The SFZC Audio Archive

Serial: SF-08439 This talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji) by Shogen Danielson. Shogen's talk touches on the absolute, the inconceivable aspects of the human condition, that we also call Buddha Nature. Recorded on August 23... The talk focuses on the interconnectedness and wholeness of life, emphasizing the non-duality of existence by illustrating concepts found in Zen Buddhism. The speaker contends that distinctions such as birth and death, self and...

Serial: SF-08308 08/18/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. The Sixth Chinese Zen Ancestor, defining "zazen" (sitting meditation), said " 'za' (sitting) means not to be obstructed by anything and not to activate thoughts about... The talk explores the structure and experience of a Zen Sashin, with a focus on the essence of Zazen as elucidated by the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Ancestor. It examines the definition of Zazen, particularly how "sitting" (Za)...

Serial: SF-08425 This talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji) by Shindo Gita Gayatri. Shindo discusses the unique quality of zazen, and references Dogen's Fukanzazengi, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Ayurvedic medicine in her talk.... The talk explores the essence of Zazen in Zen practice, emphasizing its distinct nature as not merely meditation but "simply sitting," free from intellectual engagement or mental conditioning. It highlights Dogen Zenji's unique...

Serial: SF-08445 08/04/2024, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. An exploration of the the koan: Zhaozhou's Cypress Tree in the Courtyard. The discussion centers on exploring the intricate relationship between Zen practice and the natural world, particularly through the interpretation of classical Zen poetry and koans. Key themes include the embodiment of Zen...

Serial: SF-08273 07/28/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Studying Zen precepts, our tradition transmits a wealth of teachings to help us stop harming at personal and interpersonal levels. At this time in the West, we... The talk addresses the intersection of Zen practice with the recognition and response to societal harm and systemic evil, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and compassion in acknowledging and confronting structural injustices...

Serial: SF-08297 07/20/2024, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at one of Beginner's Mind Temple’s pop-up events at Unity Church, by Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman. Dogen Zenji’s beautiful and inspiring... The talk analyzes Dogen Zenji's essay "Bodhisattva Shishobo" from the Shobo Genzo, focusing on the four essential practices for a bodhisattva: giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and identity action. The discourse outlines...

Serial: SF-08293 07/07/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Jiryu discusses traditional Zen practices of generating doubt and wonder - through meditating on "huatou" questions like "who drags this corpse... The talk focuses on the exploration of fear, protection, and generosity within the context of Zen practice, referencing Buddhist teachings and Zen traditions involving practices of wonder and doubt. It discusses the notion of '...

Serial: SF-08237 06/30/2024, Myoju Erin Merk, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk was given at Green Gulch Farm by Myoju Shinjin Erin Merk on Pride Day 2024 in a celebration of gratitude and Queer Joy. This is Erin's first talk following... The talk acknowledges Pride Day and reflects on the significance of the Stonewall Riots and ongoing LGBTQIA+ resistance. It transitions into a discussion on the Dharma Transmission Ceremony experienced over 21 days at Green Gulch...

Serial: SF-08270 06/16/2024, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Laura talks about how we can practice with grief, loss, and ordinary everyday suffering, She weaves in stories from her recent book from Shambhala, The Zen Way of... This talk highlights the exploration of impermanence and loss as catalysts for Buddhist practice, referencing both personal experiences and the teachings of Suzuki Roshi. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of remaining...

Serial: SF-08465 06/12/2024, Keido Keith Baker, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given by Keido Keith Baker at Beginner’s Mind Temple, San Francisco. The Han's wooden knock calls countless practitioners to come to the Zendo for... The talk explores the Han's message on the impermanence of birth and death, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and meditation to understand this central truth. The Han, a traditional wooden board used in Zen practice,...

Serial: SF-08277 06/09/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Jiryu reflects on the practice of shikantaza, just sitting, as a Way that is fundamentally different than technique-based meditation. This talk explores the practice of Zen, emphasizing "just sitting" or Shikantaza, highlighting the importance of sincerity and presence over rigid techniques. The speaker discusses feeling disconnected from life and advocates for...

Serial: SF-08263 06/05/2024, Kim Kōgen Dai-Hō Hart, event at City Center. In the event, Mitsue discussed her artistic and photographic process, as well as her experience of quiet sitting in preparation for taking photographs. Kay then discussed... The talk focuses on the dual aspects of non-dual reality, discussing how Zen meditation fosters freedom by liberating practitioners from habitual perceptions and conditioning. It emphasizes the Buddhist teachings of the two...

Serial: SF-08370 05/29/2024, Kazuaki Tanahashi, Mitsue Nagase, dharma talk at City Center. In this discussion, held in the conference center at Beginner's Mind Temple, Mitsue Nagase and Kaz Tanahashi discuss their new book “Gardens of Awakening:... The talk explores Zen aesthetics through photography and personal experiences with Zen gardens, emphasizing qualities such as intimacy and mindfulness cultivated via extended time spent observing the environment. It transitions...

Serial: SF-08432 05/18/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Kokyo celebrates the spirit of nonsectarianism within Buddha-Dharma, and explores the similarities and differences between Zen... This talk explores the interplay between Zen and Vajrayana Buddhism, emphasizing how various traditions of Buddhadharma like Zen, Theravada, and Vajrayana contribute to contemporary practice in America. It narrates a personal...

Serial: SF-08352 05/12/2024, Thiemo Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. "This talk was presented by Thiemo on Mothers Day at the end of an introductory Sesshin (meditation retreat) at Green Dragon Temple. The Investigation of - “the true... The talk at Green Gulch Farm delves into Zen practices and teachings, emphasizing the exploration of the true nature, or "true dragon," through forms and ceremonies within Zen practice. The speaker draws parallels between the...

Serial: SF-08368 05/08/2024, Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Eli Brown-Stevenson describes how to find practical application of Buddhist teachings by bringing inquiry and curiosity... The talk focuses on the practice of Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the role of expectations and their impact on personal growth and suffering. It explores how practitioners can integrate teachings like impermanence, non-attachment,...

Serial: SF-08392 05/04/2024, Jisho Lisa Beth Hoffman, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Jisho Lisa Beth Hoffman explores the meaning of refuge and the experience of doing so through teacher, teaching and... The talk explores the concept of taking refuge in the "Three Jewels" of Buddhism: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. It emphasizes the importance of community and personal mentors in spiritual practice, highlighting teachings from...

Serial: SF-08257 04/24/2024, Kodo Conlin, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Kodo Conlin discusses this rich topic. Here, we resolve the distance between speaker and listener to turn the questions, "What is... The talk investigates the enduring shape of Zen practice, exploring the transition from formal temple life to individual practice in varied environments. It emphasizes the concept of "beginner's mind" and the intimate awareness...

Serial: SF-08332 04/20/2024, Kiku Christina Lehnherr, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Kiku Christina Lehnherr discusses the dharma implications and importance of rest. By being with and clearly seeing... The talk emphasizes the importance of rest as a spiritual practice, advocating for the integration of rest into daily rituals to nurture the self and sustain presence. It explores cultural and personal barriers to rest,...

Serial: SF-08279 04/14/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Jiryu suggests that by reflecting on the potential of Artificial Intelligence in Buddhism, in the form, for example, of the Suzuki Roshi chatbot,... The talk examines the limitations of prioritizing intellectual engagement in Zen practice, instead highlighting the importance of an embodied, present-moment awareness that transcends words. It's noted that while AI can mimic the...

Serial: SF-08235 04/10/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Jisan Tova Green speaks of her recent visit to Montana de Silencio, a Suzuki Roshi lineage Zen Center in Medellin, Colombia... The talk focuses on elevating women's voices in Zen practice, sharing experiences at the Montaña de Silencio Zen center in Medellin and highlighting the significance of having women teachers. The discussion includes insights from...

Serial: SF-08239 03/31/2024, Shoho Kuebast, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Shoho Kuebast is reflecting on how taking refuge can be taken as a daily practice. It seems to go hand in hand with the understanding of all things as... The talk delves into the concept of taking refuge in Buddhism, emphasizing the inherent awakened nature of the mind as the true refuge. It highlights the teachings of Dogen on devotion and refuge, and the transformative potential...

Serial: SF-08326 03/23/2024, Marc Lesser, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk Marc Lesser examines some instructions from Zen Mind Beginner's Mind, for living a full life; a life of practice, joy, grief, ordinary, and sacred. The talk focuses on themes of grief and what it means to live a full life, with insights drawn from Zen teachings and poetry. It reflects on the lives of individuals who embodied a deep practice of creating "islands of sanity,"...

Serial: SF-08489 03/16/2024, Sojun Mel Weitsman - Norman Fischer - Andrea Thach - Susan Moon, book release at City Center. In this discussion, three long-time Zen practitioners discuss their experiences with Sojun Mel Weitsman, and highlight key... This talk reflects on the life and teachings of Sojin Mel Weitzman, highlighting his impact on Zen practice in America, particularly through the Berkeley Zen Center. It emphasizes the duality in Zen teachings as illustrated by...