Hiro Ikushima talks about Tenzo Kyokun, Dogen's classic Instructions for the Zen Cook.
Hiro Ikushima
The philosophical Heritage of Zen
Anshi Zachary Smith speaks on the topic of, "The philosophical heritage of Zen and the bind that it puts all of us in as practitioners.”
Anshi Daigi Zachary Smith has been practicing Zen since 1993. He took jukai in 1995, was Shuso (Head Student) in 2007, ordained as a Zen priest in 2014 and received Dharma Transmission on April 17, 2019, all with former abbot and Senior Dharma Teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. He currently directs North Mountain Zendo, a zazenkai (sitting) group in North Beach. In addition to his involvement with Zen, Zachary is a husband, a father of four, an engineer, a musician, a bike fanatic, and an avid but mediocre poet. He may be the only person in the history of Zen in the West to have interrupted a residential practice period to tour with a rock band.
The Path Right Before You
Horin Nancy Petrin explores the concept of refuge, inspired by the line from the Sandokai, "If you don't know the way right before you, how will you know the path as you walk?" You can find an English translation of the Sandokai (The Harmony of Difference and Samesness) here.
Suffering: What is it all about, and can we make friends with it?
This week, Myles Cowherd talks about Suffering: What is it all about, and can we make friends with it?
He also discusses the Four Noble Truths, "the truths of the Noble Ones" in both Theravada and Zen buddhism, see them compared here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ALdRZQVNJngHxgmCD5Mbg6WaPhNyUJTQMuGfGllqVyw/edit
Beginner's Mind: A Visit from Suzuki Roshi
Sandwiched between some light commentary, Eli Brown-Stevenson hosts a very special guest, Suzuki Roshi time traveling from 1965, who will be giving a lecture on Beginner's Mind. As always a cup of tea is welcome!
Eli is a resident priest at City Center and has lived between City Center and Tassajara since 2012. He currently serves as Zen Center's Corporate Secretary and will be starting a new role as Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging for Zen Center in February. You can find his bio here.
Zen Kitchen Practice for Everyone
“Why cooking rice and making soup in the kitchen are as valuable as practicing in the zendo, and how this practice can be applied to any kind of work.”
Read moreZen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Beginning with Ourselves
Seigen Johnson presents on Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Beginning with Ourselves.
New Year’s Resolutions
Anshi Zachary Smith asks - and attempts to address - the eternal question, What would Suzuki Roshi or Dogen say about New Year’s Resolutions?
The "Wild and Weird" Season of the Winter Solstice
Anshi Zachary Smith delivers a talk on the particular flavors and possibilities of this weird - in the original sense of the word - mini-season between the Winter Solstice and the New Year.
'Mu' and Buddha Nature
Heather Shoren Iarusso discusses Buddha Nature in relation to the single syllable word ‘Mu’ and the Koan, “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?”
Heather is a resident priest at City Center who arrived at Tassajara in 2008 and was ordained as a priest in 2015. She currently serves as Zen Center's Online Practice Center Director.
The Gift of Nothing
Eli shares another childhood tale about one of the greatest gifts you can give. "The Gift of Nothing". All are welcome. A cup of tea or a hot beverage is encouraged but not mandatory.
Kshanti Paramita
Michael McCord talks about "Kshanti Paramita" - The perfection of patience, forbearance, tolerance is the foundational paramita (character quality) of Buddhists. How do we work in this way while living in what feels like a competitive and aggressive world? How can we work with the key principle of Zen practice and have appropriate boundaries with those around us? How can we cultivate this quality in our relationships that do not feel spacious?
Generosity - why does it make us feel abundance?
Kodo hosts guest speaker Myles Cowherd for a conversation about: Generosity - why does it make us feel abundance?
A Tale of Drunken Enemies
Heather Iarusso speaks on “A Tale of Drunken Enemies”.
“I am a lover of stories and unfortunately, a binger of Netflix. Since I've spent seven of the past 13 years in a Zen monastery, I had a lot of binging to catch up on! I landed on the ‘Black Mirror’ series created by Charlie Brooker. I devoured all 23 episodes in a matter of days. Most of the stories were haunting, innovative, and prescient; however, there was one in particular titled ‘Men Against Fire,’ that has left an indelible impression because of its Dharmic lesson.”
Heather is a resident priest at City Center who arrived at Tassajara in 2008 and was ordained as a priest in 2015. She currently serves as Zen Center's Online Practice Center Director.
Mistakes in Practice
Eli shares some commentary on a chapter in Zen Mind Beginner's Mind titled Mistakes in Practice. Come one come all, mistakes and all!
The Koan of "Self Help"
Tonight Michael McCord explores the Koan of "Self Help": Is Buddhism so stuck in acceptance that nothing ever changes?
We'll explore what it is to be with our inclination to push away some things, as well as what it is to not hold on to ways of escaping that which is arising. In this "middle way" of working with our attraction and aversion, how do we actively plan for positive change without living in a dissatisfied state, not accepting what is happening now?
Rev. Myo's Three Pillars of Soto Zen
The gate of Dharma is unsurpassably wide. All beings may enter. So what does it mean to have a family style? How can we think about what teachings are essential to the Soto Zen way that we have inherited from Suzuki Roshi? This talk can serve as a summary introduction to three keys of our living tradition.
Grappling with the Fearful Mind
“I'll take this opportunity to give a talk about koan #23 of the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate), a tale of the Sixth Ancestor and his encounter with his Dharma brother Huiming. I'll touch on mudita/empathetic joy and therefore the four brahmaviharas/divine abodes, but I hope to talk mainly about how to skillfully face fear, and how the encounter with what we fear can lead us to a deeper exploration of the sense of self.”
Read more"Mr. Right is Dead"
Buddha describes Nirvana as a nectar-like Dharma that’s free from reference points. What are these reference points and how can investigating them help us alleviate our suffering? A talk by Heather Iarusso.
A Childhood Tale about the Path of the Bodhisattva
Eli Brown-Stevenson shares a favorite childhood tale of his about the path of the bodhisattva along with an exercise.