The SFZC Audio Archive

Serial: SF-08476 In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, visiting monk Yogetsu Akasaka discusses the contrasts he’s seen between Soto Zen in Japan and in the United States. Yogetsu explains the path he’s taken from touring as a beatbox... The talk discusses the integration of traditional Zen practices with modern expressions and contexts, particularly emphasizing the differences in Zen practice between Japan and the United States. The focus is on transforming the...

Serial: SF-08629 Talk by Roger Hillyard at City Center on 2024-02-28 The talk explores the significance of the Three Refuges in Zen practice, particularly focusing on "I take refuge in the Dharma." The discussion emphasizes the practical application of this refuge in daily life, highlighting the...

Serial: SF-09525 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koan Study Gui Spina on 2024-02-25 This discussion centers on the study of koans from Shunryu Suzuki's "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," emphasizing the theme of "beginner's mind" as essential to Zen practice. The role of koans in understanding Zen principles like non-...

Serial: SF-08576 Talk by Tenzen David Zimmerman at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-02-25 The talk explores the theme of interconnectedness and emptiness in the pursuit of liberation within the Zen Buddhist tradition. It discusses the koan involving Zen masters Nanchuan and Jiaojou, which illustrates the playful and...

Serial: SF-08604 Talk by Shundo David Haye at City Center on 2024-02-21 The talk focuses on embracing everyday presence and highlights the importance of community and attentive practice in Zen. It references the evolution of Zen Center, historical figures like Suzuki Roshi and Sekito Kisen, and texts...

Serial: SF-09502 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koan Study Gui Spina on 2024-02-18 The talk primarily explores the teachings of Suzuki Roshi, specifically focusing on his work "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." The discussion delves into the use of koans, particularly citing Zen Master Linji and Soto Zen's founding...

Serial: SF-08245 In this talk, given during the second one-day sitting of the winter 2024 practice period, Abiding Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel discusses the power and peace of not-knowing. In the Zen tradition, ‘not-knowing’ is not the same as the... The talk focuses on understanding and embodying the 16 bodhisattva precepts through zazen practice to navigate the challenges of modern life, drawing on early Buddhist teachings, particularly the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold...

Serial: SF-08453 02/11/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Abbot Jiryu reflects on Suzuki Roshi's core teaching that Zen practice is fundamentally about "becoming yourself," and explores the strong... The talk focuses on the Zen practice of "Silent Illumination," emphasizing the importance of being still and open, revealing one's inherent brightness and completeness. The teachings urge practitioners not to pursue...

Serial: SF-09737 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-02-11 The talk focuses on exploring the role of koans in Zen practice, particularly their evolution from textual study to face-to-face transmission and their function as tools for realizing the non-dual nature of reality. The speaker...

Serial: SF-08418 02/10/2024, Shogen Jody Greene, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple by Shogen Jody Greene. While Dōgen Zenji once described 'shikantaza' (just sitting) as “the dharma gate of repose and bliss... The talk explores themes of genuine practice in Zen Buddhism, drawing on the story of Seiko and the dragon to illustrate the pitfalls of superficial engagement with the Dharma. It suggests that true understanding and practice...

Serial: SF-08415 02/04/2024, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Avalokiteshvara in the Avatamsaka Sutra lets us know of the powerful practice of Great Compassion to meet the great challenges of our life. This talk focuses on the practice of infinite compassion as described in the Avatamsaka Sutra, specifically drawing from Book 39, the Gandhavyuha. The discussion centers on how practitioners can embody the mind of a bodhisattva...

Serial: SF-08676 Talk by Mary Stares at City Center on 2024-02-03 The talk examines the 16 Bodhisattva precepts, focusing on their role in personal practice and interpretation. The speaker emphasizes reinterpretation of the precepts in the affirmative to foster personal exploration of ethical...

Serial: SF-09490 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koan Study Gui Spina on 2024-01-28 This talk primarily focuses on the transition from studying "The Transmission of Light" to examining Suzuki Roshi's teachings, particularly exploring the koans embedded within his work. Emphasis is placed on the dual truths in...

Serial: SF-08358 In this talk, given during the first one-day sitting of the winter 2024 practice period, Abiding Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel discusses the sources and outcomes of the many different places and ways we construct our individual... The talk focuses on the integration of Zen precepts into daily life during the winter practice period, emphasizing self-reflection and personal ethical behavior. Key themes include the exploration of sila (virtuous behavior)...

Serial: SF-09518 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koun Ejo Gui Spina on 2024-01-21 The talk focuses on the Zen teaching of "Transmission of Light" by Kazon, exploring the concept of enlightenment as presented in the narrative of teacher and disciple encounters. It emphasizes the dual realization of ultimate...

Serial: SF-09821 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-01-21 The talk explores the Zen tradition of "Transmission of Light," focusing on the koan involving Ejo's awakening under Dogen Zenji. The discussion emphasizes the transmission as a core of Zen identity, with a focus on the...

Serial: SF-08280 01/17/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Shosan explores how we are practicing with the current physical changes to the temple space. This year, our urban... The talk explores transformation within the San Francisco Zen Center through the lens of Dogen Zenji's teachings, particularly focusing on the concept of taking refuge in the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. It...

Serial: SF-08411 01/14/2024, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson considers how to apply the Teaching of Thusness to the significant outbreak of infection and disruption in the midst of our... The talk focuses on the concept of "just sitting" as the essence of Zazen within the Buddha way, emphasizing the role of Zen practitioners, both priests and laypeople, in supporting and encouraging this practice. Reflections...

Serial: SF-09829 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-01-14 The talk primarily addresses the unexpected changes in plans at Green Gulch Farm due to a COVID outbreak and reflections on Zen teachings regarding impermanence and interconnectedness. It revisits themes from the three-and-a-half...

Serial: SF-08406 01/10/2024, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, from Beginner's Mind Temple, Zachary discusses an often-used koan (teaching story): Yúnmén’s “Every day is a good day.” Zen, a Mahayana Buddhist school... The talk analyzes the koan from the Blue Cliff Record, Case 6: "Every Day is a Good Day," exploring its philosophical implications. It examines the duality of pre- and post-15th day, the lunar calendar's symbolism, and its...

Serial: SF-08262 01/07/2024, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk is a contemplation of the Flower Adornment Scripture saying “Clearly observe the Dharma of the king of Dharma. The Dharma of the king of Dharma is thus... This talk focuses on the commencement of an intensive meditation period and the aspiration of attaining Buddhahood, particularly through the lens of the Avatamsaka Sutra. The discussion explores the story of the boy Sudhana and...

Serial: SF-09735 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-01-07 The talk focuses on several key aspects of Zen philosophy, emphasizing the study of the Avatamsaka Sutra's approach to interconnectedness, as echoed by Dogen's teachings. Moving on from Dogen's 'Uji', considerations regarding...

Serial: SF-08501 In this talk, from Beginner's Mind Temple, Liên speaks about how Skillful View, in services of restoration, is about opening up to acknowledging harm and harming, (re)learning ways to be more skillful, and then enacting them. The... The talk centers on the concept of location within systems of discrimination and the Buddhist practice of addressing personal and societal suffering through the framework of the Four Noble Truths. The speaker discusses the impact...

Serial: SF-08690 Talk by Keiryu Lien Shutt Audio Synced at City Center on 2024-01-06 The talk focuses on the importance of understanding one's social location within systems of oppression and the role of Buddhist practice in navigating these dynamics. It discusses personal experiences and reflections on race,...