The SFZC Audio Archive

Serial: SF-08456 10/06/2024, Gyokuden Stephanie Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, from Green Gulch Farm by Gyokuden Steph Blank, Steph reflects on practice in the temple and in the marketplace with an abiding love for both... The talk focuses on the intertwining paths of Zen practice in monastic and secular life, emphasizing that the essence of practice lies in recognizing non-separation and using gift-bestowing hands to engage with the world. The...

Serial: SF-08314 10/05/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Shosan Victoria Austin. When we are challenged by anger, it's easy to react and difficult to respond. How... The talk addresses the challenge of anger within Zen practice, emphasizing transformative practices rooted in Buddhist teachings, such as the paramitas or perfections, to overcome anger and foster altruism, connection, and peace...

Serial: SF-08661 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2024-10-02 The talk examines the nature of awareness and reality through the lens of Dogen Zenji's teachings, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the subjective nature of our perceptions and the concept of "unsurpassed Bodhi." The...

Serial: SF-08278 09/25/2024, Hondo Dave Rutschman, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Hondo Dave Rutschman. One of the most important questions each of us has to work out in our life is deciding... The talk explores the theme of stewardship within Zen practice, articulating how traditional practices and teachings have been preserved across generations, emphasizing the responsibility to maintain these traditions for future...

Serial: SF-08242 09/22/2024, Thiemo Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This dharma talk was given at Green Gulch Farm by Tanto Thiemo Blank. ​The talk gives an introduction into the precepts of the Zen lineage ​as well as T​hiemo's ​p​... This talk examines the Jukkai ceremony, or lay ordination, in the Zen tradition, which involves receiving the bodhisattva precepts, and explores the significance of these precepts from both conventional and ultimate perspectives...

Serial: SF-08303 09/15/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk given at Green Gulch Farm, Abiding Abbott Jiryu Rutschman-Byler continues to explore four core elements of zazen practice: low belly, upright spine... The talk explores the practice of Zen meditation, focusing on the four crucial points of Zazen posture: grounding the low belly, straightening the spine, clearing the mind, and welcoming the entirety of one's existence. It...

Serial: SF-08608 Talk by Gengyoko Tim Wicks Chanting Experience at City Center on 2024-09-11 The talk explores the integration of chanting into Zen practice, highlighting its role in achieving mind-body unity and fostering both individual and collective experiences. It discusses the physical, psychological, and communal...

Serial: SF-08416 09/07/2024, James Ishmael Ford, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple’s pop-up zendo at Unity Church on Page Street, by visiting teacher James Ishmael Ford. In the talk, Roshi Ford tells... This talk revolves around a narrative exploring Zen practice and spiritual development, framed within the allegory of a stolen life turned into a genuine spiritual journey. The central theme is the transformation of a thief into...

Serial: SF-08681 Talk by Gengyoko Tim Wicks Zazen Experience at City Center on 2024-09-04 The talk examines the Zazen experience, a practice central to Soto Zen, emphasizing seated meditation as a path to enlightenment. Through discussion and structured group interactions, participants explore the physical, mental,...

Serial: SF-08365 09/01/2024, Gil Fronsdal, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This extemporaneous talk was given at Green Gulch Farm by Gil Fronsdal. In the talk, Gil brings forward the teachings that arose in that moment. The talk emphasizes the experiential and participatory nature of Zen practice beyond the mere words or teachings conveyed in a Dharma talk. It underscores the importance of being present and aware, arguing that the essence of...

Serial: SF-08435 08/31/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, Abbot Jiryu describes the fundamental Zen practice of "welcoming everything," and emphasizes the posture - grounded belly, upright spine, and clear mind... The talk centers on the Zen practice of "welcoming" as a comprehensive approach to life, advocating the acceptance of all experiences, emotions, and sensations without resistance. It discusses the concept of “silent illumination...

Serial: SF-08402 Talk by Heather Iarusso at Tassajara on 2024-08-30 The talk examines the life and teachings of the 12th-century Chinese woman Miao Zhang, focusing on a koan involving her and a senior monk, Wanan, which illustrates themes of gender, Dharma, and equality. It explores the...

Serial: SF-08395 08/28/2024, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Shundo reflects on a recent visit to Tassajara, which included the monthly Full Moon Ceremony and the Obon Ceremony. He... The talk focuses on Zen practice, particularly exploring themes of personal transformation and the importance of community and vows in Zen practice. The speaker emphasizes the significance of Suzuki Roshi's teachings on realizing...

Serial: SF-08478 Talk by Jan Willis at Tassajara on 2024-08-27 The talk explores the radical societal shifts initiated by the Buddha in 6th century BCE India, highlighting the rigidity of the existing caste system introduced by the Aryans and the subsequent stratification into varnas or...

Serial: SF-08321 Talk by Hiro Ikushima at City Center on 2024-08-24 The talk outlines a personal journey from discovering Zen philosophy to integrating its teachings into daily life. It emphasizes the challenges of ego dissolution and highlights Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths,...

Serial: SF-08289 Talk by Shundo David Haye at Tassajara on 2024-08-21 The talk explores the idea of manifesting the Buddha Dharma in everyday life and benefiting the world as illustrated in the story of Dongshan and Nanyuan. It emphasizes the importance of community practice at Tassajara, the...

Serial: SF-08673 Talk by Doshin Dan Gudgel at City Center on 2024-08-21 The talk primarily explores the concept of karma, focusing on the chant of confession and repentance practiced in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the ancient and interconnected nature of personal and collective karma. It discusses the...

Serial: SF-08450 08/17/2024, Sokaku Kathie Fischer, dharma talk at City Center. In this dharma talk, given at Beginner’s Mind Temple, Kathie references Eihei Dogen's work, "Receiving the Marrow by Bowing," to tell the stories of important Zen... This talk delves into the themes of meditation practice, the importance of gravity as an organizing principle, and the support of women's roles in Zen Buddhism through historical narratives. It emphasizes the egalitarian approach...

Serial: SF-08357 08/14/2024, Roger Hillyard, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple, by Roger Hillyard. The path is sometimes dark and difficult, sometimes smooth and joyous. It is always circuitous and doesn't... The talk explores the metaphor of life as a labyrinth, emphasizing the non-linear and circuitous nature of the spiritual path, and the importance of presence and mindfulness in navigating it. It reflects on personal experiences...

Serial: SF-08269 Talk by Shindo Gayatri at Tassajara on 2024-08-14 The talk discusses the theme of impermanence and the teachings of change within Zen philosophy, referencing the work of Dogen Zenji and others. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of moments and events through the concept of "...

Serial: SF-08503 Talk by Jiryu Rutschman Byler at City Center on 2024-08-11 The talk explores the fundamental purposes and misunderstandings surrounding Zen practice, emphasizing that Zen is not about achieving a particular state or feeling but about appreciating and fully experiencing life as it is....

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-08420 Talk by Kodo Conlin at Tassajara on 2024-08-03 The talk discusses the interconnected nature of Zen practice, emphasizing themes of readiness, willingness, and not-knowing as integral to Zazen practice. It explores the notion of joining a long historical conversation within...

Serial: SF-08677 Talk by Jisan Tova Green at City Center on 2024-07-31 The talk explores the concept of "deep listening" by examining four levels: listening to oneself, another person, one's community, and the cries of the world. This is linked to practices of compassion embodied by the bodhisattva...