The SFZC Audio Archive

Serial: SF-12438 Talk by Michael McCord at Tassajara on 2025-07-12 The talk explores the significance of retreats like Tassajara in providing a transformative space for developing presence, awareness, and adaptability. The speaker examines using Zen rituals and practices for grounding oneself...

Serial: SF-07259 06/21/2025, Chikudo Catherine Spaeth, dharma talk at Tassajara. The talk delves into the theme of spiritual growth as a deepening of vows within the context of a five-day retreat at Tassajara. Emphasizing transformation and interconnectedness, it reflects on the symbolic journey of personal...

Serial: SF-07270 06/15/2025, Gyokuden Steph Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Gyokuden Steph Blank shares her experience of grief and gratitude arising through the intimate process of accompanying her father during his recent transition from... The talk focuses on the themes of fatherhood, grief, and Zen practice, exploring the speaker's personal experiences with a deceased father, touching on the importance of humor and guidance provided by father figures. Reflections...

Serial: SF-07272 Talk by Michael Gelfond at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-06-08 This talk explores the Satipatthana Sutta and its significance in Buddhist practice, specifically concerning mindfulness. It discusses mindfulness as a path to liberation by emphasizing attention to inner and outer experiences,...

Serial: SF-08183 Talk by Michael Gelfond at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-06-08 The talk explores the Satipatthana Sutta, focusing on the foundational Buddhist teaching of mindfulness as a direct path to liberation. The speaker emphasizes mindfulness as essential in experiencing moment-to-moment existence,...

Serial: SF-09504 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Inside Vasubandhus Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-06-01 This talk explores the Yogacara, or Mind-Only school, focusing on Vasubandhu's "30 Verses on Consciousness Only," specifically verses 5, 6, and 7. The discussion centers on the transformation of consciousness, particularly the...

Serial: SF-07278 05/31/2025, Teah Strozer, dharma talk at City Center. Teah Strozer explores the ways that our assumptions and fixed ideas about people or situations can blind us to change and to what’s actually in front of us. The talk emphasizes the importance of maintaining a beginner's mind and the practice of "not knowing" as integral to Zen philosophy. Several stories illustrate the pitfalls of holding rigid views and the liberation found in...

Serial: SF-09526 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Inside Vasubandhus Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-05-18 The talk elaborates on Vasubandhu's "Thirty Verses on Consciousness" from the Yogacara school of Buddhist philosophy, focusing on the transformation of consciousness, delusion, and karmic seeds as foundational themes. Discussions...

Serial: SF-08177 Talk by Jiryu Rutschman Byler at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-05-18 The talk focuses on embodying Zen practices through physicality and mindfulness, emphasizing presence and openness to the present moment. It includes guided meditation exercises for the body and breath, fostering an appreciation...

Serial: SF-09731 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2025-05-12 The talk centers on the teachings of the Yogacara school, a pivotal theme in Zen meditation, focusing on the transformation of consciousness and the notion of "mind-only." Xuanzang's 7th-century journey to Nalanda University in...

Serial: SF-08078 05/10/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman takes up Case 12 from the Book of Serenity, titled ‘Dizang Planting the Fields’, which touches upon a number of key practice... The talk delves into a koan from the Book of Serenity, Case 12, featuring Dijon and Shushan, which probes the intersection of meditation with worldly engagement. The discussion questions the sufficiency of meditation in the face...

Serial: SF-09503 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Inside Vasubandhus Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-05-04 The talk explores the practice and complexities of the Yogacara teachings, focusing on Vasubandhu's "Thirty Verses" to understand the mind's workings. It compares the experiential aspect of mind practice to understanding and...

Serial: SF-08157 04/27/2025, Myoju Erin Merk, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Myoju Erin Merk reflects on the yogic power of simplicity in Zen practice, emphasizing how grounding ourselves in the present moment can restore steadiness and... The talk focuses on the integration of Zen practice into daily life amidst modern challenges, emphasizing simplicity and grounding techniques to manage feelings of overwhelm. The speaker discusses the concept of "yoking"...

Serial: SF-09532 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Inside Vasubandhus Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-04-20 The talk focuses on the intersection of Yogacara philosophy and traditional Buddhist teachings, particularly responding to aspects of the Heart Sutra and Prajnaparamita teachings. It delves into Vasubandhu's 30 Verses on the...

Serial: SF-08176 Talk by Wendy Johnson at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-04-20 The talk explores themes of interconnectedness, environmental stewardship, and the practice of truthfulness in Zen philosophy, particularly in light of contemporary challenges such as environmental destruction and societal...

Serial: SF-08115 Talk by Shundo David Haye at City Center on 2025-04-15 This talk explores the concepts of transformation and renewal within Zen practice, particularly through rituals and precepts. It emphasizes the significance of the lay ordination ceremony, where practitioners receive a Dharma...

Serial: SF-08147 04/13/2025, Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler reflects on comments from Suzuki Roshi’s talks on Case #36 of the Blue Cliff Record, exploring lines like “Buddhists resign... The talk centers on the Zen practice of appreciating the present moment without attachment, illustrated by the metaphor of spring and its transient beauty. Drawing from Zen teachings and stories, the discussion emphasizes the...

Serial: SF-08206 04/12/2025, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at City Center. Ryuko Laura Burges, a lay entrusted teacher, talks about the timeless power of story and shares her recent book, Wisdom Stories of Tibet: Tales of Magic, Adventure, and... The talk outlines the importance of storytelling as a means of cultural preservation and personal connection. It discusses the creation of "Wisdom Stories of Tibet," highlighting the collaborative process with a Tibetan lama, and...

Serial: SF-09506 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Inside Vasubandhus Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-04-06 The talk delves into the complexities of Vasubandhu's "30 Verses" and the Yogacara school, discussing its role as the third turning of the Dharma wheel. It explores the traps associated with each turning: reification of no-self (...

Serial: SF-08121 04/02/2025, So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson examines the rich intersection between Zen practice and artistic expression—not as a pursuit of perfection, but as a way to return to... The talk centers on the intersection of Zen practice and art, emphasizing how both require presence, authenticity, and an engagement with the process rather than fixation on outcomes. The speaker discusses the transformational...

Serial: SF-08101 03/28/2025, Doshin Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center. Doshin Dan Gudgel explores the idea of a ‘caretaker’ as it relates to the Parental Mind that Dogen encourages in his Tenzo Kyokun text. This talk focuses on the Zen concept of "caretaking" through the lens of Dogen's "Tenzo Kyokun," exploring the roles and responsibilities of the Tenzo, or head cook, and how these can extend to a broader philosophy of life. The...

Serial: SF-09554 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Inside Vasubandhus Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-03-23 The talk provides an in-depth exploration of the Mind-Only teachings within Zen Buddhism, with a particular focus on Vasubandhu's influence and the evolution of Buddhist teachings. It discusses the significant contributions of...

Serial: SF-08126 03/22/2025, Onryu Mary Stares, dharma talk at City Center. Onryu Mary Stares speaks about Eihei Dogen Zenji’s text “Tenzo Kyokun (Instruction to the Cook)” as part of the March 2025 intensive focus on kitchen practice. The talk explores the transformative experience and practical lessons gained from the role of Tenzo, or head cook, at a Zen temple, using Dogen Zenji's "Tenzo Kyokun"—a guide for the head cook—as a backbone for this exploration....

Serial: SF-08082 Talk by Judith Keenan at City Center on 2025-03-19 The talk presented outlines the personal journey and experiences of transitioning into being Tenzo, or head cook, at the San Francisco Zen Center, and connects work practice to Zen philosophy. The speaker draws on Zen teachings...