Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism

Dave Cuomo is an ordained Zen priest, who serves as the Head of Practice at the Angel City Zen Center in Los Angeles, CA. We discuss playing "Rainbow Connection" on breaks while training in a monastery, how punk and Buddhism relate to one another, institutional issues within Sotoshu, and the importance of community as practice.

Rev. Myō Denis Lahey is the Abbot of Hartford Street Zen Center Issan-ji in San Francisco and serves as a Guiding Teacher at Valley Streams Zen Sangha in Sacramento. We discuss Rev. Myō's Catholic upbringing, Zen teachers, the importance of developing an openness towards various faith traditions, the history and significance of the Hartford Street Zen Center, Western esotericism, and ceremonia...

Aaron Proffitt, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the University at Albany, SUNY, and a Certified Minister's Assistant at the New York Buddhist Church and co-founder of the Albany Buddhist Sangha. We discuss living and researching in Japan, how different Buddhist traditions influence and weave into each other, his eclectic home altar and approach towards Jōdo Shinshū, and t...

Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick serves the Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of the San Francisco Bay Area Shingan-ji. We talk about chanting and self-consciousness, the punk/hardcore music scene of Philadelphia during the 80s, ordination, and the three-dimensional experience of the gohonzon.

Rev. Jikai Tyler Dehn serves the Tendai Buddhist Sangha of Australia at Enmitsuji Temple in the Hawkesbury Region of New South Wales, Australia. We discuss walking practice in Blue Mountains National Park, the Lotus Sutra, living in Japan, his experiences participating in Gyoin, and following intuition.

Rev. Robert Ryugen Doshin Yamada is a Soto Zen priest and founder of the Animal Liberation Temple (Dōbutsu Kaihōji), a Soto Zen Buddhist temple and animal sanctuary based in Martinez, CA. We discuss how the Animal Liberation Temple approaches caring for non-human animal residents, Rev. Yamada's journey into Buddhism, the guidance Rev. Yamada finds in the bodhisattva, Jizo, when addressing suff...

Rev. Koshi Kurotaki leads the Soto Mission of San Francisco - Sokoji. We talk about dharma combat, monk training at Eihei-ji, differences between Zen in Japan and America, and the meaning of the Heart Sutra.

We talk about food and yogi chores at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Nonviolent Communication, listening to intuition, and creative writing and performance.

Richard Payne, PhD, is a Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. We discuss Tai chi, Buddhist practice and capitalism, interfaith dialogue, white Christian nationalism, and the upcoming print publication of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Buddhism.

Scott Mitchell, PhD, is the Dean of Students and Faculty Affairs at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, where he also serves as the Rev. Yoshitaka Tamai Professor of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Studies. He is soon assuming the role of President of Academic Affairs at IBS. We talk about the undifferentiated nature of Jodo Shinshu practice and everyday life, music, novel writing, and Buddhist tattoo art.

Charlie is a Zen Priest and Dharma Teacher at Brooklyn Zen Center. We talk about maintenance and repairs at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Waldorf education, music, and exploring the differences between problems and mysteries.

We discuss Sejal's experiences as a first generation Indian American, the spiritual influence she's received from her father, Buddhism and law, and how Buddhist practice feels like "home."

Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge is the Resident Minister of the Buddhist Church of Oakland. We talk about Rev. Harry's experiences as a minister in the Bay Area, how to develop awareness as a driver on the road, and the impact of music on his Jodo Shinshu path.

We discuss Letesa's experiences with Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana), chaplaincy, and how she developed her practice and found her teachers.