Shows
Shasta AbbeyAvatamsaka: The Great ScriptureRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a talk on the annual Avatamsaka festival day. She talks about what the scripture is and why we hold it in such high regard. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 8, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/n8AA1VsdFwwTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2026-02-0819 minShasta AbbeyMaitreyaRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, teaches about who Maitreya Bodhisattva is on his annual festival day. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on January 1, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/cIv3RhjCIggTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2026-01-1816 minShasta AbbeyLiving and DyingRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about living and dying and how we engage with the two through the grounded lens of our Buddhist practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 19, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/NNCc-0B24B4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-11-1624 minShasta AbbeyChanging SeasonsRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the importance of impermanence and how it helps us to 'see' clearly. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 5th, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/5UiV7sli11gTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-11-0221 minShasta AbbeyAll Acceptance Is the KeyRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, explores an old Buddhist saying, "All acceptance is the key that unlocks the gateless gate". This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 7, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/3ud6pN4Rbi4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-10-0525 minShasta AbbeyNo LimitationsRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about transferring merit. She encourages us to offer merit universally to all beings starting with ourselves, our loved ones and friends, and certainly our enemies and those we do not like. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday August 10, 2025,YouTube: https://youtu.be/jLEuS7ArrMcTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-09-1418 minShasta AbbeyAppreciating SerenityRev. Margaret Clyde continues with her analysis of Great Master Dogen's chapter "Hachi Dainingaku" or "On the Eight Realizations of a Great One" (Chapter 96 in the Shasta Abbey translation of the Shobogenzo). Shasta Abbey Shobogenzo translation: https://www.shastaabbey.org/pdf/shoboAll.pdfYouTube: https://youtu.be/4AjpfZhSXI4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-08-1725 minShasta AbbeyRelinquishmentRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, speaks about letting go in our practice. She emphasizes the word 'relinquishment' in contrast to 'renunciation' and explains the two words and what kind of attitude of mind we should encourage in exploring this teaching. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday July 20, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/u7NnKqdnkX8Twitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-08-0318 minShasta AbbeyJulian’s Advice for UsRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, quotes Julian of Norwich as she talks about current world events and how we can sit still with them. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 9, 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/foO86D_AfUcTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-03-0918 minShasta AbbeyMaitreya's Message for UsRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, delivers a Dharma talk on the festival day of Maitreya: the Buddha that is to come. She talks about who Maitreya is and how we can gain strength and encouragement from his message for our own daily life. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Wednesday January 1, 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/HJzam2oQbGgTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-01-1922 minShasta AbbeyEndless Training Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the story of the Buddha's Enlightenment. She emphasizes how important it was that even the Buddha kept training after realization. No matter where we are along the path, training never ends. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 22, 2024.YouTube: https://youtu.be/BZaPboXv4NwTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2025-01-0519 minShasta AbbeyKoho ZenjiRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a Dharma talk on Founder's Day. The founder of Shasta Abbey is Keido Chisan Koho, Rev. Master Jiyu's master in Japan, and Rev. Master Meian explains about this Zen tradition of naming your teacher as the founder of your temple and shares stories about Koho Zenji's (Zenji meaning Zen Master in Japanese) life and teaching. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 27, 2024.Twitter/X: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/OASETXN_xCQ
2024-11-1722 minShasta AbbeyBodhidharma’s Four PracticesRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about Bodhidharma who is an important ancestor in the Zen lineage. Specifically, Bodhidharma is known for his writing on the 'Four Practices' for trainees. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 6, 2024.YouTube: https://youtu.be/IcaCItkf62kTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-11-0121 minShasta AbbeyThe Lava LampRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, uses the image of a lava lamp to talk about karma and the 'unreality of self'. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 1, 2024. Twitter/X: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/LawpNrQXhkw
2024-09-1518 minShasta AbbeyActivity in Stillness, Stillness in Activity Retreat: Introduction: Orient Yourself to PracticeRev. Leon Kackman, Prior of the Portland Buddhist Priory, a temple of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, leads a retreat at Shasta Abbey during the week of August 18, 2024. The focus of the retreat is the teaching and emphasis of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. This introductory talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday August 18, 2024.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-08-2020 minShasta AbbeyTo View the Morning Star: Retreat IntroductionRev. Koten Benson, visiting Prior from Lion's Gate Buddhist Priory in Lytton B.C. Canada, leads a week long retreat at Shasta Abbey during the week of June 23, 2024. His focus is on the founder of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives and Shasta Abbey, Rev. Master Jiyu Kennett. Rev. Koten shares stories about Rev. Master Jiyu's life in Japan, her training as a Zen priest, and her establishing of practice in the West. He especially draws attention to how Rev. Master Jiyu went against the grain of the Zen culture of the 1970's and how her teaching and emphasis was...
2024-06-2627 minShasta AbbeyCompassion is the WayRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about compassion as foremost in our daily life practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday May 19, 2024.Twitter/X: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/eEDKnGPk-h4
2024-06-1723 minShasta AbbeyPutting the Dharma Into PracticeRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a general talk on practice. "Putting the Dharma into practice: we can read about it, we can hear about it, how do we actually practice it?" How do we bridge the gap between an intellectual understanding of practice and the actual DOING of practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday April 14, 2024.YouTube: https://youtu.be/UKtGJeE-YucTwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-05-1932 minShasta AbbeyThe Teachings of Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett: In GratitudeThe late Rev. Jisho Perry talks about Rev. Master Jiyu Kennett. Rev. Master Jiyu was the first Abbess and Founder of Shasta Abbey. Rev. Jisho talks about her training in Japan and what she found during her time there. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey in 2012.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-04-2845 minShasta AbbeySelfless ActivityRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, quotes a line from Great Master Dogen's 'Shushogi' that states, "our daily life should be spent constantly in selfless activity with no waste of time whatsoever". She discusses how we should understand this statement and make it a reality in our life and practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 3, 2024.YouTube: https://youtu.be/LllwIzMYUaE Twitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-03-0426 minShasta AbbeyThe Place Where We Both Depart From and Return To Rev. Enya Sapp encourages us to explore through our practice that place which is beyond the opposites. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 25, 2024.Twitter/X: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/f7Jh_6OLaH8
2024-02-2731 minShasta AbbeyThe Bigger PictureRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about Buddhism with a 'big B' (in contrast to buddhism with a little b). This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 18, 2024YouTube: https://youtu.be/P8ZYCazkTS0Twitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-02-2119 minShasta AbbeyThere Is No Secret IngredientRev. Allard Kieres talks about how we are all already Buddhas. He uses the movie Kung Fu Panda and other Zen stories to portray this idea and try to help us see that we already have everything we need. And although the journey to realizing this for ourselves is necessary, we paradoxically begin right back where we started: Buddha. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 11, 2024.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-02-1236 minShasta AbbeyImpermanence Is Buddha NatureRev. Master Meian Elbert talks about Great Master Dogen's quote, "Impermanence is Buddha Nature" and what this means for our practice in daily life. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 4, 2024.YouTube: https://youtu.be/HmvvhIom3wUTwitter: @shastaabbey
2024-02-0521 minShasta AbbeyImpermanenceRev. Hubert Nearman was a monk at Shasta Abbey who died in 2016 when in his eighties. He was a disciple of Rev. Master Jiyu and a translator for the O.B.C. (Order of Buddhist Contemplatives). His translations are vast, including the complete translation of Great Master Dogen's Shobogenzo. This talk on impermanence took place at Shasta Abbey back sometime in the year 2000, and is a wonderful opportunity for you to get to know a monk who was very dear to all who knew him. Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: N/A
2024-01-2135 minShasta AbbeyTo View the Morning StarRev. Master Koten Benson, Prior of Lions Gate Buddhist Priory in Lytton, B.C. Canada, talks about Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey in March of 2016.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-01-1447 minShasta AbbeyMaitreyaRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about Maitreya: the Buddha that is to come. January 1st is when Shasta Abbey celebrates the Maitreya Festival at the end of the New Year's Retreat. It is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the fact that WE are Maitreya Buddha, and that we must make this a reality in our everyday lives. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Monday January 1st, 2024.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2024-01-0324 minShasta AbbeySitting Still in Confidence on Buddha’s Enlightenment Day Rev. Ando Mueller describes the iconography, and it's meaning for training, of a picture of the Buddha sitting beneath the Bodhi Tree when he realized enlightenment. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 24, 2023. This link is to a picture that is similar to what Rev. Ando is describing in her talk. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c1/ed/56/c1ed569122146b4cae50fe846e90aa40.jpgYouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey
2023-12-2627 minShasta AbbeyAvalokiteshwara’s ExampleRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the Scripture of Avalokiteshwara and how we must make compassion a reality in our own lives for ourselves and those around us. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 17, 2023. Twitter/X: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/PaCt_XSiF-M
2023-12-1825 minShasta AbbeyThe Entire Body of the TathagataRev. Master Jiyu-Kennett talks about chapter 53 from Great Master Dogen's Shobogenzo entitled Hossho (On the True Nature of All Things). You can access a PDF of the Shobogenzo here: https://www.shastaabbey.org/pdf/shoboAll.pdf. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey sometime in the year 1981. YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-12-1041 minShasta AbbeyAllowing SpaceRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about not rushing to fill every moment with 'stuff'. But how this moment is deeply sufficient just as it is; and to allow the space and stillness for us to rest content within this. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 26, 2023. YouTube: https://youtu.be/VP1j7E-XNUMTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-12-0320 minShasta AbbeyLetting Go of Views and OpinionsRev. Margaret Clyde shares some thoughts on Great Master Dogen's Rules for Meditation , specifically the line that reads, "Think of neither good nor evil. Consider neither right nor wrong." This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 19, 2023.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBd0NQljGScTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-11-2823 minShasta AbbeyThe Mind and the HeartRev. Daishin Yalon talks about the distinction between the 'mind' and the 'Heart' and what we mean in Buddhism when we talk about the two. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 12, 2023. Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: N/A
2023-11-1917 minShasta AbbeyLabels Are For Jars, Not For PeopleRev. Allard Kieres talks about the error of placing labels on people (and all beings), and extends this caution further to how we place labels on reality at large. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 5, 2023Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/aG3H4I9Ppqw
2023-11-1532 minShasta AbbeyAttitude of Gratitude Part 4: ScripturesRev. Oswin Hollenbeck continues with his series on Gratitude. He looks at Samantabhadra's second vow 'praising Tathagatas' and ties that to the reading of scriptures; both literal scriptures and then the 'scripture of everyday life'. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 15, 2023. Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/S1AoSZcb6jo
2023-11-1341 minShasta AbbeyThe WaveRev. Master Haryo Young, head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (our Order), uses an analogy to talk about impermanence. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on September 27, 2012. Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: N/A
2023-11-1014 minShasta AbbeyAttitude of Gratitude Part 3: Bowing Continued Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck continues talking about the first three of Samantabhadra's vows in part three of his 'Attitude of Gratitude' series. Rev. Oswin encourages us to bow with all the conditions of daily life. It is this very bowing which is the Heart of Buddha. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 8, 2023.YouTube: https://youtu.be/YidYpdPlhnETwitter: @shastaabbeywww.shastaabbey.orgATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE PART 2:aired on September 24, 2023Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2046795/episodes/13605466YouTube: https://youtu.be/HHWEhOWCBes ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE PART 1:air...
2023-10-2534 minShasta AbbeyPractice in Our Daily Life Rev. Scholastica Hicks shares more insights from her experience recovering from a broken leg. She talks about hard questions she has learned to ask herself about her own daily attitude of mind and encourages us to do the same. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 1, 2023.YouTube: https://youtu.be/M9Y_r9CdgCgTwitter: @shastaabbeywww.shastaabbey.org
2023-10-2229 minShasta AbbeyFaith and Perseverence Rev. Shiko Rom celebrated her 50th ordination birthday on September 21, 2023. In this talk she shares her experience of 50 years as a monk and encourages us all to never give up on our training. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 23, 2023. YouTube: https://youtu.be/YCXt2a_Jm5ATwitter: @shastaabbeywww.shastaabbey.org
2023-10-1817 minShasta AbbeySeeking is Suffering Rev. Enya Sapp talks about the fundamental delusion that we are all training ourselves to transcend. It is this very mind of 'seeking' which is the source of our suffering. We are the creators of our own suffering. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 17, 2023.YouTube: https://youtu.be/JbTqnPhovc8Twitter: @shastaabbeywww.shastaabbey.org
2023-10-1527 minShasta AbbeyInspired by Dogen’s Compassion and WisdomRev. Ando Mueller gives a Dharma talk on the annual festival memorial for Great Master Eihei Dogen. She shares some stories about Master Dogen's life, who he was, how he came to training, and what he passed on to those who follow in his footsteps. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 10, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/4Ov9Hsm4fzA
2023-10-1131 minShasta AbbeyA Few Antidotes for DespairRev. Valora Midtdal talks about her own experience training with despair and offers advice for others on how to sit still and convert this tendency. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on September 3, 2023. Twitter: @shastaabbey YouTube: https://youtu.be/-tQi3sUFp4w
2023-10-0827 minShasta AbbeyDogen's Lesson From the Chief CookRev. Allard Kieres talks about the 'Tenzokyokun' or 'Instructions to the Chief Cook', written by Great Master Eihei Dogen who was the founder of Serene Reflection Meditation (Soto Zen) in Japan. Master Dogen went to China in order to clarify his doubts about Buddhist practice. Rev. Allard tells about the encounters Dogen had and the important lesson he learned. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on August 20, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/ye-x84mv4kg
2023-10-0135 minShasta AbbeyOpening to the DharmaRev. Astor Douglas talks about the importance of keeping an open heart in practice and how we should not try to bring the Buddha's teachings 'down' to us, but to step 'up' to the teachings. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on August 13, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/W9t-YVzNJ3M
2023-09-2721 minShasta AbbeyAttitude of Gratitude Part 2: Shobogenzo: BowingRev. Oswin Hollenbeck continues his theme with gratitude as he talks about a chapter from Great Master Dogen's Shobogenzo on bowing. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on August 6, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/HHWEhOWCBes ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE PART 1:aired on June 7, 2023Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2046795/episodes/12996663YouTube: https://youtu.be/sB52W18Hfvs
2023-09-2435 minShasta AbbeyLessons in Letting GoRev. Scholastica Hicks recounts stories from her recent time in a rehab facility after breaking her leg, and how there were numerous opportunities to practice patience and letting go. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on July 23, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/Ok_3g5mbv30
2023-09-1739 minShasta AbbeyDeveloping Deep Friendships with BodhisattvasRev. Amanda Robertson explains who the primary Bodhisattvas are in Mahayana Buddhism, and how we can make use of 'their' help in our daily practice. She encourages us to hold our Hearts open to the seen and the unseen, and have the courage to look and see what IS. Blind faith is not required in Buddhism, and, the faith to remain open to things we don't understand or have not yet experienced for ourselves is essential. Nothing in Buddhism is taken on faith forever, this practice is about proving the Buddha's teachings true for ourselves. This talk was given...
2023-09-1027 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: Talk #6Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. This is talk 6 of 6 (not including the introduction).YouTube: https://youtu.be/vgxT53bKkDoTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-09-0823 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: Talk #5Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. This is talk 5 of 6 (not including the introduction).YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZEDqQ2xTO_YTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-09-0627 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: Talk #3Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. This is talk 3 of 6 (not including the introduction).YouTube: https://youtu.be/R5OwG3AsT6YTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-09-0419 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: Talk #4Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. This is talk 4 of 6 (not including the introduction).YouTube: https://youtu.be/541rLTpQQ48Twitter: @shastaabbey
2023-09-0425 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: Talk #2Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. This is talk 2 of 6 (not including the introduction).YouTube: https://youtu.be/UaVh487nX3sTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-08-3020 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: Talk #1Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. This is talk 1 of 6 (not including the introduction).YouTube: https://youtu.be/v-yLdp9M-gsTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-08-2718 minShasta AbbeyThe Way of the Bodhisattva: IntroductionRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, leads a retreat during the week of August 20, 2023. The retreat is focused on a discourse delivered by the 8th century monk named Shantideva called 'Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra' or in English, 'The Way of the Bodhisattva'. YouTube: https://youtu.be/i-foGFWRUwATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-08-2313 minShasta AbbeyThe Merit of First MindRev. Margaret Clyde shares a quote from the monastic ordination ceremony which reads, "The merit of first mind is the widest and most completely fathomless. Even if Buddhas explain it fully, such explanation can never be enough." Whatever our path, lay or monastic, this 'first mind' is essential in our practice, as Rev. Margaret explains. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on July 9, 2023. Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/NBq7wjOSgBw
2023-08-1525 minShasta AbbeyExploring Monastic Life: The Rock TumblerRev. Daishin Yalon gives a talk at Shasta Abbey on July 30, 2023 at the end of the Exploring Monastic Life Retreat. He talks about the Sangha Refuge and how Rev. Master Jiyu and other important masters of our times encouraged training with others.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: N/A
2023-08-0132 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: Talk 5: The Four Embracing WisdomsRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey. This is talk 5 of 6 in the series (not including the introduction).YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-07-2015 minShasta AbbeyGrumpy or Grateful?Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about how to practice with a grumpy mind and convert it into a mind of gratitude. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on July 2, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbey YouTube: https://youtu.be/YW8Zc9rqpi0
2023-07-2022 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: Talk 6: The Four Noble Truths and NirvanaRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey. This is talk 6 of 6 in the series (not including the introduction).YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-07-2015 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: Talk 4: The King and The BoysRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey. This is talk 4 of 6 in the series (not including the introduction).YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-07-1017 minShasta AbbeyExploring Monastic Life: Why Silence?Rev. Margaret Clyde talks about the practice of silence and its role in monastic life here at Shasta Abbey. YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-07-0210 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: Talk 2: The Five Contemplations for EveryoneRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey. This is talk 2 of 6 in the series (not including the introduction).YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-06-2424 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: Talk 1: The Kalama SuttaRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey. This talk 1 of 6 in the series (not including the introduction). YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-06-2418 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: Talk 3: InvestigatingRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey. This is talk 3 of 6 in the series (not including the introduction).YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-06-2415 minShasta AbbeyThe Buddha’s Teaching from the Pali Canon: IntroductionRev. Daishin Yalon leads a retreat during the week of June 18, 2023 on the Buddha's teachings from the Pali Cannon. This week long retreat was held at Shasta Abbey, and includes several talks as part of the retreat series. YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-06-2023 minShasta AbbeySome Reflections on Wesak Day Happy Wesak! Wesak is the national Buddhist celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment, and Death. Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives some teaching about how as Buddhists it is important to consider all aspects of 'life' as this includes death. Some people might consider it strange that Buddhists would celebrate the death of an honored teacher, but as Rev. Master Meian reminds us, you can not have life without death. And through our practice we can find that place which 'does not die'; as an old zen master once said, "not death because not life".
2023-05-0825 minShasta AbbeyConceit Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about conceit and how, as the Buddha taught, it is fundamentally a delusion. Thinking "I'm better than" or "I'm worse than" or even "I'm equal to" are all a delusion: because it is seeing the world from the point of view of a self. YouTube: https://youtu.be/Sf239HQQx2UTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-04-1913 minShasta AbbeyCleaning KarmaRev. Jisho Perry talks about karma and its implications for us in our lives and our practice, specifically, how we can do something about cleansing it. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey in May of 2021.YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-04-0436 minShasta AbbeyManjusri, Wisdom and Training the MindRev. Amanda Robertson gives a dharma talk after the annual festival ceremony of Manjusri Bodhisattva, who is the personification of wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism, offering some reflections on wisdom. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday April 2, 2023. YouTube: https://youtu.be/RGE4mPV_wjsTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-04-0427 minShasta AbbeyPracticing Equanimity Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the importance of practicing equanimity and offers advice on how to develop this skill in our daily life. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 26, 2023.YouTube: https://youtu.be/0JJ9qbEP2Jc Twitter: @shastaabbey
2023-03-3119 minShasta AbbeyEssential Teachings and Practices of the OBC Rev. Master Ando Mueller talks about the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (O.B.C.), which is the umbrella organization for the Buddhist order of which Shasta Abbey is a part. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 19, 2023. YouTube: https://youtu.be/OttH_2eddvgTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-03-3134 minShasta AbbeyMaking Vows Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about making vows and how to approach this practice in our lives. She shares her thoughts about what vows 'are' and 'are not', and how we can hold them gently and not be 'overwhelmed' by them should we choose to incorporate them into our practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 12, 2023. YouTube: https://youtu.be/1F31pIpZvc0Twitter: @shastaabbey
2023-03-3118 minShasta AbbeySamantabhadra and Desert Pete Rev. Master Daishin Yalon talks about the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra after the annual Sunday ceremony dedicated to Samantabhadra. He also uses an old song 'Desert Pete' as a spring board to talk about thinking of others. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 5, 2023.YouTube: https://youtu.be/L0rSXwA_nGQTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-03-3125 minShasta AbbeyPocast INFO: ***Away month of March***Hey Everyone! This is Rev. Allard, I am the monk here at Shasta Abbey in charge of uploading talks for the podcast. I want to thank you for your support of this project to make the Dharma more accessible to people and hope that you continue to find it helpful and nourishing. Please continue to share, like, subscribe, and especially leave reviews in whatever podcast app you are using. I am going to be away for the month of March on retreat and so will not be uploading the Sunday talks. I will upload several new talks for...
2023-02-2701 minShasta AbbeyThat Which Does Not DieRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a talk after the Festival of the Buddha's Parinirvana (death). Rev. Master Meian talks about what it is that 'dies' and what it is that 'does not die'; and how we can find this true for ourselves in our own training. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 26, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/aMw-r_dS8uM
2023-02-2713 minShasta AbbeyExploring Monastic Life: Living on AlmsRev. Oswin Hollenbeck talks about the monastic practice of living on alms and details about its origin during the Buddha's time. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 19, 2023.YouTube: https://youtu.be/944ifNuYGDgTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-02-2117 minShasta AbbeyThe Heart of CompassionRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, shares her thoughts on compassion and how it influences our Buddhist practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on February 12, 2023.YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-02-1325 minShasta AbbeyIdentityRev. Margaret Clyde shares her thoughts from her study of a chapter in a book called 'The Sound of Silence' by Ajahn Sumedho. The focus being what we perceive as our 'identity' and how this is not the concrete thing we think it is. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on February 5, 2023.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: https://youtu.be/27hL42zhEdM
2023-02-0722 minShasta AbbeyWhat Training is and Isn'tRev. Daishin Yalon talks about training and the many misconceptions we can have about it. There is a saying that, 'we don't do the training, the training does us'. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey in August of 2019.Twitter: @shastaabbey YouTube: video N/A
2023-02-0129 minShasta AbbeyReflections on GratitudeRev. Oswin Hollenbeck looks at gratitude as one of the most important aspects of life and training. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on June 12, 2022. YouTube: https://youtu.be/ua1rovHXgdcTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-01-2330 minShasta AbbeyLetting the Self DissolveRev. Jisho Perry talks about seeing through the 'unreality of self'. When we let the self dissolve, we can see 'That which remains'. A monk once said, "You definitely exist. But don't make the mistake of thinking that you are real." This talk was given at Shasta Abbey in April of 2016. YouTube: n/aTwitter: @shastaabbey
2023-01-1620 minShasta AbbeyExploring Monastic Life: Thoughts on Monastic LifeRev. Master Meian Elbert shares some general thoughts about monastic life. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey in July 2022. YouTube: https://youtu.be/Jqep4YOcq2w Also, a friend of Shasta Abbey did a short documentary which can be found at https://youtu.be/FN--J66rQLkThis link contains only the part that had Shasta Abbey. The documentary featured other monastic traditions as well.
2023-01-0825 minShasta AbbeyListeningRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the spiritual practice of listening.
2023-01-0321 minShasta AbbeyLightRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about how from the Buddhist perspective the universe is full of light. She references the Avatamsaka Scripture, which is one of the main scriptures in Mahayana Buddhism. She encourages us, however, not to get caught in the duality that 'light' is good and 'darkness' is bad. In reality both are necessary. YouTube: https://youtu.be/XgOf2Wly5BcTwitter: @shastaabbey
2022-12-1918 minShasta AbbeyFounder's DayThe late Rev. Chosei Swann gives a Sunday dharma talk on Founder's Day 2015. Founder's Day is traditionally celebrated on the first of November and honors a temple's 'Founder', the monk who started the temple. Rev. Chosei explains why Shasta Abbey's founder is not Rev. Master Jiyu, but actually her teacher Keido Chisan Koho, or referred to as Koho Zenji in the talk. Rev. Chosei uses the opportunity to talk about the meaning of training and the 'temple's foundation' which is Koho Zenji's legacy to us all. YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey
2022-12-1135 minShasta AbbeyExploring Monastic Life: IntroductionRev. Allard introduces a series that will be called 'Exploring Monastic Life'. He lists and briefly talks about some unique topics that pertain to monastic life. Shasta Abbey hopes to record full talks on these and other topics that deal with monastic life specifically as a lead in to an Exploring Monastic Life Retreat that the monastery hopes to host in summer 2023. -general monastery inquiries: guestmaster@shastaabbey.org-podcast questions/comments: satech@shastaabbey.org-twitter: @shastaabbey-YouTube: N/A
2022-12-0418 minShasta AbbeyThe Church is NearRev. Daishin Yalon talks about the proverb, "The church is near but the road is icy. The tavern is far: I will walk carefully" as a way of describing our own relationship to training and cautions us to watch out for distractions. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 27, 2022.-video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyWJ7_v0n0-twitter: @shastaabbey
2022-11-2917 minShasta AbbeyUnderstanding the Source of Our DelusionRev. Jisho Perry talks about the 'source of our delusion' as taught and illuminated by the Surangama Sutra (scripture). This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on December 24, 2017.Twitter: @shastaabbeyYouTube: there is no video for this talk
2022-11-2237 minShasta AbbeySewing the Thread of Openness and StillnessRev. Astor Douglas shares some stories as examples of how Buddhist practice helps us to find peace in an unpredictable and uncontrollable world. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 13, 2022. - https://shastaabbey.org/-there was no YouTube video for this talk-Twitter: @shastaabbey
2022-11-1429 minShasta AbbeyREAD: Rules for MeditationThis is a reading of Great Master Dogen's 'Rules for Meditation'. This writing is read at Shasta Abbey during 'evening service' as a way of reflecting upon on our meditation practice. Master Dogen wrote this work upon his return from China to Japan in the 13th century. When Master Dogen was asked by monks of other Buddhist schools what he had found in China, Dogen responded 'a soft and flexible mind'. It is this soft and flexible mind which Master Dogen's Rules for Meditation encourages us to establish within ourselves through our own practice. You can recite along w...
2022-11-1106 minShasta AbbeyGiving and Receiving LoveRev. Master Meian, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about 'Universal Love'. This is the love that is not personal or romantic, but aspires to care for all beings impartially. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 30, 2022. -watch the YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKQxGbRdcaQ-Twitter: @shastaabbey
2022-10-3118 minShasta AbbeyOn Just Having FaithRev. Master Ando talks about faith in Buddhist practice and, in particular, what that means for Zen practitioners who tend to primarily practice meditation and may not consider 'faith' as part of their practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 23, 2022-watch the YouTube video at: https://youtu.be/asAzEGP59bc-Twitter: @shastaabbey
2022-10-2325 minShasta AbbeyThe Wisdom of ManjusriRev. Master Meian, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, uses a classic Zen image of Manjusri on his beast to illuminate our own practice of training ourselves. In Mahayana Buddhism, Manjusri is the embodiment of Wisdom. For a picture of the statue Rev. Master Meian is referencing during her talk, visit Shasta Abbey's twitter page @ShastaAbbey. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 16, 2022.-YouTube video of this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJp-1FiUVAY-Twitter: @ShastaAbbey
2022-10-1720 minShasta AbbeyGetting What You WantRev. Scholastica Hicks talks about her experience with Buddhist practice and offers teaching and encouragement to us for deepening our own. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 9th, 2022Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7dRTvK5XvTA
2022-10-1230 minShasta AbbeyPracticing HarmonyRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a talk about cultivating harmony in the Sangha and society.
2022-10-0223 minShasta AbbeyIt Doesn't Matter How You FeelRev. Margaret Clyde talks about how Buddhists train with feelings. She shares many stories and insights from her own years of training as a monk at Shasta Abbey, pointing out the important point that Buddhist training is trying to get us to look beyond how we feel. This talk was given Sunday September 18, 2022 at Shasta AbbeyYouTube video: https://youtu.be/VUEIPXcgxFY
2022-09-1921 minShasta AbbeyThe Power of KindnessRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about how acts of kindness help make the world a better place. This talk was given on Sunday September 11, 2022 at Shasta AbbeyVideo on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XCXrFE4WySM
2022-09-1322 minShasta AbbeyFeeling is the Reaper of KarmaRev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the Buddhist teaching of Karma and how to engage with it in our own training. This talk was given on August 21, 2022 at Shasta AbbeyVideo on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DcNtdS8QNkI
2022-09-1327 minShasta AbbeyDwelling in PeaceRev. Daishin Yalon, vice abbot of Shasta Abbey, talks about Buddhist practice and meditation during the traditional 'training term' of a monastery. Talk given on Sunday September 4, 2022 at Shasta Abbey.Video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2KLqMN6cG8
2022-09-0827 minShasta AbbeyThe Art of Meditation This is a talk about meditation given by Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennet, the founder of Shasta Abbey and the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. The talk was given in 1978, eight years after the founding of Shasta Abbey in 1970. Rev. Master Jiyu talks about the true purpose of meditation.
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