The SFZC Audio Archive

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-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-08312 Talk by Jiryu Rutschman Byler at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-08-11 The talk at Green Gulch Farm emphasizes the distinction between Zen practice as a pursuit of feeling versus a posture, encouraging an ever-present awareness of life irrespective of circumstances. The speaker describes four...

Serial: SF-08248 Talk by Joan Amaral at Tassajara on 2024-08-10 The talk focuses on the theme of belonging and love within the practice of Zen, specifically at Tassajara. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of people with the environment and with each other, using the metaphor of mountains...

Serial: SF-08259 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2024-08-03 The talk explores the concepts of realization about delusion and the human condition via chaplaincy training and Zen practice. It emphasizes Dogen Zenji's teaching on the distinction between realization and delusion and discusses...

Serial: SF-08367 07/31/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple, by Tova Green. Tova explores deep listening on the personal, relational, community, and global levels. Investigating the... The talk discusses the concept of "Deep Listening" — understanding the "words under the words" — inspired by Naomi Shihab Nye's poetry and the bodhisattva Kuan Yin's teachings. The speaker elaborates on four levels of listening:...

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-08621 Talk by Audio Recording Test at City Center on 2024-07-24 This talk centers on the practice of loving-kindness meditation as a means to transcend dualities such as birth and death, emphasizing the cultivation of compassion and peace in one's thoughts and actions. The practice encourages...

Serial: SF-09488 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Zen Mind Beginners Mind Gui Spina on 2024-07-21 The main thesis of the talk is an exploration of self and practice through Zen teachings, emphasizing the non-duality in Zen practice via the concepts of "nothing special" and the interconnectedness of life and Zazen practice....

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-08637 Talk by Bussho Salon Week Dan Gudgel Tim Wicks Kim Hart at City Center on 2024-07-17 The talk explores Dogen's critique of representations in Zen, specifically analyzing the depiction of Nagarjuna as a painted rice cake metaphor. It emphasizes Dogen's commentary on distinguishing authentic practice from...

Serial: SF-09534 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Zen Mind Beginners Mind Gui Spina on 2024-07-14 This talk explores the Zen concept of "just this is it" and the study of the self in the context of Dogen's teachings, particularly from "Genjo Koan" and Dongshan's "Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi." The discussion highlights...

Serial: SF-08282 Talk by Nancy Petrin at Tassajara on 2024-07-13 The talk focuses on the establishment and evolution of Enzo Village as a Zen-inspired senior living community, detailing its integration of Zen practices and the challenges of creating a communal identity. This includes...

Serial: SF-08640 Bussho Salon  The session discusses the exploration of Dogen's teachings, particularly focusing on the notions of time and Buddha nature as described in the Zen text Shobogenzo. The discussion emphasizes the interplay of time and being in...

Serial: SF-09485 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Zen Mind Beginners Mind Gui Spina on 2024-07-07 The discourse primarily examines the ideas presented in "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki, focusing on the pitfalls of being goal-oriented in Zen practice, specifically via the chapter "Mistakes in Practice". It...

Serial: SF-08251 07/06/2024, Peter Coyote, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given by Zen teacher, actor, poet and artist Peter Coyote. The talk, which Peter describes as “disguised as a dharma-way talk” recounts how the deepening grip of... The talk explores the integration of Zen practice with social activism and personal development, emphasizing the importance of combining spiritual insight with practical, political engagement. It discusses the speaker's personal...

Serial: SF-08329 Talk by Bussho Salon Week Tim Wicks Kim Hart Dan Gudgel at City Center on 2024-07-03 The talk provides an exploration of Eihei Dogen's teachings, focusing on the historical and philosophical context of his work "Busho", also known as "Buddha Nature". It outlines Dogen's life during the period known as Mappo—the...

Serial: SF-08633 Bussho Salon  The talk examines the paradoxical use of language in Zen poetry, particularly in the works of Dogen, to explore experiences that are inherently inexpressible. An important theme is the distinction between language as a map and...

Serial: SF-08605 Bussho Salon  The talk focuses on the relevance of Dogen's teachings, highlighting the approach of reading Dogen's works with a devotional practice similar to Lectio Divina, without fixating on understanding every word. It emphasizes...

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-09816 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-06-30 The talk discusses the nuances of Zen practice, emphasizing Suzuki Roshi's insights from "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," notably the pitfalls of idealistic and competitive practices. It explores the importance of critique over...

Serial: SF-08380 06/23/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Case 35 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection tells the story of Qian's spirit being divided between following her heart and being responsible by following obligations... The talk explores the theme of non-duality within the Zen tradition, using stories and koans to emphasize direct experience and self-realization. Historical references include Master Wutsu and contemporary philosophical...

Serial: SF-09726 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-06-16 The talk discusses the significance of attention and mindfulness in Zen practice, emphasizing the teachings from the Dhammapada and Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Suzuki Roshi. It highlights the importance of understanding the role...

Serial: SF-08383 06/15/2024, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple, by Sozan Michael McCord. The Zen Buddhist path can seem like one that is spare, determined and somewhat serious;... The talk explores the concept of joy as a fundamental aspect of Zen and Buddhist practice, juxtaposed with the traditionally perceived seriousness of Buddhist teachings. It emphasizes the idea that joy stems from the...