The SFZC Audio Archive

12/22/2025, Gyokuden Stephanie Blank, dharma talk at City Center. Gyokuden Steph Blank considers Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol as a dharma story that reveals the transformative power of illumination, intimacy, and... The talk examines Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" as a dharma story, illustrating the transformative power of illumination, intimacy, and karmic fruition. The discussion equates Scrooge's journey of...

12/13/2025, Keiryu Liên Shutt, dharma talk at City Center. Keiryu Liên Shutt presents an informal comparison of Soto Zen and Insight practices within the context of The Three Marks of Existence.   The talk explores the intersection of U.S. Soto Zen and Insight Buddhism through the framework of the Three Marks of Existence: impermanence, not-self, and dukkha (suffering). It compares the core practices of Zen, which...

The talk emphasizes the significance of trees in both natural and spiritual contexts, discussing their role in sustaining life through processes like photosynthesis and their historical and cultural importance within Buddhism,...

The talk explores the concept of living in harmony with differences, emphasizing the importance of viewing the Sangha as a harmonious and pure community rather than a mere collection of individuals. It highlights that differences...

11/09/2025, Thiemo Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Waking up to the realty of hosting our lives. Thiemo uses the awarded kids' story "We are in a Book" to playfully teach studying the Self and tasting... This talk explores the nature of the self and its perception as separate from the world, addressing the illusion of separateness and its contribution to suffering. Using the children's story "We Are in a Book," the...

Serial: SF-12376 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-10-29 The talk explores the theme of achieving harmony through mindful balance, focusing on the experience of a Zen practitioner engaging with prolonged darkness to explore homeostasis and the interplay between cognition and deeper,...

Serial: SF-12400 Talk by Dainin Marsha Angus at City Center on 2025-10-25 The primary focus of the talk is on employing Buddhist practices, particularly meditation and stillness, to manage stress and anxiety induced by external turmoil such as political and environmental changes. Emphasis is placed on...

Serial: SF-12372 10/19/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler reflects on the “Finding Yourself” chapter of “Becoming Yourself,” in which Suzuki Roshi teaches that finding... The talk explores the concept of finding freedom within limitations, a fundamental Zen principle, by focusing on the tension between the desire for vastness and the constraints of daily life. The discussion emphasizes how true...

Serial: SF-12389 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-10-15 The main thesis of the talk explores the concept of unity and spontaneous compassion in Zen practice. The discussion emphasizes how acts of compassion, such as the offering of flower petals, demonstrate the interconnectedness and...

Serial: SF-12390 Talk by Shosan Victoria Austin at City Center on 2025-10-11 The talk focuses on Zen Buddhism's approach to resolving conflict through non-retaliation and loving-kindness, drawing upon early Buddhist teachings and modern interpretations. The discussion emphasizes practical strategies for...

Serial: SF-12377 Talk by Vanessa Able at City Center on 2025-10-08 The talk discusses the concept of the "way-seeking mind," tracing the speaker’s spiritual journey and formative experiences from childhood curiosity about the cosmos, through explorations in Christianity and the arts, to...

Serial: SF-12385 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-10-04 The talk explores how Zen practice, particularly shikantaza, aids in navigating personal and global chaos by fostering presence and authenticity. It examines the notion of "staying true" to one's values and principles,...

Serial: SF-12434 Talk by Chikudo Catherine Spaeth at City Center on 2025-09-27 The talk centers on the significance of Zazen practice in fostering self-realization and understanding Zen precepts. It emphasizes the importance of experiencing emotions authentically during Zazen to transcend self-narratives...

Serial: SF-12459 Talk by Tenmyo at City Center on 2025-09-20 The talk discusses the transformative power of Zen practice, centering on the theme of interconnectedness and the holistic life of the Sangha. It describes a personal journey from depression and self-loss to spiritual enrichment...

Serial: SF-12398 Talk by Shinshu Roberts at City Center on 2025-09-13 The talk explores Dogen's teachings, particularly focusing on the Genjo Koan and the idea of "realization beyond realization," illustrating how Dogen's teachings remain relevant in contemporary practice. These teachings highlight...

Serial: SF-12424 Talk by Paul Haller Jonah Willihnganz at Tassajara on 2025-08-16 This talk centers on the integration of Zen practice with mythopoetic traditions, exploring their combined potential to foster a sense of wholeness and spiritual awakening. Two primary aspects of Zen practice are discussed: the...

Serial: SF-12415 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-07-26 The talk discusses the practice of shikantaza in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the importance of experiencing the present moment fully and the challenge of maintaining non-reactivity amidst life's uncertainties and discomforts. The...

Serial: SF-07294 07/12/2025, Kiku Christina Lehnherr, dharma talk at City Center. Kiku Christina Lehnherr explores the dharma of living and practicing in a human body. The talk emphasizes the importance of embodiment in understanding and practicing Buddhist teachings, exploring how the human body is central to life experiences and spiritual practice. The discussion highlights the practice of...

Serial: SF-07265 06/22/2025, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. As senior dharma teacher Linda Ruth Cutts prepares to move from Green Gulch and SFZC residency after 54 years she brings up the practice of being upright in the... The talk centers on the theme of impermanence and the practice of non-attachment within a dynamic practice environment. Key elements include the Way-Seeking Mind talk, the challenges of letting go when transitioning from Green...

Serial: SF-07269 06/11/2025, Rebecca Li, dharma talk at City Center. Dr. Rebecca Li explains how the practice of Silent Illumination is to actualize the Buddha’s teachings to be free from suffering. The talk focuses on the practice of silent illumination, also known as the practice of "no method," which is grounded in the Buddha's teachings of the Four Noble Truths. The discussion emphasizes recognizing and unlearning...

Serial: SF-09846 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2025-06-08 This talk delves into the transformation of consciousness as discussed by Vasubandhu, emphasizing the relationships between the alaya (storehouse consciousness), manas (the mind that personalizes the alaya), and the six sensory...

Serial: SF-07266 06/01/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler takes up the theme of “Becoming Yourself,” the title of a new book of talks by Suzuki Roshi, by reflecting on two lines from the book... The talk centers on Suzuki Roshi's theme of "being yourself" as articulated in a forthcoming collection of his teachings from the San Francisco Zen Center. The discussion explores the Zen practice of fully embodying one's true...

Serial: SF-09739 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2025-06-01 This talk focuses on the teachings of the Yogacara, or "mind-only" school, particularly the transformation of consciousness as outlined in Vasubandhu's "30 Verses." Emphasis is placed on verses 5, 6, and 7, which delve into the...

Serial: SF-08177 Talk by Jiryu Rutschman Byler at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-05-18 The talk at Green Gulch Farm focuses on the Zen practice of mindfulness, embodied awareness, and the experience of being alive. Emphasis is placed on integrating Zen teachings into daily life by engaging the body, settling the...