StoneWater Zen Talks is a series of dharma talks by David Keizan Scott Roshi of the StoneWater Zen Sangha in Liverpool, UK. Rev Dr David Keizan Shoji Scott is the founder and leader of the StoneWater Zen Sangha. He is an ordained Buddhist priest and lineage holder in the Soto Zen school, having received Shiho (Dharma transmission) from Tenshin Fletcher Roshi in October 2009 and Inka (final seal of approval) in 2019. Keizan Roshi is also a widely published writer on Japan, Zen Buddhism, compa ...
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Learn about traditional Zen and Buddhist teachings, practices, and history through episodes recorded specifically for podcast listeners. Host Domyo Burk is a Soto Zen priest and teacher.
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Dharma talks by Jundo Cohen & others from Treeleaf Zendo
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (6)
45:40
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We continue our study of master Keizan's Zazen-Yojinki, this time diving into the physicality of zazen and some useful techniques to keep ourselves awake and alert when sitting. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: August 2024, monthly Zazenkai»By Treeleaf Zendo
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279 - Talking about Politics as a Buddhist - A Live Dharma Talk
25:20
25:20
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I am on sabbatical for the month of August, so this is a recent talk I gave at Bright Way Zen. This is, of course, a very timely topic with a major election coming up in the U.S. in just over two months. If politics is "the set of activities that associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such a…
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278 - Having a Zen Teacher - An Informal Discussion
40:53
40:53
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This episode is an informal (unprepared) talk I gave in response to a question someone: Is everything a Zen teacher does a "teaching"? How do you know? This led to discussion of other topics as well, related to having a formal relationship with a Zen teacher - What does it mean? What does it look like? Why would someone want this?…
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In this episode and the previous one, I do something radical and share my experience of a sesshin I recently attended, describing it day by day. There are many reasons not to do this, and I went into those reasons in the last episode (part one), where I also described my first two full days of retreat. In this episode I describe days 3-5 and make s…
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In this episode I’m going to do something radical and share with you my experience of the sesshin I attended last week, describing it day by day. There are many reasons not to do this, which I will go into. I certainly don’t intend to do it again. Still, despite my misgivings I thought it might be helpful for you to get an insight into what a sessh…
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275 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Five – Precepts: Transcending Self-Attachment (3 of 3)
20:21
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This episode is the third installment of chapter five of my book-in-process, The Ten Fields of Zen: A Primer for Practitioners. In the first episode, I described the central role of Precepts in Zen and covered the Three Refuges, Three Pure Precepts, and two of the Grave Precepts. In the last episode, I talked about the Grave (serious, or weighty) P…
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (5)
34:29
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We continue with the fifth instalment of this series of talks based on master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yojinki'. In this episode, we are looking at what zazen is by understanding what zazen isn't. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July Monthly Zazenkai»By Treeleaf Zendo
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274 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Five – Precepts: Transcending Self-Attachment (2 of 3)
25:33
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This episode is the second part of chapter five of my book-in-process, The Ten Fields of Zen: A Primer for Practitioners. In the last episode, I described the central role of Precepts in Zen and covered the Three Refuges, Three Pure Precepts, and two of the Grave Precepts. In this episode, I talk about the Grave (serious, or weighty) Precepts three…
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273 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Five – Precepts: Transcending Self-Attachment (1 of 3)
27:28
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The fifth Field of Zen Practice is living according to moral Precepts. The Buddhist precepts guide our ethical conduct, ensuring we minimize the harm we do to self and others. Such conduct is a prerequisite for the peace of mind we need for spiritual practice. The precepts also serve as valuable tools for studying the self; when we are tempted to b…
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272 - Keizan's Denkoroku Chapter 3: Ananda and the Flagpole
32:05
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According to Zen master Keizan’s Denkoroku, Ananda spent 20 years at the Buddha’s side. He had a perfect memory, understood all the teachings, was an impeccable practitioner, and attained arhatship. Despite this, the Buddha made Kashyapa his Dharma heir, and Ananda spent another 20 years practicing with Kashyapa. Finally, Ananda asked Kashyapa, “Wh…
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (4)
41:55
41:55
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This week, Master Keizan tells us what Zazen is, and is not (and also to have clean feet). Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: June 2024, Monthly Zazenkai »By Treeleaf Zendo
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271 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Four - Dharma Study: Wrestling with the Teachings (2 of 2)
27:28
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This episode and the last, “Dharma Study: Wrestling with the Teachings,” comprise chapter four of my book, The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners. In the last episode, Part 1, I talked about the value of Dharma Study and how best to approach it. Then I discussed how to go about deciding what you want to study. In this episode I …
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270 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Four - Dharma Study: Wrestling with the Teachings (1 of 2)
21:08
21:08
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The fourth Field of Zen practice is Dharma Study, or becoming familiar with and investigating Buddhist teachings. The texts and teachings in Buddhism include tools we can use for practice and inspirational guidance for our behavior, but the most critical part of Dharma Study is challenging the ideas and views we already hold, not acquiring new ones…
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269 - Making a Vow of Inner Nonviolence and Complete Acceptance
35:26
35:26
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We all have negative aspects of ourselves we want to fix, disown, or even expunge completely from our being, but even with practice some things are extremely hard to change. As we strive to break free of our less-than-helpful aspects of self, we typically employ violent means, ranging from subtle rejection to vicious and debilitating self-loathing …
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (3)
43:56
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This week, Master Keizan offers practical advice, relevant even today, although some bits maybe more suited to the 13th Century, on one's life surrounding Zazen Practice. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Treeleaf Sangha's May Monthly Zazenkai »By Treeleaf Zendo
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268 - Teisho, An Encouragement Talk During Zazen
29:52
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Last week I led a sesshin, or silent Zen retreat. Participants participated in a 24-hour schedule of zazen, chanting, silent work, formal meals, and rest. Once or twice a day, I offered a "teisho" during zazen. "Tei" means to offer or put forth, and "sho" means to recite or proclaim. Teisho are sometimes called "encouragement talks," and they are m…
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267 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Three - Mindfulness: Cultivating Awareness Every Moment
28:35
28:35
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The third Field of Zen practice is Mindfulness, which is cultivating clear awareness of what is happening, moment by moment, within you and around you. Mindfulness is absolutely fundamental to Zen practice, allowing you to practice within all the other Fields. Without awareness, you can’t live your life by choice instead of by karma.…
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266 - What Would the Buddha Say About the Suffering in the World?
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Recently, someone submitted a Dharma question for me to address: “I wonder what Buddha would say to us about the crises facing humanity, particularly the suffering of our own making?” I can't know, but I dare to put some words in the Buddha's mouth and then present follow-up questions.By Domyo Burk
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's Zazen-Yojinki (2)
44:30
44:30
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We continue our series on Master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yōjinki'or 'Notes to Keep in Heart for Zazen' Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: HERE»By Treeleaf Zendo
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265 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Two - Zazen: Our Total Response to Life (3 of 3)
22:59
22:59
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This is the third episode of three comprising the “Zazen” chapter of my book, “The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners.” I start by offering what I should have put at the beginning of my chapter on Zazen: Basic instructions for Zazen. I then discuss how my “Five Efforts in Zazen” suggest Zazen is a neat and linear process, but in…
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264 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Two - Zazen: Our Total Response to Life (2 of 3)
31:30
31:30
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This is the second episode of three comprising the "Zazen" chapter of my book, "The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners.” I finish my discussion of the five efforts of Zazen, covering becoming intimate with Life, seeing the true nature of Life, and being one with Life.By Domyo Burk
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263 - Ten Fields of Zen, Field Two - Zazen: Our Total Response to Life (1 of 3)
37:29
37:29
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The second Field of Zen practice is Zazen. “Za” means seated, and “zen” means meditation. However, as 13th-century Zen master Dogen famously stated, “…Zazen is not meditation practice.” Superficially, our Zazen may look like the meditation done in other spiritual traditions, or even in secular settings. We even call Zazen “meditation” sometimes, fo…
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's Zazen-Yojinki (1)
45:38
45:38
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Master Keizan, considered with Master Dogen one of the two "Founders" of Soto Zen in Japan, lived from 1264 to 1325. His essay “Zazen-Yōjinki” might be considered an expansion and further exploration of Dogen's explanation of Zazen, the 'Fukanzazengi'. The advice is often very practical, covering such topics as how to sit, breathe, what to wear, ea…
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262 - The Value, Care, and Feeding of Dharma Friendships (2 of 2)
29:24
29:24
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The Buddha famously said “admirable friendship,” or what I’m calling Dharma friendship, is the entirety of the holy life. In the last episode, I discussed the value and nature of personal Dharma friendships. In this episode, I talk about what makes a good Dharma friendship and offer some practical ideas about how to find, form, and maintain such re…
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261 – The Value, Care, and Feeding of Dharma Friendships (1 of 2)
23:34
23:34
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The Buddha famously said the “admirable friendship,” or what I’m calling Dharma friendship, is the entirety of the holy life. In this episode, I discuss the value and nature of personal Dharma friendships. In Part 2, I will talk about what makes a good Dharma friendship and offer some practical ideas about how to find, form, and maintain such relat…
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260 – Ten Fields of Zen, Field One – Bodhicitta: Way-Seeking Mind
33:22
33:22
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This episode on Bodhicitta, or Way-Seeking Mind, is chapter two of my book The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners.” Bodhicitta is the first Field of practice because without it we never even begin practice, and, if we don’t nurture and sustain it, our practice will wither and die. I discuss the first arising of Bodhicitta, its f…
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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Dedication of Merit
35:33
35:33
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Today's Talk will reflect on our "Dedication of Merit", which we recite each time, but maybe without looking closely Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dedication of Merit»By Treeleaf Zendo
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259 – Ten Fields of Zen, Introduction – What Is Zen Practice?
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In this introductory chapter to my book, “The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners," I discuss the nature of practice and "progress" on the path of practice. I then introduce the Ten Fields, and the rest of the book will consist of a chapter on each of the Fields.By Domyo Burk
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258 - One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 6: The Two Truths of Absolute and Relative 2
26:10
26:10
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The Two Truths teaching is another classic Chan/Zen description of Reality-with-a-Capital-R. Reality has two aspects, often called relative and absolute. I call them the “dependent dimension” and the “independent dimension.” I describe this teaching and discuss why it is so important to our practice.…
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