Clear Way Zen Dharma Talks

At the heart of the Zen practice is to observe. Observe things as they are. Observe the mind as it is. As we observe we also ask the some of the most fundamental questions. The Zen practice isn't about shutting the mind off but to quiet the mind so we can observe and gain insight to truth as it is.

In life we avoid some very hard truths. One of the biggest being that we are going to die. An other is the fact that everything we define ourselves to be are temporary ever changing definitions. By avoiding truths we create anxiety about them or when things change unexpectedly can cause an existential crisis. The practice of Zen is to directly face all truths to relieve ourselves from the sufferin...

I heard a statement once that wisdom is giving someone what they need and not necessary what they want. Compassion doesn't always look the way we except. Practice gives us the clarity of the current situation on how to act in the best interest for all involved. With out this clarity, no matter how it looks, our actions are more often than not, not for the best.

The Buddha's teachings of enlightenment wasn't just for a select few. It was for rich and poor alike. Men and women. For everyone that listened and put those teachings to practice. And 2500 years later this still holds true.

Reflecting on the current state of the world, marked by conflict, instability, and suffering Lotus Vu emphasized the importance of finding peace within oneself to become a beacon of light in the face of darkness.

Lotus Vu gives the Sangha a great reminder of the Zen practice to be brought both on and off the cushion. As she explains the The Three Trainings aren't three separate practices but rather three sides of the practice. Without even one of these the end to suffering cannot happen.

The life of Zen is about quieting and doing nothing internally while living a full life externally. The way of being a part of the world but not of it.

Everything we experience is through the mind. Because of this the mind is also the creator of our experience. When we let mind ramble on with out notice or control then you might understand how this effects our experience. Also, Lotus geeks out…

After giving a seven week class on Buddhist Psychology, Lotus gives a new talk on the illusion of control. Although we as a society have become good at controlling a lot of our environment to improve our lives it's also a major source of our suffering.

It not enough to just go through the motions. To have real insight with the Zen practice it must be done with true diligence. Lotus talks about what diligence is and it's importance.

The Zen practice is to be absolutely and completely in the moment. Such a simple way but all the different ways we complicate it.

In this talk Lotus goes in depth about what Karma is and how habits relate to it.

The practice of Zen is not about controlling anything. It's about letting go and accepting everything as it is.

After the trauma of the covid-19 pandemic Lotus discuses our collective karma and trauma as everyone becomes more and more discontent with the world.

Before the holiday, Lotus Vu talks about the lives of Jesus and the Buddha.

Every Saturday this Sutra is recited before meditation. This is one of the main pointers in the Zen practice. Lotus gives a fantastic talk on living this Sutra and not just taking it as philosophy.

To make any practice effective it must all start with good foundations. In Zen these foundations are very simple and yet can be difficult to master and easy to forget. In this talk Lotus Vu reminds us of the foundations of the practice and their importance.

Change in our daily lives can be a difficult thing to deal with. Lotus Vu talks about how resisting change creates suffering and the importance of accepting change.

With Thanksgiving in full swing this month in North America, Lotus Vu talks about the importance of being thankful for what we have.

In this talk Lotus Vu discusses the first few of stanzas of the Dhammapada, as to how we play the victim creating our own suffering in the process.

This talk was given by Lotus Vu to conclude the 2024 yearly retreat intensive.