Best San Francisco Zen Center Podcasts (2024)

1
Taking Refuge 29:59

1M ago29:59

29:59

This talk was given at Green Gulch Farm by Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道. The talk is an exploration of taking refuge in our true nature as we navigate the seasons of life.By Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道

1
Moving Towards Right Speech 40:08

1M ago40:08

40:08

This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Onryu Mary Stares. In this talk Onryu Mary Stares discusses the five considerations the Buddha lists that allow us to practice Right Speech. These considerations shape our relationship with ourselves and with all beings.By Onryu Mary Stares

1
What Will You Take Care Of? 27:26

1M ago27:26

27:26

This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Hondo Dave Rutschman. One of the most important questions each of us has to work out in our life is deciding what it is we will take care of. In this talk, Dave considers what it might mean to take care of our practice through time—to appreciate all those who have maintained it for us in the p…

1
Clearing the Mind 42:17

2M ago42:17

42:17

09/15/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk given at Green Gulch Farm, Abiding Abbott Jiryu Rutschman-Byler continues to explore four core elements of zazen practice: low belly, upright spine, clear mind, and wide-open welcoming. He focuses in particular on the practice of "clearing the mind," using teachings of …

1
Practicing with a Broken Heart 29:27

2M ago29:27

29:27

09/14/2024, Gengyoko Tim Wicks, dharma talk at City Center.In this dharma talk, given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by tanto (head of practice) Gengyoko Tim Wicks, Tim speaks about working with everything that arises in zazen including grief and difficult emotions, for it is all a part of being awake.By Gengyoko Tim Wicks

1
A Thief of the Heart 23:58

2M ago23:58

23:58

09/07/2024, James Ishmael Ford, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple’s pop-up zendo at Unity Church on Page Street, by visiting teacher James Ishmael Ford. In the talk, Roshi Ford tells a story from his latest book, “The Intimate Way of Zen: Effort, Surrender, and Awakening on the Spiritual Journey.” In hi…

1
The Posture of Welcoming 38:14

2M ago38:14

38:14

08/31/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, Abbot Jiryu describes the fundamental Zen practice of "welcoming everything," and emphasizes the posture - grounded belly, upright spine, and clear mind - that we can care for in order to fully embody and actualize that practice.…

1
Prajna Paramita - A History Of The Feminine In Our Liturgy 40:00

2M ago40:00

40:00

08/30/2024, Chikudo Catherine Spaeth, dharma talk at Tassajara.By Chikudo Catherine Spaeth

1
Mountains Are Mountains

2M ago

—

08/28/2024, Pamela Weiss, dharma talk at Tassajara.By Pamela Weiss

1
It Is Always Our Own Effort, And We Are Always Supported By Others 27:39

2M ago27:39

27:39

08/28/2024, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Shundo reflects on a recent visit to Tassajara, which included the monthly Full Moon Ceremony and the Obon Ceremony. He encourages us to remember our place in the ongoing lineage of Buddhas and Ancestors.…

1
Aryan Society and Culture in 6th century BCE India 55:13

2M ago55:13

55:13

08/27/2024, Jan Willis, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, Jan Willis discusses the conditions around the time of Buddha's lifetime, and how the Buddhist community was created.By Jan Willis

1
Thoughts Regarding Reality 34:46

2M ago34:46

34:46

08/25/2024, Onryu Mary Stares, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk Onryu Mary Stares discusses reality: how our attachments and karma lead us to obscure reality; how practice guides us to seek what is real in each moment.By Onryu Mary Stares

1
Avowing Karma, Admitting My Faults 31:45

2M ago31:45

31:45

08/21/2024, Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center.In this dharma talk, given at Beginner’s Mind Temple, Dan uses the Soto Zen standard “Confession” verse to explore the connections between personal and collective karma. The verse is: “All my ancient twisted karma, from beginningless greed, hate and delusion, born through body speech and mind, I no…

1
Sustaining The Buddha Field That Is Tassajara 34:16

2M ago34:16

34:16

08/21/2024, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, Shundo explains the elements and significance of the Full Moon Ceremony to those who had participated in it on their arrival day at Tassajara, and encourages everyone to understand their role in creating and sustaining the monastery and the community.…

1
Zen’s Women Ancestors 37:04

2M ago37:04

37:04

08/17/2024, Sokaku Kathie Fischer, dharma talk at City Center.In this dharma talk, given at Beginner’s Mind Temple, Kathie references Eihei Dogen's work, "Receiving the Marrow by Bowing," to tell the stories of important Zen women ancestors in the light of changing demographics over the millennia, and discuss Zen master Dogen's courageous and uncom…

1
Traveling the Path With Ordinary Mind 24:57

3M ago24:57

24:57

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 proceed in a linear direction, so we cannot resist its call. When we seek the extraordinary we miss what is before us, ben…

1
Belly, Spine, Clear, Welcome 49:38

3M ago49:38

49:38

08/11/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk Jiryu discusses four fundamental, inter-related aspects of the Zen posture of body and mind which we can care for in sitting and in daily life: 1) grounded in the belly, 2) upright and strong in our spine, 3) clear and empty in our mind, and 4) warmly welcoming of the w…

1
Mountain, Rivers and Trees 33:38

3M ago33:38

33:38

08/04/2024, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.An exploration of the the koan: Zhaozhou's Cypress Tree in the Courtyard.By Rinso Ed Sattizahn

1
Warm-heartedness 34:01

3M ago34:01

34:01

This talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji) by Kodo Conlin. Recorded on August 3, 2024.By Kodo Conlin

1
Deep Listening 29:57

3M ago29:57

29:57

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 meaning of her dharma name, MyoCho, Wondrous or Subtle Listening, Tova shares stories that express the compassionate nature o…

1
Not Doing Group Harm 38:47

3M ago38:47

38:47

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 need to develop our ability to stop supporting harm and evil in groups and systems. Understanding and admitting how we may…

1
Chronic Pain and Suffering, a Way Out… 40:29

3M ago40:29

40:29

07/21/2024, Dr. Grace Dammann, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Dr. Grace Dammann, a previouse Green Gulch Resident and physician, who was honored by the Dalai Lama for her extraordinary work speaks about the difference between suffering and pain from her experience as a doctor, practitioner and patient.…

1
The Bodhisattva’s Four Embracing Actions 51:37

3M ago51:37

51:37

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 essay “Bodaisatta Shishobo” addresses four central practices of a bodhisattva ─ giving, loving speech, beneficial action, …

1
Navigating Not-Knowing 35:04

4M ago35:04

35:04

In this talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji), Horin Nancy Petrin talks about the new Zen-Inspired Senior Living Facility, Enso Village, and about ageing as a practice. Recorded on July 13, 2024.By Horin Nancy Petrin

1
Koan Study in the Rinzai and Soto Traditions 25:45

4M ago25:45

25:45

07/13/2024, Kogen Jamie Howell, dharma talk at City Center.This talk was given by Kogen Jamie Howell at one of Beginner’s Mind Temple’s pop-up events at Unity Church, San Francisco. Jamie discusses his lay (i.e., not ordained clergy) Zen life in both the Rinzai and Soto traditions in the west, highlighting similarities and differences in their appr…

1
Practicing With The Mirror Of Zazen 30:25

4M ago30:25

30:25

This talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji) by Inryũ Poncé-Barger. IInryũ invokes stories about the beloved Zen poet Ryokan, and discusses other koans and commentaries. Recorded on July 12, 2024.By Inryũ Poncé-Barger

1
The Mantra Of Our Life 39:23

4M ago39:23

39:23

In this talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji), Andrea Thach reflects on on stories from the life of her teacher Sojun Mel Weitsman, and talks about careful attention and devotion in our activities. Recorded on July 6, 2024.By Andrea Thach

1
Stumbling On the Path: A Short History of a Miscreant’s Transition to Buddhism 42:21

4M ago42:21

42:21

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 precepts, as his practice deepened, made a wiser and more effective person, trying to model the life of a Buddha in h…

1
A Journey Along The Path 38:47

4M ago38:47

38:47

07/03/2024, Gendo Lucy Xiao, dharma talk at Tassajara.By Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道

1
Grandmotherly Kindness: Models for Practice 40:10

4M ago40:10

40:10

06/29/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center.This talk was given by Shosan Victoria Austin at one of Beginner’s Mind Temple’s pop-up events at Unity Church on Page St in San Francisco. Sōtō Zen teaches that compassion underlies wisdom, and wisdom underlies compassion. When we take up the question of how to become compassionate hum…

1
Which is the True Qian? 49:13

4M ago49:13

49:13

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. Is one path more true than the other or not?By Kokyo Henkel

1
Home and Refuge 30:42

4M ago30:42

30:42

06/22/2024, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, the last given at Beginner's Mind Temple before the zendo closed for renovation, Shundo David Haye reflects on ideas of home, and taking refuge in the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.By Shundo David Haye

1
The Thousand Natural Shocks 34:35

5M ago34:35

34:35

06/16/2024, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Laura talks about how we can practice with grief, loss, and ordinary everyday suffering, She weaves in stories from her recent book from Shambhala, The Zen Way of Recovery, and shares practices that can help us--no matter what we may be recovering from.…

1
The Dharma Gate of Repose and Bliss 43:07

5M ago43:07

43:07

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; addressing the primary root of suffering as its main purpose. Yet, the practice is full of examples and instructions about libera…

1
Untitled 28:15

5M ago28:15

28:15

06/12/2024, Keido Keith Baker, dharma talk at City Center.This talk was given by Keido Keith Baker at Beginner’s Mind Temple, San Francisco. The Han's wooden knock calls countless practitioners to come to the Zendo for meditation. Indoors or outside, it's hard to miss its distinctive urgent rolldown. It's familiar hand-painted message encourages us…

1
Shikantaza 42:09

5M ago42:09

42:09

06/09/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk, Jiryu reflects on the practice of shikantaza, just sitting, as a Way that is fundamentally different than technique-based meditation.By Jiryu Rutschman-Byler

1
Can I Take Back My Vows? — Navigating Uncertainty, Fear and Despair 45:34

5M ago45:34

45:34

06/08/2024, Mushim Patricia Ikeda, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, San Francisco Zen Center, Muslim Ikeda examines the question, How can Zen practice be of benefit to more people during what many are calling "unprecedented times"? In mid-2024 the news is filled with political divisiveness, threats of fascis…

1
Things Are Not What They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise 36:28

5M ago36:28

36:28

06/05/2024, Kim Kōgen Dai-Hō Hart, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, San Francisco Zen Center, Kim considers how we are often hindered by our habitual responses, conditioning and fundamental misunderstanding of the substantiality of the phenomenal world. Here, she reflects on how, through Zen practice, we c…

1
On Keizan and his ‘Notes on What to Be Aware of in Zazen’ 55:09

5M ago55:09

55:09

06/01/2024, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple’s monthly one-day sitting, (this time held at Haight Street Art Center) Abbot David shares highlights of his recent trip to Japan to participate in a memorial ceremony and tour in honor of Keizan Jokin, considered the second of Soto Zen’s tw…

1
Gardens of Awakening — Mitsue Nagase and Kazuaki Tanahashi 34:32

5M ago34:32

34:32

05/29/2024, Kazuaki Tanahashi, Mitsue Nagase, dharma talk at City Center.In this discussion, held in the conference center at Beginner's Mind Temple, Mitsue Nagase and Kaz Tanahashi discuss their new book “Gardens of Awakening: A Guide to the Aesthetics, History, and Spirituality of Kyoto's Zen Landscapes.” Selected photographs were exhibited on si…

1
Zen and Vajrayana 52:58

5M ago52:58

52:58

05/18/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Kokyo celebrates the spirit of non-sectarianism within Buddha-Dharma, and explores the similarities and differences between Zen and Vajrayana practices, through the teaching of the nine vehicles of the Tibetan Nyingma School.…

1
You Have No Enemies 35:01

6M ago35:01

35:01

05/15/2024, Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Dōshin Dan Gudgel investigates how using the word and idea of ‘enemy’ affects our every day experience. Dan examines our national, military idea of ‘enemies,’ as well as how modern culture in the U.S. is increasingly using the word and concept of ‘enem…

1
Dragons Love Ceremonies 35:05

6M ago35:05

35:05

05/12/2024, Thiemo Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk was presented by Thiemo on Mothers Day at the end of an introductory Sesshin (meditation retreat) at Green Dragon Temple.The Investigation of - “the true dragon” (Reality / Thusness) - in Sesshin is likened to the ancient story of the blind men investigating an Elephant. The speak…

1
The Stranger in the Mirror: Reincarnation and Rebirth 33:33

6M ago33:33

33:33

05/11/2024, Gengyoko Tim Wicks, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple’s monthly one-day sitting, (this time held at Haight Street Art Center) Gengyoko Tim Wicks discusses reincarnation and rebirth, and the relationship that karma has on both of these ancient concepts. In the talk, Tim emphasizes the primacy of reb…

1
Practicing With Expectations 29:58

6M ago29:58

29:58

05/08/2024, Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Eli Brown-Stevenson describes how to find practical application of Buddhist teachings by bringing inquiry and curiosity to the expectations we hold in formal practice as well as the practice of life. The talk contains practical wisdom, Suzuki …

1
Alive or Dead 46:57

6M ago46:57

46:57

05/05/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Offering a talk on the day of a funeral service for Caroline Meister, Jiryu observes that in the subtle, tender mind that is truly open and present in not-knowing, we cannot even say "alive or dead".By Jiryu Rutschman-Byler

1
Taking Refuge 23:30

6M ago23:30

23:30

05/04/2024, Jisho Lisa Beth Hoffman, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Jisho Lisa Beth Hoffman explores the meaning of refuge and the experience of doing so through teacher, teaching and community - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Sharing herexperiences with Heart teacher Surei Darlene Cohen and mentor Ninsen Lee …

1
Building the Spiritual Community of the Future 56:17

6M ago56:17

56:17

05/01/2024, panel discussion at City Center.In this discussion, held in place of the regular Wednesday night dharma talk at Beginner's Mind Temple, Eli Brown-Stevenson leads a discussion featuring Community Village co-founders Caleb Tenenbaum, Nina Raddy, and Richard Bae; and, representing San Francisco Zen Center, resident priest Sozan Michael McC…

1
Everyday Mind Is The Way 40:51

6M ago40:51

40:51

04/28/2024, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk Zoketsu discusses case 19 of Mumonkan, Nanchuan’s Everyday Mind. Our practice is very plain and ordinary, and yet, the plain and ordinary world is also vast and wide, and when we practice zazen regularly we can begin to live in it with that appreciation. To end his tal…

1
Sekito Kisen's Difference and Equality 35:11

6M ago35:11

35:11

04/27/2024, Kyoshin Wendy Lewis, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Kyoshin Wendy Lewis discusses the Zen text "Harmony of Difference and Equality". Written in the 8th century in China, the "Harmony of Difference and Equality" holds significant importance in Zen history. It is chanted daily in many Zen temples…

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