The SFZC Audio Archive

Welcome to our new, faster search engine! See the FAQ for more info.

Showing 1919 talks
 

- Reset Search

Title Speaker Date

Zen Awareness and Body Consciousness

Serial: RB-00339 The talk from December 1st, 1975, focuses on the continuous awareness and presence during sesshin without drifting into thoughts about past, future, or distractions. It delves into the importance of maintaining a soft and...
Posture, Concentration, heart, Don't Know Mind, Sixth Patriarch
Dec 01 1975

Silent Harmony in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00021 The talk addresses the challenge of overcoming ingrained cultural ideas in Zen practice, emphasizing direct perception over accumulated knowledge. It explores the concept of "silence" as an active acceptance, not merely the...
Silence, Mindfulness, Religion, Ceremony, realization
Nov 26 1975

November 22nd, 1975, Serial No. 00043

Serial: RB-00043 The talk discusses the current social and financial uncertainty, the influence of Buddhism on Western thought, and the economic challenges faced by the speaker's community. It underscores the significance of the Buddhist sangha...
Money, Building, Community, Sangha, Intimacy
Nov 22 1975

**Budgeting Harmony for Zen Center**

Serial: RB-00044 The main thesis of the talk revolves around the financial overview and budgeting for a Zen Center, addressing the costs of residency for students, the allocation and calculation of scholarships, and strategies to sustain the...
Money, Community, Tenzo, Balance, Offering
Nov 22 1975

November 22nd, 1975, Serial No. 00045

Serial: RB-00045 The talk on November 22, 1975, centers around the financial challenges of running the Zen center and explores strategies to manage expenses and raise funds. Key topics include potential budget cuts, especially in food and...
Money, Community, Fundraising, Building, Balance
Nov 22 1975

November 13th, 1975, Serial No. 00020

Serial: RB-00020 The talk from November 13th, 1975, addresses the relationship between society and sangha in contemporary Buddhist practice, emphasizing that ancient Buddhist communities lived in more stable societies where wisdom was more...
Concentration, Practice Period, Chanting, Vow
Nov 13 1975

Sangha: Interconnected Path to Enlightenment

Serial: RB-00019 This talk focuses on the "three treasures" in Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, with a particular emphasis on understanding Sangha. It discusses various stages of comprehending Sangha and the spiritual practice of realizing...
Vow, Sangha, Thich Nhat Hanh, Priest, War
Nov 11 1975

Zen and the Shifting Mind

Serial: RB-00018 The talk explores deep Zen concepts, focusing on the famous koan of the buffalo and transitioning states of mind. Using anecdotes about a taxi driver and a grocer to illustrate human interactions and transitional challenges, the...
Greed, Hate, Delusion, Money, Letting Go
Nov 08 1975

Crafting Consciousness Through Vows

Serial: RB-00017 The talk primarily focuses on the importance of recognizing and not sacrificing one's state of mind, treating it as a craft and integral part of one's practice. It contrasts Western and Eastern attitudes towards skill and...
Vow, Composure, Concentration, Doubt
Nov 02 1975

Zen State of Artful Vows

Serial: RB-00338 The talk focuses on the concepts of state of mind, consciousness, and vow in Zen practice, contrasting Western and Eastern perceptions of art and craft. Emphasis is placed on recognizing one’s state of mind as a tool rather than...
Vow, Composure, Concentration, Doubt
Nov 02 1975

October 31st, 1975, Serial No. 00336

Serial: RB-00336 The thesis of this talk is about embracing a state of "not knowing" to foster playfulness and experimentation in one's spiritual practice, particularly within Zen Buddhism, juxtaposed with the rigid belief that often...
Vow, Composure, Faith, Doubt
Oct 31 1975

October 31st, 1975, Serial No. 00566

Serial: RB-00566 The central thesis of the talk is the exploration of not knowing and its relationship to Zen practice, highlighting the value of playfulness and experimentation over rigid control. It contrasts philosophical and religious...
Vow, Composure, Faith, Doubt
Oct 31 1975

Embracing Life's Intrinsic Contradictions

Serial: RB-00334 The talk primarily addresses the concepts of contradictions in life, the power of intention and vow, and the practice of Zazen as processes of unwinding and uncovering innate knowledge. The speaker emphasizes the importance of...
Vow, Intention, Love, Don't Know Mind, Greed
Oct 30 1975

Embracing Contradictions Through Vows

Serial: RB-00565 The talk discusses the significance of embracing life’s contradictions and the transformative power of vows in Zen practice. Emphasizing the importance of intention or vow in grounding one’s practice, the discussion elaborates on...
Vow, Intention, Love, Greed, Sixth Patriarch
Oct 30 1975

Interconnected Living Beyond Individualism

Serial: RB-00564 The talk discusses the dangers and societal impacts of individualism, commercialization, and misplaced faith in science and technology, drawing parallels between biological and social structures. It emphasizes the need to...
Vow, Lineage, Peace, Delusion, heart
Oct 29 1975

October 28th, 1975, Serial No. 00016

Serial: RB-00016 The talk delves into the nature of Zen practice, emphasizing personal effort and internal state over external rituals and teachings. It explores how practitioners can understand their interconnectedness with all beings, the...
Tozan, Chanting, Obstacles, Gratitude, Avalokiteshvara
Oct 28 1975

Beyond Clinging to Concepts

Serial: RB-00563 The talk delves into the existential relationship between practitioners and the teachings of Buddhas and Patriarchs. It emphasizes that individual effort overrides external aids like lectures and zendos, with enlightenment...
Tozan, Chanting, Obstacles, Gratitude, Avalokiteshvara
Oct 28 1975

October 27th, 1975, Serial No. 00015

Serial: RB-00015 The talk explores the concept of limitations in the context of Zen practice, emphasizing how Zen teachings challenge and transcend intellectual understanding. A famous koan about a buffalo passing through a window serves as a...
Composure, Concentration, Passions, Compassion, Doubt
Oct 27 1975

October 27th, 1975, Serial No. 00562

Serial: RB-00562 The talk centers on limitations and the paradoxes in understanding Zen practice, particularly in how intelligence and wealth can hinder spiritual insight. The discussion includes various Zen stories and koans, emphasizing the...
Composure, Concentration, Passions, Compassion, Doubt
Oct 27 1975

Zen in Everyday Moments

Serial: RB-00014 The talk on October 26, 1975, focuses on the application of Zen practice in ordinary life outside monastic settings. Emphasizing the necessity of concentration and morality, it explores how lay practitioners can integrate Zen...
Intention, Concentration, Vow, Oneness, Greed
Oct 26 1975

October 26th, 1975, Serial No. 00561

Serial: RB-00561 The talk explores the practical challenges and deeper principles of Zen practice for individuals immersed in ordinary life, particularly those not living in a monastic setting. The discussion emphasizes the importance of...
Intention, Concentration, Vow, Oneness, Greed
Oct 26 1975

Invisible Interconnectedness: Beyond Modern Illusions

Serial: RB-00335 The talk argues that modern life, symbolized by the difficulties and dangers inherent in various societal agreements, contrasts sharply with historical periods where enlightenment was more common and less commodified. The...
Vow, Lineage, Delusion, heart, Building
Oct 25 1975

Creating Your Mindful Path

Serial: RB-00560 The talk primarily focuses on the significance of the participant's state of mind during Sashin practice. It emphasizes that participants should actively create their experiences rather than passively follow schedules or external...
Greed, Delusion, Passions, Hate, Don't Know Mind
Oct 25 1975

Mindful Sesshin: Create Your Insight

Serial: RB-00568 The talk emphasizes the importance of understanding and actively engaging with one's own mind during the sesshin practice. The central thesis revolves around not depending solely on the external structures of sesshin but creating...
Greed, Delusion, Passions, Hate, confusion
Oct 25 1975

Intrinsic Actions in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00558 The talk elaborates on the Zen principle that emphasizes spontaneous, intrinsic actions and reactions, using the example of "Why, when the bell rings, do you put on your robe?" It discusses the importance of dealing with...
Bell, Faith, Attachment, Aspects of Practice, Freedom
Oct 08 1975

Zen Mastery in Everyday Details

Serial: RB-00557 The talk emphasizes the significance of attention to details in Zen practice and warns against being misled by the superficial aspects of Buddhist practices. It explains that true understanding and mastery of Zen come not through...
Greed, Hate, Delusion, Bell, Offering
Oct 06 1975

Zen Posture and Inner Peace

Serial: RB-00311 Summary: The talk emphasizes the importance of combining physical posture and relaxation in Zen practice, particularly through Zazen meditation. The discussion highlights the necessity of understanding oneself through suffering...
Posture, Concentration, Faith, Chanting, Breath
Sep 30 1975

September 17th, 1975, Serial No. 00082

Serial: KR-00082 -
Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Addiction, Soto Zen, Lineage, realization, Evil,...
Sep 17 1975

September 12th, 1975, Serial No. 00080

Serial: KR-00080 -
Soto Zen, Rinzai, Vow, Ceremony
Sep 12 1975

September 11th, 1975, Serial No. 00078

Serial: KR-00078 -
Soto Zen, Transmission, Dharma Transmission, realization, Lay, difficulty
Sep 11 1975

September 10th, 1975, Serial No. 00077

Serial: KR-00077 -
Transmission, Building, Dharma Transmission, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Bell, lecture, Bodhidharma,...
Sep 10 1975

September 10th, 1975, Serial No. 00086

Serial: KR-00086 -
Transmission, Bell, Building, Soto Zen, Rinzai, difficulty, lecture, Bodhidharma...
Sep 10 1975

September 8th, 1975, Serial No. 00074

Serial: KR-00074 -
Transmission, Soto Zen, Discrimination, Buddha Nature, realization, Separation, Silence,...
Sep 08 1975

September 5th, 1975, Serial No. 00072

Serial: KR-00072 -
Interdependence, Teacher-and-Student, Religion, Attachment, Interview, American...
Sep 05 1975

Living Zazen Every Moment

Serial: RB-00333 The talk emphasizes the principles of Shikantaza practice, focusing on the complete involvement in everyday activities as a form of Zazen. It describes the dual aspects of practice: perfecting oneself for enlightenment ("way...
Shikantaza, Lineage, Zendo, Way-Seeking Mind, resistance
Sep 05 1975

Living Zen Through Shikantaza

Serial: RB-00556 The main thesis of the talk emphasizes the practice of Shikantaza as both an experiential and experimental approach to Zen, focusing on the lineage and teachings passed down through generations. The discussion highlights the...
Shikantaza, Zendo, Lineage, Way-Seeking Mind, resistance
Sep 05 1975

Experiencing Zen Beyond Thought

Serial: RB-00332 The talk centers on the concept of emptiness in Zen Buddhism, specifically its elusiveness and its relationship to direct experience beyond intellectual understanding. The narrative highlights the story from Blue Cliff Records...
Rinzai, Shikantaza, Posture, Don't Know Mind, Baso
Sep 04 1975

Embodied Emptiness in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00555 The talk focuses on the concept of emptiness in Zen Buddhism, contrasting it with the tendencies to control or seek the mysterious. Emptiness is approached as an experiential reality, beyond rational comprehension. Key teachings...
Rinzai, Shikantaza, Posture, Don't Know Mind, Baso
Sep 04 1975

September 3rd, 1975, Serial No. 00069

Serial: KR-00069 -
Heart Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Sanctuary, Separation, Lay, realization, Hate...
Sep 03 1975

Echoes of Stillness in Zen

Serial: RB-00347 The talk explores the challenges and strategies of chanting in a Zen context, emphasizing the difficulties posed by the acoustics of a specific zendo compared to others like those at Tassajara or the Buddha Hall. It also delves...
Chanting, Breath, Continuous Practice, Thoroughness, Bowing
Sep 03 1975

Zen Moments and Eternal Now

Serial: RB-00554 The talk primarily explores difficulties in chanting in different zendos, elaborates on the concept of time in Zen practice, and discusses the importance of understanding and integrating this perception into one's Zazen practice...
Chanting, Breath, Continuous Practice, Thoroughness, Blue Cliff Record
Sep 03 1975

September 2nd, 1975, Serial No. 00067

Serial: KR-00067 -
realization, Birth-and-Death, Oneness, Meditation, Nirvana, Happiness, Separation,...
Sep 02 1975

Embracing Zen Through Stories

Serial: RB-00013 This talk explores a story from the "Blue Cliff Records" concerning Wong Po, emphasizing the importance of developing a feeling and understanding of Zen tales rather than overanalyzing them. It discusses common human tendencies...
Baso, Concentration, resistance, Building, Sixth Patriarch
Sep 02 1975

Intuitive Embrace of Zen Truths

Serial: RB-00346 The talk examines the story of Wong Po from the Blue Cliff Records, emphasizing the importance of developing an intuitive understanding rather than analytical comprehension when studying Koans. It explores themes of inherent...
Baso, Concentration, resistance, Building, Transmission
Sep 02 1975

September 1st, 1975, Serial No. 00066

Serial: KR-00066 -
Birth-and-Death, Concentration, realization, American, Happiness, Separation, Beginners,...
Sep 01 1975

September 1975 talk, Serial No. 00068

Serial: KR-00068 -
Separation, Gratitude, Zendo, Enemies, Transmission, Nirvana, Emotions, difficulty, Pain...
Sep 1975

September 1975 talk, Serial No. 00070

Serial: KR-00070 -
Oneness, Birth-and-Death, Heart Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Separation, Discrimination, Pain...
Sep 1975

September 1975 talk, Serial No. 00073

Serial: KR-00073 -
Silence, realization, Bodhidharma, Discrimination, Transmission, Oneness, Rinzai, Separation,...
Sep 1975

September 1975 talk, Serial No. 00075

Serial: KR-00075 -
Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Bodhidharma, New Year, Ceremony, Soto Zen, Building, Rinzai...
Sep 1975

September 1975 talk, Serial No. 00076

Serial: KR-00076 -
Transmission, Ceremony, Building, Bodhidharma, Addiction, Demons, Rinzai
Sep 1975

Pages