Appamada

2026-06-16 I Inquiry I Great Determination? I Trudy Johnston by Appamada

2026-06-15 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

2026-06-08 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

2026-06-09 I Inquiry I Plight thee my troth I Flint Sparks by Appamada

For the last two Sundays, we investigated the ditches of comfort and striving. This week, we turn to what’s between them, what some describe as effortless effort. Joko Beck describes this as pure activity: Pure activity is very rare. There's nearly always a shadow, a film over it. We may not be aware of that; we may just be aware of some tension. There's no tension in pure activity, beyond the phy...

2026-06-01 Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

2026-06-02 I Inquiry I Wandering and Wondering I Josh Gifford by Appamada

Last week we sat with the cost of comfort. Today, we turn to comfort's restless cousin: striving. Most of us have a complicated relationship with achievement — driven by it, exhausted by it, quietly convinced that enough effort will finally get us somewhere. Dogen had thoughts. He opens the fascicle Bendowa with a puzzle: "This Dharma is abundantly present in each human being, but if we do not pra...

2026-05-26 I Inquiry I If you examine myriad things I Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-05-25 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

How comfortable have you gotten? Is the room the perfect temperature? Does Alexa/Siri/Gemini answer all of your questions instantly? Is that difficult conversation still scheduled for someday later? Dogen’s teacher, Tendō Nyojō, carried his cushion in his sleeve. He sat until he ached. At sixty-five he still didn't claim to understand zazen, yet still hadn't missed a day in decades. Nate offers a...

2026-05-19 I Inquiry I A Blessing - A Birthday I Flint Sparks by Appamada

2026-05-18 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

Program Welcome Incense Offering & Three Bows Heart Sutra Head Student Reads the Case Head Student Raises the Staff Head Student Statement Questions for the Head Student Head Student Comment Final Statement Head Student Returns the Staff Congratulatory Statements Dedication of Merit Bodhisattva vows Three Bows Exit Procession Appamada Senior Teachers Nathan Smalley, Flint Sparks and Peg Syverson E...

2026-05-11 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

Reflection question: How have you been shaped or formed by your primary or first relationships?

2026-05-05 I Inquiry I A hidden ally I Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-05-04 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

The fear of missing out (FOMO) is the engine of missing out. The reaching is the leaving. Building on the intensive teachings of Peg, Joel, and Flint, Nate offers a dharma talk on encounter — what it is, why we keep missing it, and what the craving mind is actually building while it's busy looking elsewhere. There is a poem by Mary Oliver (below). There is a koan or two. There is a story about a y...

2026-04-28 | 2026 Intensive | Day 3 | Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-05-01 | 2026 Intensive | Day 6 | Peg Syverson by Appamada

2026-04-28 I Inquiry I Merciful Messengers I Suzanne Kilkus by Appamada

2026-04-30 | 2026 Intensive | Day 5 | Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-04-29 | 2026 Intensive | Day 4 | Peg Syverson by Appamada

2026-04-27 | 2026 Intensive | Day 2 | Flint Sparks by Appamada