Shows
The Zen Studies PodcastLotus Sutra 2: Wake Up! The Parable of the Burning HouseThe Parable of the Burning House is one of five main parables of the Lotus Sutra, a classic Mahayana Buddhist text. I go through the parable paragraph by paragraph, stopping to reflect on each part of the story along the way and encouraging you to imagine yourself within the story as if it were a dream. I finish up by discussing the relevance of this teaching for our everyday lives and practice.2020-08-1334 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Experience of Enlightenment and Why It’s for All of UsWhether you are personally intrigued by the concept of enlightenment or not, it is absolutely central to Buddhism. However, enlightenment – to use a kind of corny phrase – is not what you think. I discuss sudden and gradual experiences of enlightenment, the changes such experiences bring about in us, and why it’s important for all of us to seek enlightenment.2020-08-0434 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDirect Experience Is Liberation: When There Are No Stories, There Is No "You"Humans evolved to make sense of their experience by explaining with a story, or narrative. Although our stories help us communicate and navigate our lives, they also can preoccupy and burden us. Sometimes they are distressing, depressing, or exhausting to maintain. This is why the Buddha said to train ourselves such that “in the sensed, there is only the sensed, in the cognized, only the cognized.” That is, we should train ourselves to experience things without our stories.2020-07-2531 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Practice of Vow 2: Choosing the Direction We Want Our Lives to TakeThe practice of vow is central in Buddhism, as I’ve discussed before. Vows – alternatively aspirations, intentions, or commitments, formal or informal – are a conscious choice we make about the kind of life we want to live, and the kind of person we want to be. Clarifying the vows we are already living, and the vows we still want to take on, can help give direction and meaning to our lives.2020-07-1528 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSustainable Buddhist Practice: Creating Form But Keeping It FlexibleHow do we create a strong and sustainable Buddhist practice outside of a monastery? We create structure for ourselves and build good habits, but then the circumstances of our lives change. There are many competing demands on our attention and time. We have to mostly rely on our own self-discipline instead of social support. The key is giving our practice form but also accepting that it will constantly change, like learning to shape clay on a potter’s wheel.2020-07-0539 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSuchness: Awakening to the Preciousness of Things-As-It-IsAll religions and spiritual practices have one purpose: To relieve our suffering and give us hope. As Buddhists we sometimes emphasize “relieving suffering” and leave it unsaid that, after being freed from your suffering, you will perceive things in a way that gives you hope, inspiration, and solace. The Buddhist teaching of suchness arose a couple hundred years after the Buddha to address the need some of us feel to hear descriptions of the positive aspect of reality from the beginning of our practice.2020-06-2345 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddhist Images of Fierceness and Compassionate AngerDespite the placid appearance of most Buddha statues and the Buddhist precept against indulging anger, there is a place for fierceness and compassionate anger in Buddhism. Especially when we're faced with injustice or need to protect others, we may need the energy of anger or fierceness to make ourselves heard. I discuss how respect for appropriate fierceness and anger appears in Buddhist iconography and mythology.2020-06-1236 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSustainable Bodhisattva Practice when the World is (Literally) on FireMany American cities are on fire - literally - as tensions over systemic racism erupt. How do we enact our bodhisattva vows in the face of all of this suffering - caused by racism, the global pandemic, the breakdown of earth's natural life support systems, and global heating? Our vow is to "save all beings" but - at least in terms of an individual's goal - that is impossible. How do we honor our bodhisattva vow in a vital and authentic way, as opposed to it being a largely irrelevant ideal?2020-06-0144 min
The Zen Studies PodcastGrief in Buddhism 2: Some Buddhist Practices Helpful for Facing and Integrating GriefGrief is love in the face of loss; do you want to stop loving in order to stop feeling grief? Of course not. But we also don't want to be controlled or overwhelmed by it. There are a number of Buddhist practices that can help us as we practice with grief – trying to face it, and making sure we don’t impede our own grief process. What I’ll share in this episode isn’t by any means a developed or exhaustive process of grief work, it’s just a short list of Buddhist practices that can be beneficial.2020-05-2129 min
The Zen Studies PodcastMini Episode - A Four "S" Approach to Shikantaza: Sit Upright, Still, Silent, Simply BeShikantaza, or the practice of "just sitting," can be challenging. We're asked not to try to control our meditative experience, but are we just supposed to sit there like a sack of potatoes and let habit energy have its way? I present a simple approach to returning to your intention whenever you have a moment of awareness in your sitting, and making that intention very simple and free from expectation of results. We simply intend four "S's": To sit upright, still, silent, and simply be.2020-05-1610 min
The Zen Studies PodcastGrief in Buddhism 1: Buddhist Teachings on Grief and the Danger of Spiritual BypassingGrief in Buddhism: What are the teachings about it, and how are we supposed to practice with it? It's often easy to suppress or bypass our grief, leaving us stuck in one of the early stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, or depression), or unable to face reality or live with a fully open heart. Unfortunately, some Buddhist teachings may seem to suggest it's better if we don't feel grief. I explore the question of grief and how we can practice with it in Buddhism in a fruitful and beneficial way.2020-05-1125 min
The Zen Studies PodcastLotus Sutra 1: What Is Devotion, and How Does It Fulfill the Buddha Way?The Lotus Sutra is one of the oldest and most central sutras in Mahayana Buddhism. The sutra states repeatedly that people who perform small acts of devotion, such as making an offering at memorial to the Buddha, “have fulfilled the Buddha Way.” What does this mean? I think the Lotus Sutra, and Mahayana Buddhism more generally, is saying that we can transform the universe in an instant, that the smallest of our actions matters, and that the key to all of it is the state of our own mind and heart.2020-05-0130 min
The Zen Studies PodcastRestoring Wonder: Hongzhi's Guidepost of Silent Illumination - Part 2I continue in a second episode with my reflections on Chan master Hongzhi's "Guidepost of Silent Illumination. I discuss the interdependence of absolute and relative and why that matters in real life; how skillful bodhisattva action arises out of zazen; how silence is the supreme mode of communication, and how serenity and illumination - calm and insight - are both contained in zazen.2020-04-2236 min
The Zen Studies PodcastRestoring Wonder: Hongzhi's Guidepost of Silent Illumination - Part 1In this episode and the next, I riff off of 12th-century Chan master Hongzhi’s short text, “Guidepost of Silent Illumination,” one of the most positive and encouraging Zen teachings a know. By “riff” I mean I’ll play off of, and spontaneously elaborate on, Hongzhi’s words, as opposed to explaining or analyzing them in an exhaustive or comprehensive way. I take this approach because it’s more fun, but also because “Guidepost of Silent Illumination,” like most Chan and Zen writings, is essentially poetry.2020-04-0834 min
The Zen Studies PodcastFacing Impermanence? Fortunately, Buddhism Is All About Life and DeathBuddhism’s central point is nothing other than impermanence, or the "Great Matter of Life-and-Death." Our practice goes far beyond platitudes or beliefs meant to make you feel better about the whole affair. Instead, our practice is about a direct and personal exploration of the experience and implications of being alive in a world where there is absolutely nothing for us to hold on to. Except, of course, that very fact, and the fact that being fully alive means we don’t hold on to anything at all.2020-03-2627 min
The Zen Studies PodcastA Buddhist Approach to Practicing with FearFear is a natural response that helps us protect ourselves and our loved ones, but it can also be inappropriate and debilitating. Buddhist practice offers many ways to help us manage our fear. We start with mindfulness of fear in and of itself, and then become mindful of what feeds it versus what decreases it. We then act in ways that increase our equanimity. We also let go of expectations, assumptions, and narratives in order to decrease suffering and ground ourselves in the absolute aspect of reality.2020-03-1629 min
The Zen Studies PodcastWhy Is Self-Esteem Essential When the Self is Empty?Self-esteem is absolutely essential in Buddhist practice, but it may seem like self-esteem has no place in Buddhism. The Buddha taught us to stop identifying anything as I, me, or mine, because doing so leads to suffering. In Mahayana Buddhism we say the self is empty of any inherently-existing, enduring, independent self-nature. What exactly is it we’re supposed to hold in esteem, or have confidence in? If the main point is to transcend self-concern, isn’t self-esteem the opposite of what we’re going for?2020-02-2929 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTaking Action: Getting Out of the House and Helping Others (Crisis Buddhism Part 3)Taking Action is the second area of practice in Crisis Buddhism. It means working to help alleviate or prevent the suffering we witness in the world by leaving our homes, interacting with others, and engaging in bodhisattva activity in an active, tangible way. In this episode I begin addressing three reasons we resist Taking Action: We don't think it's "our thing," we don't have the time or energy, or we don't see anything we do that's also worth doing.2020-02-1922 min
The Zen Studies PodcastCrisis Buddhism - Part 2: Bearing WitnessCrisis Buddhism requires us to mindfully balance three essential areas of practice: Bearing Witness, Taking Action, and Taking Care. In this episode I discuss Bearing Witness, or exposing ourselves to the suffering of the world in all its forms in order to make wise decisions, activate our natural compassion, and awaken a sense of urgency. How do we Bear Witness without becoming overwhelmed, depressed, or despairing? We embrace it as a noble practice of compassion and wisdom.2020-02-1123 min
The Zen Studies PodcastCrisis Buddhism: Sustainable Bodhisattva Practice in a World on Fire – Part 1Crisis Buddhism is a new formulation of practice to help us navigate our everyday lives as we face ecological and climate breakdown. We mindfully balance three areas of practice: Bearing Witness, learning about the suffering of the world to make wise decisions, activate our compassion, and awaken a sense of urgency; Taking Action, participating in a tangible way to help alleviate or prevent the suffering we witness, and Taking Care, engaging in activities, relationships, and practices that sustain us.2020-01-3023 min
The Zen Studies PodcastLiberation Through Understanding the Five Wisdom EnergiesThe Vajrayana teaching of the five wisdom energies is a about five types of energy we all have within us, or five tendencies within a human being. Within each of us, one or two energies tend to predominate, resulting in what we might call “personality,” but at a deeper level these five energies are about five characteristic orientations to the conundrum of human life.2020-01-2133 min
The Zen Studies PodcastGiving Shape to Our Lives: The Buddhist Practice of VowVows guide our decisions, help us prioritize how we spend our time, resources, and energy, and allow us to discern whether our actions are in harmony with our deeper aspirations - helping us live intentionally instead of letting our decisions be determined by habit energy, inertia, fear, selfishness, or a lack of imagination. I first discuss why it can be so hard to stay true to our intentions, and then I present five aspects of the Buddhist practice of vow that make it a powerful way to shape our lives.2020-01-0737 min
The Zen Studies PodcastEngaging Our Climate Emergency as a Koan and OpportunityOur practical, lived response to our climate and ecological crisis – as individuals, Sanghas, and Dharma teachers – is inseparable from our Dharma practice. As Greta Thunberg has said, “Change is coming whether we like it or not.” Also, as Buddhists we're morally compelled to act for the welfare of other beings. Finally, the eco-crisis is a profound and difficult koan, whether we choose to engage it that way or not - and therefore, it's an opportunity to grow in understanding, compassion, and manifestation.2019-12-2336 min
Open Your Mind, Open a Free AudiobookMindfulness: An Easy-to-Understand Approach to Mindfulness and How It Works Audiobook by Domyo Sater BurkListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 408373
Title: Mindfulness: An Easy-to-Understand Approach to Mindfulness and How It Works
Author: Domyo Sater Burk
Narrator: Olivia Dowd
Format: Unabridged
Length: 14:47:33
Language: English
Release date: 12-19-19
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley LTD
Genres: Health & Wellness, Mindfulness & Meditation
Summary:
An easy-to-understand approach to mindfulness and how it works with simple techniques for focusing on your mind, body and emotions with meditation methods to help deepen your mindfulness practice, narrated by Olivia Dowd.
'Over the last 25 years, the practice of mindfulness has been shown to be very beneficial to all kinds...2019-12-192h 47
Fuel Your Mind With This Game-Changing Full Audiobook And Feel The Difference.Mindfulness: An Easy-to-Understand Approach to Mindfulness and How It Works by Domyo Sater BurkPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/408373to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Mindfulness: An Easy-to-Understand Approach to Mindfulness and How It Works
Series: Part of Idiot's Guides
Author: Domyo Sater Burk
Narrator: Olivia Dowd
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 14 hours 47 minutes
Release date: December 19, 2019
Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3 of Total 1
Genres: Mindfulness & Meditation
Publisher's Summary:
An easy-to-understand approach to mindfulness and how it works with simple techniques for focusing on your mind, body and emotions with meditation methods to help deepen your mindfulness practice, narrated by Olivia Dowd. 'Over the last 25 years, the practice of mindfulness has been shown to be very b...2019-12-192h 47Escape Reality, Dive Into a Full Audiobook's FantasyMindfulness: An Easy-to-Understand Approach to Mindfulness and How It Works Audiobook by Domyo Sater BurkListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 413138
Title: Mindfulness: An Easy-to-Understand Approach to Mindfulness and How It Works
Author: Domyo Sater Burk
Narrator: Olivia Dowd
Format: Unabridged
Length: 14:49:18
Language: English
Release date: 12-17-19
Publisher: Random House (Audio)
Genres: Self Development, Health & Wellness, Mindfulness & Meditation
Summary:
An easy-to-understand approach to mindfulness and how it works with simple techniques for focusing on your mind, body and emotions with meditation methods to help deepen your mindfulness practice, narrated by Olivia Dowd.
'Over the last 25 years, the practice of mindfulness has been shown to be very beneficial to...2019-12-172h 49
The Zen Studies PodcastMeditation Is NOT About Stopping ThoughtsIn this episode, I talk about why we long to be thought-free. Then I discuss how meditation is not about stopping thought, but instead is a practice of diligently and repeatedly turning our attention to something beyond thought, thereby realigning our whole being. Meditation requires diligence and determination, but also patience, humility, and faith.2019-12-1630 min
The Zen Studies PodcastFacing Extinction 2: A Personal Journal (Nov 14-22)Facing Extinction: A Personal Journal about Trying to Do the Right Thing in a Climate Emergency. Topics: I Need You(r support for my activism); What Does Zen Have to Do with Climate Action? (a discussion with other Zen teachers); What’s the Problem? (why cry myself to sleep at night?); Life is (inexplicably and unconditionally) Beautiful; Civil Disobedience as a Cure for Cognitive Dissonance. Please feel free to skip this episode if you're really only interested in episodes explicitly about Buddhism.2019-12-1235 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Practical Value of Awakening to the Absolute Aspect of RealityNext week I’ll take a break from my busy life and projects in order to attend a silent meditation retreat. After spending the half-a-year since my last retreat immersed in the relative aspect of life, the absolute aspect of life will come to the fore. I hope to regain balance and see everything in a much larger context. In this episode, I talk about what that feels like, and the value of awakening to the absolute aspect of reality if you want be an effective agent for positive change in the relative world.2019-12-0130 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings - Part 5 - Identity ActionI finish up our study of Zen master Dogen’s essay “Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings” with a discussion of "identity action," or "being in the same boat" with living beings. Even if you’re not a big fan of Zen texts, or of Dogen, I hope you’ll listen; this episode is on the importance of a bodhisattva – the importance of any of us – making a practice of seeing ourselves as “being in the same boat” with other beings. Can you imagine how different our societies would be if we all tried to do this?2019-11-2730 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBrightening the Mind: Refusing to be Tyrannized by Negative StatesPractice can help us “brighten the mind” when we’re feeling trapped in negativity, hopelessness, despair, discouragement, depression, lack of confidence, etc. We practice four steps: 1) Acknowledging (noticing and admitting how we’re feeling); 2) Taking some time to fully experience whatever it is we’re feeling, without trying to change it; 3) Exploring what’s going on within us, gently and non-judgmentally, and 4) Engaging in an activity, like zazen, you know is calming and restorative.2019-11-1730 min
The Zen Studies PodcastFacing Extinction 1: Nov. 3rd - 9th, 2019This episode is a part of series I’m trying, “Facing Extinction: Trying to do the right thing in a climate emergency.” What does it have to do with Zen and Buddhism? The connection may not be so explicit, but my own practice feels inauthentic unless I talk about the crisis we’re facing. Maybe I can make a bigger difference as a Zen teacher and writer by honestly sharing my own struggles and experiences with “trying to do the right thing in a climate emergency,” than by trying offer answers to others.2019-11-1338 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 15: Nirvana as the Ultimate Goal of Original BuddhismNibbana means "extinguished," and attaining it means you have extinguished the "outflows" of sensuality, ignorance, and the desire for further existence. Someone who attains nibbana experiences ineffable peace and freedom, and a permanent state of human perfection. This episode familiarizes you the teachings about nibbana, discusses some of the implications for Buddhist practice, and points out how views of nibbana are one of the fundamental differences between Theravada and Mahayana forms of Buddhism.2019-11-0332 min
The Zen Studies PodcastClarifying the Mind Ground According to Keizan's “Zazen-Yojinki”In his essay "Zazen Yojinki," or "Points to Keep in Mind When Practicing Zazen," 13th-century Zen master Keizan Jokin presents “clarify[ing] the mind-ground and dwell[ing] comfortably in [your] original nature” as our fundamental job as Buddhists if we’re seeking liberation. I explore the meaning of this phrase in this Dharma Talk, reflecting on a nondual experience beyond words, and why Zen and Mahayana so often use terms like "mind" or "actual nature" when pointing to it.2019-10-2826 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDo You Need a Zen or Buddhist Teacher?Every few weeks or so, I get an email from a listener who feels they need a Zen teacher. Some people have asked whether I might be able to function as a teacher for them long distance. I’m never sure what to say… I mean, what does it mean for someone to “have” a Zen or Buddhist teacher? Do you really need a teacher? I’m going to explore these questions in this episode, and I imagine you won’t be surprised that the gist of my answer is, “It depends.”2019-10-2038 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings - Part 4 - Beneficial ActionIn this episode I continue our study of 13th-century Zen master Dogen’s essay, “Bodaisatta Shishobo,” or what I’m calling the “Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings.” I cover "beneficial action," which means to use skillful means to benefit beings without discriminating among them, considering their near and distant future, and to do so selflessly.2019-10-0630 min
The Zen Studies PodcastWhy Your (Real) Happiness Benefits OthersReal happiness is unconditional, and is achieved by releasing our suffering. Even though things are rarely how we would like them to be - within, or in our personal lives, or in the greater world - we have the potential to let go of our resistance, grief, or anger, and feel more relaxed, at ease, grateful, and enthusiastic. In this sense, working towards real happiness is far from selfish; it makes us much more able to respond compassionately and skillfully, and therefore it benefits others.2019-09-2824 min
The Zen Studies PodcastClarification: It’s Okay to Use Multiple Types of MeditationIn my enthusiastic endorsement of shikantaza or, "just sitting," I may have given the impression I think a real Zen student would only sit shikantaza, and there’s no place in Zen for paying attention to, learning from, and working with your thoughts and feelings in meditation. I think it's fine to use multiple types of meditation in your practice, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t devote some or all of your meditation time to mindfulness of your thoughts and feelings, if you find that fruitful.2019-09-2125 min
The Zen Studies Podcast2019-09-11 Off-Week Announcement about SFZC TalkSo sorry... no time to produce a new episode for you this week, but there's still something for you to listen to! I’ll be giving the Dharma Talk at San Francisco Zen Center this Saturday, Sept 14th. Livestream the talk at 10:15am Pacific, or watch it later, or download it as a podcast. Visit http://sfzc.org/teachings/video/live-streaming-media, or simply search online for “San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks.” My working title for the talk is “A Passionate Sermon for Buddhists in a Time of Crisis.”2019-09-1102 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's "Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings" - Part 3 – Loving WordsI continue study of 13th-century Zen master Dogen’s essay, Bodaisatta Shishobo, "Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings." In Episode 105 I gave an overview of the essay and defined the bodhisattva’s four “embracing actions:” practicing nongreed, loving words, beneficial action, and “being in the same boat” as other beings. In Episode 106 I took us through the part of the essay on nongreed, or giving. Today I cover the section of the essay on loving words, or kind speech.2019-09-0725 min
The Zen Studies PodcastYou Can't Hold on to Stillness: Practice in ActivityIf we're lucky, our practices of meditation and mindfulness give us some sense of spaciousness, stillness, and silence. What about when we engage in activities more complicated and demanding than potentially calming manual tasks like weeding the garden, sweeping, or washing the dishes? Zen master Dogen teaches us a better way to practice in the midst of activity: maintaining joyful mind, nurturing mind, and magnanimous mind. These qualities have the potential to grow even stronger as we get busier.2019-09-0130 min
The Zen Studies PodcastHow Understanding Impermanence Can Lead to Great AppreciationWe do not have retreat from appreciation of conditional or material things in order to live an enlightened life. However, we must diligently turn the lens of practice onto all of our relationships to things and to beings. Learning to see and accept the impermanence of all things and yet to “enjoy them incredibly” is a wonderful practice opportunity.2019-08-1621 min
The Zen Studies PodcastWhat Does Buddhism Have to Say About Mass Shootings?Of course, traditional Buddhism doesn’t say anything about mass shootings per se, but it does present teachings on human nature, behavior, and choices. In this episode I discuss the Buddhist of view of how and why people do horrible things, pointing out how Buddhism is realistic but also optimistic, and how a Buddhist view can help relieve some of our fear and despair.2019-08-1022 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 14: The Five Skandhas as Focus for the Practice of Not-Self (Anatta)The “Five Skandhas,” or aggregates, are the five aspects of a human being: Form, the body; Feelings, our positive, negative, or neutral reactions to stimuli; Perception, the basic process of labeling or identifying things; Consciousness, awareness of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and thoughts; and Mental Fabrications, all of our active processes of mind. The Five Skandhas aren’t so much a teaching in an of themselves as they are a tool for exploring the teaching of Anatta, or not-self.2019-07-3139 min
The Zen Studies PodcastFinding and Enacting Our Best Response to the World's SufferingBuddhism includes values of Right Action and Right Livelihood, generosity, goodwill, and compassion, and Mahayana Buddhists vow to free all beings from suffering. It's not easy to enact these values and aspirations in the modern world, which is so complex we find ourselves complicit in causes of suffering simply by participating in society, or by neglecting to stand up for change. How do we find and enact our best response to the world's suffering without getting overwhelmed, depressed, or discouraged?2019-07-2032 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's Shishobo: The Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings – Part 2In the last episode I introduced an essay by Zen master Dogen called Bodaisatta-Shishobo, or the Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings. I briefly defined the bodhisattva’s four embracing actions: Giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and “sharing the same aim.” Then I started working through Dogen’s essay line by line. In this episode I finish the section of the Shishobo on giving.2019-07-1322 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's Shishobo: The Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living BeingsGiven the many stressful and sad things happening in the world right now, I thought I'd spend a couple episodes on an inspiring essay by 13th century Zen master Dogen called “Bodaisatta-Shishobo,” or the “Four Ways Bodhisattvas Embrace Living Beings.” The bodhisattva’s four embracing actions are giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and sharing the same aim. In this episode I’ll briefly introduce the text and define the four actions, and start delving into Dogen’s essay, section by section.2019-07-0731 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddhists: It’s Time to Address the Climate EmergencyMost western convert Buddhist communities have had the luxury of regarding “activism” for social or environmental justice as an optional or supplemental activity some people take up because they have the time, kind of like a hobby. The truth is, many of us are so busy it’s difficult to imagine finding time for activism regarding the climate emergency. However, we may not have a choice – at least not if we hope to avoid extinction. And if there are no sentient beings, there are no buddhas.2019-06-2935 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTwelve Pali Canon Suttas Every Buddhist Should Know – Part 3Theravadin and Vipassana Buddhists tend to be familiar with the Pali Canon, particularly the suttas, or discourses of the Buddha. Other Buddhists don’t tend to spend as much time exploring Pali texts. When we aim to do so, it can be a difficult to know where to start - given the printed versions of the suttas end up being about five times the size of the Christian bible! In the interest of encouraging study of the Pali Canon suttas, I’ve come up with a list of twelve I think every Buddhist should know.2019-06-1423 min
The Zen Studies PodcastNine Fields of Zen Practice: A Framework for Letting Practice Permeate Your Life – Part 3Buddhist practice can permeate every aspect of our lives. To help practitioners appreciate this outside the full-immersion experience of residential training, I’ve defined Nine Fields of Zen Practice: Zazen, Dharma Study, Cultivating Insight, Precepts, Opening the Heart, Connecting with the Ineffable, Nyoho, Karma Work, and Bodhisattva Activity. In this episode I cover Nyoho, Karma Work, and Bodhisattva Activity.2019-06-0728 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Koan of Awakening: Do You Know the Essential Truth Yet, Or Not?From the beginning, it’s been clear that the highest rewards of Buddhism are experienced through a fundamental and radical shift in the way you understand the world and your place in it. This shift has been called different things, including awakening, enlightenment, Right View, realization, satori, or kensho (“seeing one’s true nature”). I explore “awakening” in Buddhism: What’s meant by the term, attitudes we take toward it, why it’s so elusive, and how we can make the process of seeking less painful.2019-06-0333 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTwelve Pali Canon Suttas Every Buddhist Should Know – Part 2Theravadin and Vipassana Buddhists tend to be familiar with the Pali Canon, particularly the suttas, or discourses of the Buddha. Other Buddhists don’t tend to spend as much time exploring Pali texts. When we aim to do so, it can be a difficult to know where to start - given the printed versions of the suttas end up being about five times the size of the Christian bible! In the interest of encouraging study of the Pali Canon suttas, I’ve come up with a list of twelve I think every Buddhist should know.2019-05-1729 min
The Zen Studies PodcastNine Fields of Zen Practice: A Framework for Letting Practice Permeate Your Life – Part 2Zen practice can permeate every aspect of our lives. To help lay practitioners appreciate this outside the full-immersion experience of residential training, I’ve defined Nine Fields of Zen Practice: Zazen, Dharma Study, Cultivating Insight, Precepts, Opening the Heart, Connecting with the Ineffable, Nyoho, Karma Work, and Bodhisattva Activity. In this episode I cover Precepts, Opening the Heart, and Connecting with the Ineffable.2019-05-1022 min
The Zen Studies PodcastNine Fields of Zen Practice: A Framework for Letting Practice Permeate Your Life – Part 1Zen practice can permeate every aspect of our lives. To help lay practitioners appreciate this outside the full-immersion experience of residential training, I’ve defined Nine Fields of Zen Practice: Zazen, Dharma Study, Cultivating Insight, Precepts, Opening the Heart, Connection to the Ineffable, Nyoho, Karma Work, and Bodhisattva Activity.2019-05-0325 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTwelve Pali Canon Suttas Every Buddhist Should Know – Part 1Theravadin and Vipassana Buddhists tend to be familiar with the Pali Canon, particularly the suttas, or discourses of the Buddha. Other Buddhists don’t tend to spend as much time exploring Pali texts. When we aim to do so, it can be a difficult to know where to start - given the printed versions of the suttas end up being about five times the size of the Christian bible! In the interest of encouraging study of the Pali Canon suttas, I’ve come up with a list of twelve I think every Buddhist should know.2019-04-2628 min
The Zen Studies PodcastOff-Week Editorial - It’s Not Enough to Respond to What’s Right in Front of YouThe core of Buddhist practice is cultivating mindfulness of this moment and responding as best we can to whatever we encounter in the course of our personal, daily lives. However, if we aspire to cease from harm and benefit other beings, this is not enough. We also need to cultivate awareness of, and take responsibility for, the repercussions of our actions throughout space and time – far, far beyond the limits of what’s right in front of us.2019-04-1910 min
The Zen Studies PodcastZazen Pamphlet: Essential (and Brief) Instructions for the Practice of ZazenI challenged myself to write instructions for the practice of zazen that would fit on a letter-sized, tri-fold brochure – 8 ½ by 11 inches, two sided. I figured I’d share it here on the podcast – and if this episode is too short for you, I recommend listening to it twice, because this “pamphlet” really does, to my mind, capture the essence of shikantaza! (At least as I think of it right now). Visit this episode’s page at zenstudiespodcast.com for a print-friendly copy of this pamphlet!2019-04-1215 min
The Zen Studies PodcastLineage in Buddhism: The Intersection Between the Individual and the Collective TraditionIn many forms of Buddhism, particularly in Zen, we have the concept of “lineage:” the essential aspects of our collective religious tradition have been passed down through the generations from one real, live person to another, teacher to a student. However, lineage isn’t just about preserving a collective tradition, it’s a valuable part of our practice – self-attachment and pre-conceived notions get challenged as the individual aligns her/himself with the collective tradition.2019-04-0729 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 13 - The Five Hindrances - Part 3The Buddha taught that there are five main “hindrances” we encounter in our spiritual practice: 1) Worldly desire; 2) ill-will; 3) sloth-and-torpor; 4) restlessness-and-worry, and 5) uncertainty (or skeptical doubt). In this 3rd episode of 3, I go into detail about sloth-and-torpor, restlessness-and-worry, and uncertainty, and recommended ways to abandon them.2019-03-3036 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 12: The Five Hindrances – Part 2The Buddha taught that there are five main “hindrances” we encounter in our spiritual practice. In this 2nd episode of 3, I start going into detail about each hindrance and recommended ways to abandon them. I get through worldly desire and ill-will. In the next episode I'll cover sloth-and-torpor, restlessness-and-worry, and uncertainty (or skeptical doubt).2019-03-2331 min
The Zen Studies Podcast2019-03-15 Off-Week Book Review: Why Buddhism Is TrueI review Robert Wright's Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment. While it's not necessary to know the "why" of things in order for Buddhist practice to be effective (and it can actually be a distraction), sometimes it can help us gain additional freedom from our subjective experiences.2019-03-1507 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 11: The Five Hindrances – Part 1Meditation and other aspects of Buddhist practice can be difficult. According to the Buddha, it’s useful to pay attention to exactly what’s going on when we’re feeling challenged. Any obstacle can be characterized as one of five hindrances: 1) Sense desire; 2) ill-will; 3) sloth-and-torpor; 4) restlessness-and-worry, or 5) uncertainty (or skeptical doubt). By identifying our hindrance, we get a better sense of what caused it to arise and how we can best overcome it.2019-03-0936 min
The Zen Studies PodcastUnethical Buddhist Teachers: Were They Ever Really Enlightened?The list of supposedly-highly-realized Buddhist teachers who have abused their power and acted in harmful ways – particularly in the realm of sex – is long, and getting longer all the time. Unethical and selfish behavior is incompatible with our Buddhist ideal of true enlightenment, and transgressing teachers are often exactly those held up as especially inspiring examples of realization and practice, so what does all of this say about realization and practice? Were the teachers ever really enlightened?2019-03-0130 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddhist History 11: Early Indian Buddhism - Stupas and Devotional Practice - Part 2In Part 1 (Episode 82), I defined Devotional Practice as extending beyond demonstrations of respect, gratitude, and reverence to practices believed to result in real benefits – perhaps intangible but often tangible – to the devotee, especially when performed in proximity to a holy person, his/her relics, or some other center or object of spiritual power. In this episode I talk about what early Buddhist Devotional Practice looked like, and then discuss the theology – or religious philosophy – behind it. 2019-02-2338 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddhist Practice as a Lifelong Path of Growth and TransformationTraditionally, Buddhist practice has been more than something you do to make everyday life more pleasant; it’s a path of training and study aimed at becoming an awakened, liberated, wise, compassionate, and skillful person. The ideals of Buddha and bodhisattva are not something most of us have any hope of achieving in this lifetime, but we ennoble our lives, and benefit others, by committing wholeheartedly to walking the path – approaching embodiment of the Buddha Way as closely as we possibly can.2019-02-1528 min
The Zen Studies PodcastNyoho: Making Even Our Smallest, Mundane Actions Accord with the Dharma – Part 2Nyoho practice is looking for opportunities to act in accord with the Dharma in the midst of our daily lives, in very practical, physical ways. We view no act as too mundane or insignificant to perform with care, and no object or being we encounter as beneath our respect or attention. In this episode I hope to convey the significance and beauty of Nyoho practice, and the wonderful opportunity it presents in terms of how we can incorporate it in into our everyday lives.2019-02-0234 min
The Zen Studies PodcastNyoho: Making Even Our Smallest, Mundane Actions Accord with the Dharma – Part 1We have a practice in Zen of trying to make even our smallest actions reflect the deep truths of the Dharma, including interdependence, impermanence, no-self, suchness, and Buddha-nature. I’m going to call this practice “Nyoho,” a Japanese term which means doing something “in accord with” (nyo) the Dharma (ho): Treating each and every thing we encounter with respect and care, and performing even the most mundane actions in a considerate, gracious, but efficient manner.2019-01-2822 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSamvega and Pasada: Two Buddhist Emotions Indispensable for PracticeSamvega and pasada keep our practice alive and on course. Samvega is spiritual urgency arising three things: A sense of distress and disillusionment about life as it's usually lived, a sense of our own complicity and complacency, and determination to find a more meaningful way. Contrary to society at large, Buddhism encourages the cultivation of samvega - as long as you balance it with pasada, a serene confidence that arises when you find a reliable way to address samvega.2019-01-1821 min
The Zen Studies PodcastI Shouldn’t Feel Like This: A Practitioner’s ConundrumBuddhism teaches that you can change the nature of your experience by changing your own mind and behaviors - increasing the proportion of your life spent feeling calm, confident, positive,and compassionate. Sometimes, after many years of effort, we experience negative thoughts and emotions and find ourselves thinking, “I shouldn’t feel like this.” I discuss how to practice with this conundrum, and suggest that sometimes our internal experience can’t or shouldn’t be changed, but simply tolerated.2019-01-1125 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTwo Paths to Meditative Concentration: Directed Effort Versus Letting Go – Part 2I propose there are two paths to meditative concentration: directed effort (what the Buddha taught) and letting go (something we do in Soto Zen). One path or the other may work better for some people. In this episode I describe the "letting go" path in some detail: What it involves, how it (ironically) requires great "effort," and why it works.2018-12-2438 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTwo Paths to Meditative Concentration: Directed Effort Versus Letting Go – Part 1I believe some of our struggles in meditation could be eased if we recognized there are two paths to meditative concentration, or samadhi – directed effort, and letting go – and what works well for one person may be frustrating and fruitless for another. In this episode I briefly discuss what samadhi is, and then describe the two very different ways to achieve it. In the next episode I'll describe the “letting go” approach in more detail.2018-12-1536 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddhist History 10: Early Indian Buddhism - Stupas and Devotional Practice - Part 1It’s pretty typical to hear only one side of Buddhist history – that is, the side that focuses on what the Buddha taught, or the Dharma, and on the people who studied and practiced that Dharma. There’s a whole other side to Buddhism, present since the beginning: Devotional Practice. In this episode (Part 1 of 2) I introduce what it is, and talk about its origins in the Buddha’s own teachings – which included instructions for the creation of the first Buddhist stupas, or sacred burial mounds.2018-12-0126 min
The Zen Studies PodcastFive Steps for Positive Change without Waging War on the SelfIt’s natural and healthy to aspire to things like having more equanimity, being more generous, and overcoming negative habits – and, in fact, such aspiration is part of the Buddhist path. However, when we encounter aspects of ourselves that are difficult to change, we may be tempted to wage war on ourselves. This is not only counterproductive, it’s incompatible with our own aspirations. I’ll outline five steps to working on positive changes in your thoughts and behavior without waging war on the self.2018-11-2424 min
The Zen Studies PodcastFour Foundations of Mindfulness Practice and Similarities in ZenIn the last episode, I introduced the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as the Buddha taught them. Mindfulness means to remember something, or keep something in mind. The Four Foundations are the four categories of things you keep in mind if you want to walk the path to spiritual liberation. In this episode I talk about how the Four Foundations of Mindfulness are actually practiced, and then about how this teaching relates to Zen.2018-11-1727 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 10: The Four Foundations of MindfulnessOne of Buddha's central teachings was the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, about how you walk the Eightfold Path to liberation. Mindfulness, or sati, means to remember or keep in mind, and the four foundations are the four things you should keep in mind (or focus on) if you want to progress on the spiritual path. In this first episode of two on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, I introduce the teaching as given by the Buddha.2018-11-1328 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Ten Oxherding Pictures: Stages of Practice When You’re Going NowhereThe Ten Oxherding pictures are a Zen teaching, but many Buddhist practitioners are familiar with the experience of trying to motivate yourself to practice without the rewards of explicit, tangible goals or markers of progress. The oxherding pictures describe - rather than prescribe - stages of practice we go through over a lifetime. They can be inspiring and encouraging as long as you don't try too hard to evaluate which stage you're in, or strive to get to the next stage.2018-11-0118 min
The Zen Studies PodcastWestern Zen Grows Up and Faces the Koan of Race – Part 2Second part of a two-part series: The story of my particular school, Soto Zen, in America, but even if you identify with a different type of Buddhism you may find it interesting because so many forms of Buddhism face a similar lack of racial diversity in the west – despite the diversity of our surrounding communities. Even if you’re not particularly interested in the development of western Buddhism, this is also the story of facing collective karma, and of a group questioning its collective “self-nature.”2018-10-2834 min
The Zen Studies PodcastWestern Zen Grows Up and Faces the Koan of Race – Part 1I tell you the story of my lineage of Zen over the last 100 years or so – its birth in America, its growth, its rocky adolescence, and how it’s coming into an adulthood of sorts that gives it the strength to face the koan of race - particularly its own extreme lack of racial diversity. In the next episode, I’ll go into more detail about what’s involved in facing that koan and what a tremendous growth opportunity it is to do so, sharing with you some of the highlights from my recent priests’ conference.2018-10-1329 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSekito Kisen’s Sandokai: The Identity of Relative and Absolute – Part 2This my second episode on the Sandokai, an ancient teaching poem composed by Chinese Zen master Sekito Kisen (Shitou Xiqian, 700-790). It’s recited daily in Soto Zen temples throughout the world - one of only a handful of Zen or Buddhist scriptures similarly honored. In the first episode I read the whole poem, discussed the “big deal” about absolute and relative (why Zen talks about this topic so much), and started exploring the Sandokai line by line. In this episode I finish up that exploration.2018-10-0523 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSekito Kisen’s Sandokai: The Identity of Relative and Absolute – Part 1Sandokai is a teaching poem composed by Chinese Chan (Zen) master Sekito Kisen (Shitou Xiqian, 700-790). It’s recited daily in Soto Zen temples throughout the world. In this episode I explore the meaning of the Sandokai and why it’s given such a central place in Soto Zen. I discuss the “big deal” about absolute and relative (why Zen talks about this topic so much), read the poem, and then start exploring it line by line. I only get part way through, so I’ll finish up the exploration next week.2018-09-2729 min
The Zen Studies PodcastIs Buddhism Secular, Spiritual, or Religious?Is Buddhism religious, spiritual, or secular? The short answer to that is all three – depending what questions you’re asking. In this episode I define religious, spiritual, and secular, and then examine how these terms apply to Buddhism - and how they don't.2018-09-1125 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTaking Care of Our Lives: More About the Karma Relationship Side of PracticeIn Episode 38 I talked about how Buddhist practice has two sides – samadhi power and karma relationship. Samadhi power is about cultivating a direct, real-life experience of the nondual aspect of reality, while karma relationship is about taking care of our lives in order to reduce suffering and reflect the truth of the nondual in the midst of the relative. In this episode I focus on karma relationship – why it’s so important, what it involves, and the main Buddhist practices we do to work on our karma.2018-09-0126 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 9: The Four Brahmaviharas, or Sublime Social Attitudes - Part 3In this third episode of my series on the Four Brahmaviharas, I briefly talk about how to use them in daily practice without setting them up as unattainable ideals. Then I discuss what tends to get in the way of unlimited compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, and ways to work through those obstructions.2018-08-2628 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddhist Practice: Dealing with Intrusive Thoughts and Emotions“Intrusive” thoughts and emotions arise repeatedly with enough intensity for them to be disturbing or distracting, even though they aren’t objectively relevant or helpful as they’re arising. In this episode I describe how to use Buddhist practice to reduce the intrusiveness of irrelevant or unhelpful thoughts and emotions by decreasing our identification with the content of our experience and increasing our identification with our natural, spacious awareness.2018-08-1827 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Soto Zen Goal of Goallessness: How to Awaken Without TryingThe goal of Buddhism is to awaken to what’s true, because the truth is liberating. And yet my tradition, Soto Zen, points us toward the “goal of goallessness,” telling us we’ll awaken if only we give up our desire for anything else (including achieving some “goal” called awakening). In this episode I explore how the “goal of goallessness” points to the fact that if we willfully try to awaken, we create duality and get in our own way. Fortunately, Zen offers us ways to awaken without "trying."2018-08-0423 min
The Zen Studies PodcastRelating to Buddhist Teachings 2: Wrestling with the TeachingsFrom the perspective of most Buddhist lineages, including Zen, study is essential. In this episode I’ll get into why that is and present a practical way you can engage with Buddhist teachings in a fruitful, transformative way that isn’t just intellectual. Then I’ll talk about how you go about studying the teachings – where do you start, and what should you study?2018-07-2926 min
The Zen Studies PodcastRelating to Buddhist Teachings 1: Their Abundance, Diversity & AuthenticityIf you’ve spent any time at all studying Buddhism, you’ve discovered there are lots of Buddhist teachings and texts. What should you choose to study? Where do you begin? How much do you really need to know? How should you relate to the teachings, some of which may end up seeming contradictory? In this episode I give you an overview of the Buddhist teachings as a whole, and how the authority of a given text is measured and viewed by Buddhists. In the next episode I'll explain why it's important to study.2018-07-2224 min
The Zen Studies Podcast66 - Buddha's Teachings 8: Four Brahmaviharas, or Sublime Social Attitudes - Part 2In Part 2 of my series on the Brahmaviharas, I explore teachings about how to cultivate Metta, or goodwill, in an unlimited or boundless way. (Which is the idea.) As we try to extend Metta to everyone, we quickly recognize our internal resistance to feeling unqualified goodwill toward many people. I discuss the recommendations of Buddhaghosa, a 5th century monk and author of the Visuddhimagga, about how to cultivate Metta for someone when it's very difficult to feel it naturally.2018-07-1426 min
The Zen Studies PodcastSpecial Announcement: Launch of the Zen Studies SanghaI've received many inquiries over the past year about how to connect with a teacher and Sangha, particularly if you live far from a Zen/Buddhist center. I'm pleased to announce I've launched a Zen Studies Sangha that can allow you to do just that. Check it out on the Zen Studies Podcast website!2018-07-0800 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDealing with Fear, Anger, and Hatred as a BuddhistI’ve been getting a lot of questions from people about how to deal with fear, anger, and hatred as a Buddhist – our own as well that of others, especially at a time when people are so divided, and doing so much damage to one another. I discuss the Buddhist view of fear, anger, and hatred - what they are, why they arise, and why we end up acting on them even though they end up causing suffering for self and other. Then I’ll talk about the implications of these teachings to our everyday lives.2018-07-0231 min
The Zen Studies PodcastShikantaza: Having the Guts to Just Sit and Let Go of Doing AnythingI’ve been sitting zazen for over 20 years, but only recently have I had the guts to really do shikantaza, or “just sitting,” and it feels profoundly liberating. In this kind of zazen, you utterly let go of doing anything except just sitting there. Really. I discuss why beginners are usually taught to count or follow breaths instead of do shikantaza, and why I think this is unfortunate. I also discuss the surprising results of a practice in which you don't try to control your experience in any way.2018-06-2429 min
The Zen Studies PodcastBuddha's Teachings 7: The Four Brahmaviharas, or Sublime Social Attitudes - Part 1The Buddha taught the importance of the four Brahmaviharas, or sublime attitudes: Goodwill, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. These are the emotions we should cultivate toward other beings in order establish a strong foundation for spiritual practice, and are also the best attitudes to have toward people if we want our relationships to be harmonious and beneficial. In this episode I introduce the Brahmaviharas as a whole, including how they fit within the context of other Buddhist teachings.2018-06-1928 min
The Zen Studies PodcastListener's Questions: Practicing with Mental IllnessI share and answer three questions from listeners about practicing Buddhism and meditation when you're experiencing some kind of mental illness. I talk about when still, silent meditation might be unhelpful and propose alternative practices, and the Buddhist take on medication for mental illness. I also give an example of how to approach a particular condition as practice, even while you receive treatment for it from mental health professionals.2018-06-0821 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTaking Refuge and Precepts: The Significance of Becoming a Buddhist – Part 2This is the second of two episodes on the practice of formally making vows to commit yourself to the Buddhist path as a lay person, in which I introduce you to two more ways of approaching lay vows in Buddhism. As promised, I’ll describe the practice at two different local Buddhist centers in my area – one Theravadin, and one Vajrayana, and wrap up by talking about what motivates people to take this step.2018-05-2518 min
The Zen Studies PodcastTaking Refuge and Precepts: The Significance of Becoming a Buddhist – Part 1Many religions have initiation rituals in which adherents formally commit themselves to their tradition – baptism, confirmation, and Bar or Bat Mitzvah, for example. Buddhism has its own initiation rituals which usually involve "taking refuge" in the three treasures (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), but beyond that vary widely. I introduce this tradition and then describe this ritual at my own Zen center. Next week I'll describe rituals at a local Theravadin center, and a Vajrayana center.2018-05-1815 min
The Zen Studies PodcastThe Buddha's Teachings Part 6: The Three Poisons as the Root of All EvilIn this episode I introduce the Buddha’s teaching of the three poisons. According to the Buddha, the root of all evil – that is, all unskillful, selfish, harmful actions of body, speech, and mind – is greed, hate, delusion, or some combination these three negative states. Taken together, these are called the “three poisons” and are our unhelpful response to things we like (greed or craving), things we don’t like (hate or aversion), and our fundamental – mistaken – belief in the inherent existence of self.2018-05-1227 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's Bendowa Part 2: Inconceivable Dharma, Practice, and RealizationThis episode is the second of two on the first part of “Bendowa,” Zen master Dogen’s essay that amounts to “Soto Zen in a Nutshell.” This week I cover two more important subjects Dogen covers in Bendowa: The ubiquitous and unconditioned nature of the “inconceivable dharma,” and the importance of practice in allowing us to actualize and experience it.2018-05-0424 min
The Zen Studies PodcastDogen's Bendowa Part 1: What's the Big Deal about Zazen?Zen master Dogen wrote Bendowa in 1231 to introduce his Japanese students to Soto Zen. In a sense, then, it's "Soto Zen in a nutshell." In this episode I introduce the text and the context in which it was written, and talk about how and why Dogen recommends zazen - seated meditation - above all other Buddhist practices. I also talk about how Soto Zen elevates zazen far above a mere method for achieving awakening to enactment of enlightenment itself.2018-04-3021 min
The Zen Studies PodcastAvalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and the Power of CompassionAvalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion (also called Guanyin, Kannon, or Kanzeon), is hands-down the most popular of the Buddhist archetypal bodhisattvas. The many teachings and stories around Avalokiteshvara express the Buddhist view that compassion is a force unto itself; it isn’t merely a feeling or an ideal for personal conduct, it’s a reflection of universal interdependence and something that functions freely when we simply get ourselves out of the way.2018-04-2227 min
The Zen Studies PodcastLabor Day MessageI won't be releasing a new episode today, in honor of Labor Day weekend. I will release one next week! Take care, Domyo2017-09-0100 min