216 - The Fourfold Bodhisattva Vow Part 1: Freeing All Beings
In this episode I review the meaning of the Fourfold Bodhisattva Vow, and then explore the first of the vows in detail: Beings are numberless, I vow to free them. What does it mean to free beings, and...
22 Sep 202232min
215 - We Will Die Soon: Using Impermanence to Motivate Practice
From the time of the Buddha, Buddhists have spent time contemplating impermanence - often by deliberately meditating on their own mortality and eventual death. This practice isn't for everyone, but it...
12 Sep 202225min
214 - How Do You DO Zazen, Anyway?
Offering you another episode on zazen risks me repeating myself, but I don't think it hurts to offer a fresh new talk on zazen periodically. The practice – while profoundly simple – also can be frustr...
31 Aug 202230min
213 – Deconstructing Self: Which Aspects Are Fine, and Which Cause Suffering?
The core teaching of Zen is that understanding the true nature of self is of the utmost importance to living a life that is liberated, compassionate, generous, wise, and skillful. Mindful examination ...
19 Aug 202230min
212 - The Wisdom of Play
When we play wholeheartedly, we engage the world with energy, joy, lightheartedness, and enthusiasm, welcoming challenge and enjoying our activity for its own sake. We rarely have the same attitude to...
11 Aug 202228min
211 - Book Review: Kosho Uchiyama's "Opening the Hand of Thought"
Uchiyama Roshi's Opening the Hand of Thought is a great book for the beginner as well as the advanced practitioner of Zen. Uchiyama manages to balance philosophical discussion of the most challenging ...
31 Juli 202222min
210 - Book Review: Kyogen Carlson's "You Are Still Here"
This book is a treasure in that it collects in one place the essential subjects and themes of Kyogen Carlson's teaching, which remains faithful to his Soto Zen lineage through Roshi Jiyu Kennett but r...
21 Juli 202218min
209 - Book Review: Issho Fujita's "Polishing a Tile"
In this episode I review Issho Fujita's Polishing a Tile. This is far and away my favorite book on zazen of all time, and it covers other essential aspects of Zen practice as well. This book isn't ava...
11 Juli 202224min
