The Zen Mountain Monastery Podcast

Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Osho – ZMM – 7/13/25 – Many people describe a deep sense of “being home” when they arrive at a practice center. But how can we make the Noble Path our true home—wherever we are, whatever our circumstances? In this talk in his series on the Noble Eightfold Path, Gokan Osho reflects on the practice of Right Intention.

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZMM – 7/6/25 – The teachings of dependent origination tell us that all that arises does so with all of reality: “because of this, that, and because of that, this.” In studying what we call “the self,” Shoan Osho reminds us that we are not a fixed, unchanging element among all the other aspects of life. Rather, we are the manifestation of ca...

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZMM – 5/23/25 – Gates of entry are enticing and sometimes overwhelming to enter, but we can gather our courage and bring ourselves forward to experience the world which is revealed there. Drawing on teachings from the Lankavatara Sutra and the Heart Sutra, Shoan Osho tells the story of “Enid in Zendoland,” whereby Enid becomes adept at distinguishing t...

Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Osho – ZMM – 5/22/25 – When we can see how we use our minds, we can see where our life is really happening. As we enter into practice and continue to relax into our zazen, we develop our capacity to see our habits and conditioning. With notes from the Surangama Sutra teaching on “purifying the mind” of obscurations, Gokan explores how we can relax completel...

Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Osho – ZMM – 5/9/25 – What is it we wish to cultivate in our lives, to give energy to? Fusatsu is a chance to bring our intentions alive—especially where we have done harm—by taking responsibility for our actions. Being at one with our transgressions as well as our aspirations are at the heart of this ancient practice of atonement, or “being one with,” and...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 4/24/25 – Honesty is essential to serious spiritual practice. We need to become honest with ourselves about the nature of our suffering, our habitual reactivity and our fear, so that we can acknowledge them before being able to release them. This level of integrity is needed for the entrance to a loving and compassionate relationship with ourselves...

Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Osho – ZMM – 4/13/25 – Gokan Osho takes us through Master Hongzhi’s Practice instructions, reminding us to appreciate whatever’s arising without grasping.

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 3/30/25 – To not deceive oneself is the fundamental ground of all moral and ethical action, and to do that we need to go deep into the roots of our greed, aggression and ignorance. How do we work with this? How has our zazen practice helped us become more skillful and to take responsibility even when we resist that? This Dharma Encounter with the s...

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZMM – 3/27/25 – Master Hongzhou says, “Contact phenomena with total sincerity – not a single atom of dust outside yourself.” How we connect with the world of beings and things can be seen as caring, and within zazen the energy of steady presence and attention is what we offer those we love. It is a potent mix of awareness and sincerit...

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZCNYC – 2/16/25 – When polarization seems to surround us, it’s imperative to recognize our own dualistic thinking in its many forms, and cultivate a habit of perspective-shifting. Shoan Osho weaves the Zen teachings on stillness and fluidity as seen in the Vimalakirti Sutra chapter, “The Goddess” to help clarify that everything is gro...

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZCNYC – 2/15/25 – When the heart becomes heavy, can we see how our minds tend to run in circles? Seeing this clearly we can have space to stop, breathe, and return to stillness. In this way we can touch the wisdom of being fully embodied, and recognize our inherent spiritual power which is always present within us, right here and now.

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZMM – 2/9/25 – A timely reminder from Shoan Osho that a bodhisattva is one who interrupts the cycle of samsara, to stop creating and perpetuating greed, anger and ignorance, for the benefit of all beings. This “inner revolution” that practice offers is how we can calm the spinning mind and bring the light of wisdom and compassionate action to  meet the...

Danica Shoan Ankele, Osho – ZMM – 12/29/24 – On a liberative path, we know we want to feel better but the enormity of the task, and the continuous “undoing” that it promises, can give pause. Shoan Osho explores the conditions of the Buddha’s enlightenment experience, and brings to the center Sujata’s role as the nourisher of life, as well as the cosmic female image of Prajna Para...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 11/21/24 – From The Book of Equanimity, Case 30 – Daizui’s Fire at the End of the Kalpa – Practice offers a way for cutting through dualities within which we tend to get lost, as all of our lives are based on these dualities. Hogen Sensei challenges us to see from a larger perspective, a way which inherently challenges dualistic w...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 10/27/24 – Bodhicitta is simply the aspiration to save all others from suffering. Along the way, how do we go forward on an ever shifting and bumpy path? This lively dharma encounter with Hogen Sensei and the sangha is tender and encouraging of all our aspirations to be of benefit in an ever changing world.

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 09/26/2024 – What is it to be empowered on the path? What is your potential? Realizing our true nature, personally, requires trust, an intuitive trust that must be developed over time. In this exploration of dharma practice, Hogen Sensei brings forward the virtues of selflessness and compassion that can empower us on the path.

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 5/23/24 – From The True Dharma Eye, Case 75 – Yantou’s “Sit Still” – How do we respond to life’s complications? Sitting in stillness is the simple practice, but in itself can become a hiding place. The Three Worlds—form, formlessness and desire—all arrive together at once, so how do we practice stillness in the midst o...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 4/28/24 – A foundational aspect of relationship: listening in all it’s myriad forms… How do we practice it? How do we understand it in terms of the Precepts, or the Four Noble Truths, with Vow? What’s missing when we’re not listening? Hogen Sensei engages the Sangha with this theme, presenting a koan from the Book of Equanim...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 4/27/24 – From the Book of Equanimity, Case 67 – The Wisdom of the Flower Garland Sutra – The base of our practice is to realize our own true nature. Hogen Sensei exhorts us to not defile it by clinging to our deluded opinions; we are all fundamentally endowed with the virtues of the Buddha.

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 4/21/24 – Inspired by Master Dogen’s poem “Snow”, Hogen Sensei asks us what makes us whole? What can we rely on to face what is before us with clear intention?

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 3/27/24 – From The Record of the Transmission of the Light, Case 1 – Shakyamuni Buddha – Hogen Sensei reminds us that we are all inherently buddhas and have the ability to realize ourselves in our lifetime.

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 11/16/23 – From the Blue Cliff Record, Case 14 – “Yunmen’s Appropriate Statement” – With this pithy koan by Yunmen, in light of Atisha’s slogan #55, “Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing”, Hogen Sensei encourages us to clarify, on an ongoing basis, why we’re practicing and to trust our d...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 10/29/23 – How do you understand “Intimate Speech”? How and when does it occur? What happens, inside and outside, when it does? Hogen Sensei takes up these questions and others with Ango participants in a heartfelt discussion.

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZMM – 9/27/23 – From the Book of Equanimity, Case 17 – Fayan’s “Hairsbreadth” – What’s the difference between conveying knowledge and conveying the non-dual dharma? How do we directly experience the distinctiveness and the oneness of things, and convey this to each other, in the activity of our everyday lives? Is that...

Ron Hogen Green, Sensei – ZCNYC 8/6/2023 – Hogen Sensei officiates a Jukai Ceremony for three MRO students. Amidst a full zendo at Fire Lotus Temple, these students received the 16 Bodhisattva precepts and the following dharma names: Gale Onjan (“Peaceful Faith”) Delaney, Beverly Kyokei (“Offering Kindness”) Corbett, and Ravi Baike (“Cultivating Prajna&#82...