Through Life's Stages Conversation, Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Ceremony, Ordination, Transmission,... |
Oct 08 2003 |
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Zen Journeys and Authentic Paths Dharma Transmission |
Jan 11 2003 City Center |
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Zendo Lecture Dogen, Dharma Transmission |
Dec 06 2002 Tassajara |
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Tenzo Kyokun Class Practice Period, Bodhisattva Way, Emptiness, Tassajara, Dharma Transmission, Big Mind... |
Nov 28 2000 Green Gulch Farm |
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Tenzo Kyokun Class Emptiness, Dragons, Intimacy, Dharma Transmission, Zazen, Hindrances, Impermanence,... |
Nov 21 2000 Green Gulch Farm |
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Genjo KoanSerial: SF-00117 Workshop Nirvana, Transmission, Karma, Soto Zen, Dharma Transmission, Five Ranks, Politics... |
Nov 04 2000 1 of 4 City Center |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Dragons, Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Duality, Ceremony, Bowing, Emotions,... |
Sep 16 2000 Green Gulch Farm |
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Wednesday Lecture Ceremony, Lotus Sutra, Chanting, Dharma Transmission, Heart Sutra, Demons, Dragons,... |
Mar 29 2000 Green Gulch Farm |
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Works of Dogen ClassSerial: SF-03196 Tuesday Class Birth-and-Death, Realization, Suzuki Roshi, Bowing, Soto Zen, Priest, Dharma... |
Feb 29 2000 Green Gulch Farm |
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Sunday Lecture Precepts, Birth-and-Death, Dharma Transmission, Impermanence, Posture, Ceremony,... |
May 16 1999 Green Gulch Farm |
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Saying Yes! Gratitude, Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Soto Zen, Dharma Transmission,... |
Jul 06 1998 |
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Father's Day Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Ceremony, Hate, Bodhisattva Precepts, Precepts,... |
Jun 21 1998 Green Gulch Farm |
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Beginner's Mind, Boundless TransformationSerial: SF-01784 Statements by Students (Part 2 of 2) and Blanche Hartman Gratitude, Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Daily Life, Dharma Transmission, Lay... |
May 31 1998 Sati Center |
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On The Dharma Transmission CeremonySerial: SF-03638 Sunday Lecture Transmission, Ceremony, Intimacy, Tassajara, Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Nature, Six... |
Dec 15 1996 Green Gulch Farm |
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Breathing Intimacy: Zen's Path to Self Suzuki Roshi, Emptiness, Intimacy, Zazen, Birth-and-Death, Zazen Mind, Dharma... |
Apr 24 1996 Unknown |
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Interview Sanctuary, Practice Period, Ceremony, Priest, Transmission, Soto Zen, Dharma... |
Jan 21 1996 Unknown |
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Embracing Enlightenment Beyond GoalsSerial: SF-01073 NB - no cassette visible in photo Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Blue Cliff Record, Funeral, Suzuki Roshi, Priest,... |
May 17 1995 Unknown |