Liberative Constraints

The theme for this talk is Liberative Constraints. 

This is a topic Eli brought up at this year’s Young Urban Zen retreat at Tassajara. In a world shaped by constant choice and digital customization, Zen practice offers a radically different kind of freedom, the kind that arises from structure, rhythm, and restraint. We discuss the liberating power of intentional constraints, and how forms like zazen, silence, and schedule can support presence, belonging, and internal spaciousness. Eli reflects on what it means to live unedited.

Taking the Monastery Home

The theme for this talk is Taking the Monastery Home. 

First, what brings us to the temple and to practice? What kind of experiences can we have at the temple that can help us in our lives? If we get the opportunity to visit and stay at a monastery, what do we take with us? If not, can we build a sacred space within ourselves and in our homes?

Kōgetsu Mok discusses the various ancient forms practiced in the temples that have real practical meaning and can be a frame for our home practice.

Taking What Is Not Given

Michael McCord discusses ‘taking what is not given’, essentially, the precept around stealing. However, just like all the precepts, this one goes quite deep in regards to relationships and our expectations/ demands for how we want others to show up for us and the capacities we expect. And like all the precepts, the antidote is what we focus on most of the time.

For not stealing, the antidote is generosity and not acting from a stance of scarcity. Michael looks at behaviors that support this way of going through the world as well as habits, mentalities, and outlooks that can work against it.

On Becoming Yourself

Hiro Ikushima explores Becoming Yourself, a newly published book of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s talks. He reads and reflects on a few selections that center on themes such as zazen, self and no-self, and how Zen meets everyday life. These timeless teachings offer both clarity and encouragement for practice in the midst of our busy modern lives.

No More Words

Zach discusses the long-standing debate about the utility of the written and spoken Dharma in the context of a practice that claims to go beyond words and concepts. People have literally been arguing about this for millennia; we take it up as well.

Virya

It sometimes seems like the world is falling apart and we can feel overwhelmed and isolated and sapped of energy. In this talk, Tim discusses strategies for building energy, Virya in Sanskrit, and how to work with it as one of the central elements in our Zen practice.

No One to Be, Nowhere to Go

What if there’s nothing to fix, improve, or figure out? What if this moment, just as it is, is enough? In the preceeding session, Hiro explored the conceptual foundation of self and no-self—how our sense of “I” is formed and sustained.

Building on that understanding, we shift into direct, experiential practice, allowing presence to reveal itself through shikantaza and mindfulness-based meditation.

This talk about living with presence is centered more around guided and silent meditation, with less emphasis on talking.

Awakening from the Dream of Self

Hiro speaks about the notion of awakening from the dream of self.

Much of our suffering arises from clinging to a fixed sense of self—a mental construct shaped by memory, identity, and striving. When we begin to see through this illusion, we may discover a quiet, open presence that has always been here.

Self, One Self, Not-Self

It sure seems like I have a self—an agent of action, one who makes choices, does work, gives gifts, harms others, apologizes... So what do we make of this teaching of No Self of not-self? If Zen says I don't have a self, how could my life possibly work out? Kodo takes a clear-eyed look at some teachings on not-self to bring this liberating view to life, without the confusion.

How The Somatics of Meditation Practice Can Help Us

Rev. Shosan Victor Austin, a senior priest at City Center, speaks about how the somatics of meditation practice can help us in our stressful busy lives. 

Note to Self

On an anniversary of when he first came to practice, Eli Brown-Stevenson shares some of the choices he made—and a few things he wishes he had paid closer attention to—in a reflection for his younger self and, maybe, for anyone else finding their way into practice too.

The Intersection of Leadership and Zen Principles

Michael McCord discusses the intersection of leadership and Zen principles. Whether you have a formal leadership role at home (parent), school (resident assistant; teachers assistant) or work (managing, mentoring), we all impact each other and also take on many undefined roles where others look to us directly or indirectly. 

What we find in looking at this is that relationships are the core of our existence and how we hold our trauma, stress, fears and narratives have a significant impact on those around us.  And for those we are in a leadership role with (even if informal), we have a greater impact.  We consider the Bodhisattva vow which is central to Soto Zen practice. That, as a key part of our intention, we are attempting to tidy up our house in order to be able to better help others, less encumbered by our difficulties and focused on how we can be a gift to the world, helping those around us suffer less and thrive more.

Mistakes

Kōgetsu Mok talks about the koan of our lives as we meet impossible situations, difficult conversations, the mountains of uncertainty, and challenging times. 

How can Zen practice help train us to meet these moments with better self-awareness, skillful action, grace, and integrity? 

Can we be kind to ourselves in the process, forgive the mistakes of others and ourselves, and see that the mess is beautiful and wholly included in practice? 

Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional

Michael McCord references a quote by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami: Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.

This is very much in alignment with the basic noble truths of Zen and yet can be so elusive in the moments we inhabit.

How do we live into a future where we hold the discomforts, annoyances, turmoil and pain of our existence in altogether different way?  What can I do today or tomorrow?

Way Seeking Mind Talk

Tim Wicks, the City Center Head of Practice, gives a brief way seeking mind talk telling the story of how he came to practice Zen. He also speaks about three basic tenets of Buddhism and how they are practiced in community.

Kindness

Kōgetsu Mok discusses Suzuki Roshi's "Not Always So"—Be Kind with Yourself.

Our practice has an emphasis on warm heart and warm zazen. This kind of practice shows us how to take care of ourselves, our lives and others. When we're kind with our breathing, true practice can emerge as we learn to manage our impulses and busy lives.

Pausing

Hiro Ikushima speaks on the theme of pausing.

In a world that moves swiftly and often without mercy, the simple act of pausing can feel revolutionary. A single breath, a quiet moment of stopping, can open a doorway back to our own hearts. We explore how pausing allows us to meet life with greater tenderness, clarity, and courage — how it invites us to respond rather than react and move through the world with more spaciousness and care.

Case 5 of the Blue Cliff Record

Zachary Smith addresses Earth Day in the form of Case 5 of the Blue Cliff Record, in which Xuěfēng seems to be claiming that the Great Earth is no bigger than a millet seed.

Painting

Eli Brown-Stevenson offers a talk titled The Art of Just This. 

Inspired by art and this quote from Suzuki Roshi, Eli talks about the importance of being with the process and not just focused on outcomes and results. 

“A wonderful painting is the result of the feeling in your fingers. If you have the feeling of the thickness of the ink in your in your brush, the painting is already there before you paint.”

Stopping Burnout

Michael McCord discusses how one might stop the momentum of burn out.

The Buddha lived a life of extreme luxury and then dove head-long into asceticism for many years, only to come to the realization that a balanced life was where harmony could be found. His story is a road map for modern life full of pursuit, accomplishment and acquisition.  Even when a person buys-in to the concept of equanimous living, it doesn't mean that the momentum of a life will change that much.  Since we live in our bodies and minds (actually these are joined but appear different much of the time), second by second, and that IS our life, how does the way I have put my life together actually work for me?