Endless Path Zendo | Roshi Rafe Martin

Recorded on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Roshi  Martin looks at the nature of ghosts in Buddhist tradition and how this relates to our own practice of being a genuine human being (and not a ghost). Includes three brief retellings of Jataka tales, illustrating the way of the Bodhisattva - a being choosing to go beyond unconscious, habitual clinging to concepts of self centeredness. Tales included ar...

Recorded on Monday, October 23, 2023.     Case 41 from the Gateless Barrier, Bodhidharma and Peace of Mind    The case: Bodhidharma faced the wall. The Second Ancestor stood in the snow, cut off his arm, and said, “Your disciple’s mind has no peace as yet. I beg you, Master, please put it to rest.” Bodhidharma said, “Bring me your mind, and I will put it to rest.” The Second Ancestor said, “I have...

Recorded on October 17, 2023, the 4th and final teisho of the annual Jataka Sesshin held at the Vermont Zen Center . Roshi Rafe Martin explores the Kuddala Jataka (#70 in the Pali Jataka), the Spade Sage. Jatakas are stories told by the Buddha 2500 years ago of his past lives.  They were one of his central ways of teaching.  Through these tales he resolved complex issues in his Sangha by revealing...

Recorded on October 16, 2023; the 3rd day of the annual Jataka Sesshin held at the Vermont Zen Center . Roshi Rafe Martin explores the Padakusalamanava Jataka (#432 from the Pali Jataka) in which the Buddha is born as the child of an ogre. Jatakas are stories told by the Buddha 2500 years ago of his past lives.  They were one of his central ways of teaching.  Through these tales he resolved comple...

Recorded on October 15, 2023; the 2nd day of the annual Jataka Sesshin held at the Vermont Zen Center . Roshi Rafe Martin explores the central role of trees in many Jataka tales.  Tales shared: Bhadda-Kunala Jataka (#465), the Rajovada Jataka (#334), and the Ganatindu Jataka number (#520) in the Pali Jataka  in the of 547 such past-life tales Jatakas are stories told by the Buddha 2500 years ago o...

Recorded on October 14, 2023; the 1st day of the annual Jataka Sesshin held at the Vermont Zen Center . Roshi Rafe Martin explores the Campeyya Jataka (#506 in the Pali collection). Jatakas are stories told by the Buddha 2500 years ago of his past lives.  They were one of his central ways of teaching.  Through these tales he resolved complex issues in his Sangha by revealing root causes and demons...

Recorded on September 16, 2023. Roshi Martin share the last chapter of his forthcoming book - A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas - on the subject of the zen of failure - a necessary part of the Bodhisattva path...and of growing up!  Each failure offering new opportunities to improve, mature, and understand. Image: Teeny Tiny Tower, photo is by Ariya Aladjem Wolf (Ariya Martin) Books by Roshi Rafe Martin T...

Recorded on Saturday, July 9, 2023. This talk marks the f irst zazenkai of the fall.  Roshi  Martin starts with perspectives on koan practice from Merry and Pippin - "You can't live long on the heights, but what a difference it makes."  Then moved to reading  and comments on Dogen's Shobogenzo (from The Heart of Dogen's Shobogenzo, translated by Norman Waddell and Masao Ab...

Recorded Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Last teisho before August break.) Case 14 from the Gateless Barrier  (The Wu-Men Kuan | Mumonkan) - Nan-ch’üan Kills the Cat The case: The priest Nan-ch’üan found monks of the eastern and western halls arguing about a cat. He held up the cat and said, “Everyone! If you can say something, I will spare this cat. If you can’t say anything, I will cut off its head.”...

Recorded on June 24, 2023.   Roshi Martin shares a chapter from the forthcoming book - The Zen Life of Bodhisattvas - on Case 25 of the Gateless Barrier,  Yang-shan’s Sermon from the Third Seat. The case: Yang-shan dreamed he went to Maitreya’s realm and was led to the third seat. A senior monk struck the stand with a gavel and announced, “Today, the one in the third seat will preach.”   Yang-shan...

Recorded on June 17, 2023. Roshi Martin shares a chapter from the forthcoming book - The Zen Life of Bodhisattvas - on Kannon, Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. Image: Kannon, photography by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe Martin Talks on YouTube More information at endlesspathzen.org

Recorded on June 10, 2023.   Roshi Martin shares a chapter from the forthcoming book - The Zen Life of Bodhisattvas - on Manjushri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom and patron of the Zendo. Image: Kannon, photography by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe Martin Talks on YouTube More information at endlesspathzen.org

Recorded on March 19, 2023. This talk features a chapter from the recently published  book by Roshi Martin - The Zen Life of Bodhisattvas on the Bodhisattva Manjushri.  The talk explores Case # 42 in the Gateless Barrier. The Case Once Mañjuśrī went to a place where many Buddhas had assembled with the World-Honored One. When he arrived, all the Buddhas had returned to their original dwelling place...

Recorded by February 25, 2023. Roshi Martin explores Case 35 from Blue Cliff Record - The Dialogue of Manjusri and WuCho Manjusri asked Wu Cho, "Where have you just come from?" Wu Cho said, "The South." Manjusri said, "How is the Buddhist Teaching being carried on in the South?" Wu Cho said, "Monks of the Last Age have little regard for the rules of discipline.&q...