In Spite of Everything, It's Spring Again!
In this teisho from a few weeks ago, Sunya-roshi talks about how in a world of war and vast suffering, flowers still miraculously leap out of the ground, new blossoms burst forth from bare branches, b...
15 Apr 31min
Facing Your Lion: A Story from Persia and Reflections on Courage
Roshi Sunya Kjolhede tells a story of prince from Persia who must rouse his courage and face a terrifying lion to become king. In much the same way, we muster our courage in practice to face whatever ...
25 Feb 36min
Nothing Holy
In this teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talks about Bodhidharma meeting Emperor Wu of Liang (Hekiganroku #1) and how nothing is holy or seperate. To donate or learn mor...
11 Feb 32min
Teisho from the Halfway Point of the June 2025 7-Day Sesshin
In this teisho from the Summer 2025 sesshin, Sunya-roshi gives advice on sesshin guidelines and the importance of recommitting oneself to practice. She also talks more about the importance of early ch...
4 Feb 33min
Kanzeon!
In this teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talks about Kannon (Guanyin/Avalokitasvara), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-r...
28 Jan 29min
Visions of Childhood: Recalling Early Experiences of Wonder and Questioning
This is a kind of third part to Sunya-roshi's "55 Years of Practice" series. She looks at the importance of experiences in childhood that lead to Zen practice—not only hers, but others. She begins wit...
21 Jan 31min
Fifty-Five Years of Practice: Delusions & Discoveries Along the Way (Part II)
2025 marked the fifty-fifth anniversary of when Sunya-roshi first met Roshi Philip Kapleau (then Sensei) and moved from Michigan to the Rochester Zen Center to practice. In this second of two special ...
14 Jan 42min
