The SFZC Audio Archive

Serial: SF-09804 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2023-11-26 The talk examines Dogen's Uji, or "Time Being," exploring the inseparability of time and existence, focusing on the present moment as all-encompassing. The discussion refines this concept by examining Dogen's deliberate...

Serial: SF-08884 This talk, from Beginner's Mind Temple, was given by City Center tanto (head of practice) Tim Wicks. Virya Paramita is often translated as "joyful" or "enthusiastic" energy. Working with the shadow side of energy — depression and... The talk provides an in-depth exploration of the concept of "virya," or energy, particularly within the context of the Six Paramitas in Mahayana Buddhism. The focus is on understanding energy as an essential practice for...

Serial: SF-08752 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-11-22 The talk focuses on the theme of gratitude as a pathway to resilience, emphasizing its role in fostering connections and addressing suffering through collective effort. It discusses Brother David Standelrust's teachings on...

Serial: SF-09555 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Uji Gui Spina on 2023-11-19 The discussion focuses on Dogen's essay "Uji," examining the concept of time as both a philosophical and lived experience. It highlights Dogen's exploration of the inseparability of practice and realization, and the unification...

Serial: SF-08864 In this talk from Beginner's Mind Temple, Greg Fain discusses how the new book “Home Is Here” by Rev. Keiryu Liên Shutt has influenced his practice, and the vital necessity of metta (loving kindness) practice. Recorded on Nov. 18... The talk explores the interconnection cultivated by Zen practice, focusing on the embodied understanding of "interbeing" and "thusness" as described by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dongshan Liangzhi. Furthermore, the discussion emphasizes...

Serial: SF-09551 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Gui Spina on 2023-11-12 The talk focuses on Dogen's "Tenzo Kyokun," emphasizing the teachings on the "mind of the way" and the roles of monastic officers, consistent over centuries. It highlights the significance of the "three minds"—joyful,...

Serial: SF-08713 Talk by Linda Galijan at City Center on 2023-11-11 The talk centers on the concept of "appropriate response" in Zen practice, inspired by Yunmen's teachings and Shakyamuni Buddha's life. It delves into the essence of Zen precepts as a framework for ethical conduct, focusing on...

Serial: SF-08770 11/08/2023, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. This talk, from Beginner's Mind Temple, was given by senior dharma teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. Practicing with the Paramitas brings initially asks us to see the... The talk discusses the challenges and growth involved in spiritual practice, comparing them to a child progressing through grades in school. The discussion centers on Dogen's teachings in the "Genjokoan" and the Six Paramitas,...

Serial: SF-09537 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Tenzo Kyokun Gui Spina on 2023-11-05 This talk primarily explores the "Tenzo Kyokun," a text by Dogen on the instructions for the head cook in a monastery, emphasizing the Zen teaching of wholehearted effort in every aspect of life, whether in everyday tasks or...

Serial: SF-08854 Talk by Eijun Linda Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2023-11-05 This talk delves into the concept of pilgrimage both as a physical journey and a metaphor for life's path, drawing parallels to Zen teachings. By reflecting on a personal experience walking the Camino de Santiago, the talk...

Serial: SF-08929 11/04/2023, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. This talk, from Beginner's Mind Temple, was given by senior dharma teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. As we witness the war in the Middle East and the suffering it creates,... The talk discusses the application of Zen teachings, specifically the Paramitas of Mutual Benefit, Ethical Conduct, and Patience, in coping with global conflicts, like the Middle Eastern crisis, and personal turmoil. The...

Serial: SF-09500 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Tenzo Kyokun Gui Spina on 2023-10-29 The talk emphasizes the significance of community, as illustrated by experiences at Rodef Shalom, and the teachings of Zen Master Dogen, particularly focusing on the "Tenzo Kyokun," which are instructions for the head cook. The...

Serial: SF-08923 In this talk from Beginner's Mind Temple, Shosan Victoria Austin discusses working skillfully with anger. Many ancient texts mention anger as an unwholesome emotion that undercuts or destroys our relationships and our true... This talk delves into the interplay of love, power, and anger in relationships, exploring how to manifest anger while maintaining loving-kindness. The discussion draws upon Buddhist teachings, particularly the paramitas or...

Serial: SF-08988 The talk on October 28th, 2023, addresses the concept of harmony both within individuals and with the broader environment. It includes practical exercises such as breathing techniques and Qigong movements to illustrate the...

Serial: SF-08862 This talk, from Beginner's Mind Temple, was given by senior dharma teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. This talk was based on a Thanksgiving message from Brother David Steindl-Rast and examines how to sustain gratitude and be uplifted... The talk focuses on the interpretation and implications of passages from Dogen's "Genjo Koan," highlighting the practice of full-body and mind engagement with reality. Attention is drawn to the metaphor of illuminating one side...

Serial: SF-09536 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Tenzo Kyokun Gui Spina on 2023-10-22 The talk explores the "Tenzo Kyokun" by Dogen, highlighting its role as a set of instructions for life beyond its practical guidance for monastery cooks. The speaker discusses key concepts such as the equality of all roles in a...

Serial: SF-08778 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-10-18 This talk explores the application of Dogen Zenji's "Genjo Koan" and its relation to the six paramitas during a Zen practice period. Emphasizing the juxtaposition of principle and moment-specific application, it discusses guided...

Serial: SF-08868 10/15/2023, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Kokyo discusses Case 16 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection: The world is so vast and wide - why do you always put on the robe at the sound of the bell... The talk explores the significance of practice periods in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the role of ritual responses, such as putting on the robe at the sound of the bell, as expressions of interdependence and great compassion. The...

Serial: SF-09835 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2023-10-15 This talk explores the concept of "bendowa," or wholehearted engagement, in the face of life's unpredictability, reflecting on Dogen's teachings to meet new challenges with sincere participation. The discussion highlights key Zen...

Serial: SF-08795 Talk by Andre Elsen at City Center on 2023-10-11 The talk reflects on the integration of Zen practices into everyday life, emphasizing the importance of mindful awareness, as exemplified by the metaphor of weeding in a garden. The speaker recounts personal growth through Zen,...

Serial: SF-08987 Talk by Steve Weintraub at Green Gulch Farm on 2023-10-08 The talk centers on how Zen practice helps individuals face suffering, emphasizing that this help does not aim to eliminate suffering but to embrace it as a part of human existence. It discusses the traditional interpretation of...

Serial: SF-08963 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-10-07 The talk explores the theme of integrating essential Zen teachings, specifically the "Genjo Koan" and the "Six Paramitas," into everyday life. It presents a reflection on the profundity of moment-to-moment awareness and questions...

Serial: SF-08971 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-10-04 The talk emphasizes the role of the Shingi, or guidelines, in the practice of Zen, focusing on the evolution of these guidelines from India, through China and Japan, to modern practice in the United States. It highlights the...

Serial: SF-08852 09/30/2023, Zesho Susan O'Connell, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk from Beginner's Mind Temple, Susan O’Connell discusses how the joy of practice can support us when, as always seems to be the case, “there’s a lot going... The talk explores the theme of joy amidst life's transitions, reflecting on the transition from City Center to Enso Village, a new Zen-inspired senior living community. It addresses how pauses and mindfulness foster receptivity,...