TREELEAF ZENDO PODCAST

Today's Talk will reflect on a rather strange and bewildering portion of the Vimalakirti Sutra This time, we will look at a very strange, seemingly two-faced passage from Chapter 8 of the Vimalakirti Sutra ... but is that what it really means? Hmmmm ... Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 4-5, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Wisdom...

Today's Talk will reflect on Living Beings within Chapter 7 of the Vimalakirti Sutra. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: February 4th-5th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI»

Today's Talk will reflect on more magical happenings from the Vimalakirti Sutra. Pull up a chair for a little reading of a magical tale, as Vimalakirti arranges the furniture ... Chapter 6: BEYOND COMPREHENSION Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Our 2021-2022 NEW YEAR's EVE 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- CELEBRATING A NEW THIS MOMENT! »

Today's Talk will reflect on more Wondrous Passages from the Vimalakirti Sutra. Vimalakirti continues his undefeated record, taking on all contenders ... in Round 4: the Bodhisattvas Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: November 5th-6th, 2021 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Vimalakirti Sutra Series »

Today's Talk will reflect on Further Passages from the Vimalakirti Sutra, chapter III (the Arhats) ... We will see further examples of how this tale seeks to blend an idealized view of the Bodhisattva with life on earth, in this complicated world. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: {Oct. 1st-2nd, 2021 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dedicated...

Today's Talk will reflect on passages from the Vimalakirti Sutra.    One of the most popular Asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the Vimalakirti Sutra stands out because unlike most sutras, its central figure is not a Buddha but a wealthy townsman, who, in his mastery of doctrine and practice, epitomizes the ideal lay practitioner.    Further reading and discussion for this talk are ava...

We will continue our series of reflections on the Heart Sutra (Hannya Shingyo). Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 5th-6th OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI »

Our Talk this week will look at the mysterious 'missing parts' of the Heart Sutra (Hannya Shingyo 般若心経), as the first in a series of monthly reflections on ... the Heart Sutra! The Tibetan version of the Heart Sutra contains the following verses that we do not usually chant. Why? And what do they mean? Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: February 2...

OUR NEW YEARS TALK will be based on the Poems and Teachings of Daichi Zenji (1290-1366) who became a monk under 寒巌義尹 Kangan Giin (1217-1300) who was himself a disciple of Dogen Zenji. After Kangan's death Daichi visited various teachers and later practiced with Keizan Zenji for seven years. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Jan 1st 2021 Our NEW Y...

We will look today at one passage of Master Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji (Being-Time), rapping and riffing on a famous Koan. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Nov 6-7 2020 OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Book Tour Kickoff/DAYLIGHT SAVINGS »

The VERSE OF ATONEMENT All harmful acts, words and thoughts, ever committed by me since of old, On account of beginningless greed, anger and ignorance, Born of my body, mouth and mind, Now I atone for them all The FOUR VOWS To save all sentient beings, though beings numberless To transform all delusions, though delusions inexhaustible To perceive Reality, though Reality is boundless To attain the...

Our Zazenkai is in Special Celebration and Welcome of the Commencement of our 2020 ANGO & JUKAI Season Today's Talk will reflect on our "Dedication of Merit" Recital. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Sept 4th-5th, 2020 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Commencing Jukai & Ango! »

Our Talk today will be on a few Cases of the Book of Serenity. Koan 86: "Rinzai's Great Enlightenment" Koan 87: "Sozan's With or Without" Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July 31th-August 1st, 2020 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI »

Our Zazenkai is in Special Celebration and Welcome of the Commencement of our 2019 ANGO & JUKAI Season Today's Talk will reflect on "ANGO: NOW & THEN" - What is Ango in our day and time, for householders in the modern West? Is it Ango as the Buddha, Dogen and all the Ancestors Practiced? Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Sept 6th-7th, 2019 - OUR MONT...

Our Talk today will be on a few Cases of the Book of Serenity that we recently danced in our "No Words" Book Club : Case 81 - Gensha Comes to the Province Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: SPECIAL SUNDAY Aug 4-5th - Our MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI (No Zazenkai Fri-Sat) »

Rev. Sekishi's talk on Building a House and the Four Seals: the four characteristics (or "seals") are sometimes seen as a sort of "litmus test" to see if a teaching reflects true Buddha Dharma. But they can also be viewed as part of the core teachings of Buddhism: All compounded things are impermanent All emotions are Dukkha All phenomena are empty; they are without inherent (or "self") existence...

Rev. Kyonin's talk on the Outline of Practice of Master Bodhidharma (also known as the Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices/ 二入四行論) (Translated by Red Pine) MANY roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: June 7th-8th, 2019 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI! -...

Today's Talk is by Rev. Shokai, who will speaks on Vesak and the Buddha's Birthday. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: May 3rd-4th, 2019 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI! - featuring Shokai! »

Today's Talk will look at a variety of STORIES and ISSUES IN THE NEWS today. Recently, there has been much discussion in the Buddhist world about "leaving politics at the door" of the Buddhist Sangha, where we encounter a way beyond opinions and debates. Generally, I very much agree. Zazen is beyond "right left and middle," and points to something beyond mere worldly concerns. However, I also beli...

I am going to say something that might be missed or not emphasized enough in many explanations of Shikantaza Zazen. (I apologize to any teachers who do in fact say this). In Shikantaza, trains of thought and stormy emotions might come. and we are told to release the thoughts, become untangled, returning to the posture or breath or 'open awareness,' the stillness and silence free of thoughts. Then,...

Zoketsu Norman Fischer is an American poet, writer, and Soto Zen priest, teaching and practicing in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. He is a Dharma heir of Sojun Mel Weitsman, from whom he received Dharma transmission in 1988. Fischer served as co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center from 1995–2000, after which he founded the Everyday Zen Foundation in 2000, a network of Buddhist practice group and...

Today's Talk is the second part (we began last month) of reflections on portions of the 'Tenzo Kyokun' (典座教訓) or "Instructions for the Cook," Master Dogen's celebration of work (作務) and all our responsibilities in life, as we continue our Jukai and Ango Season for this year. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: November 3rd-4th, 2018 - OUR MONTHLY...

Today's Talk will honor portions of Master Dogen's "Instructions for the Cook," a celebration of 'Samu' Work Practice and all our duties in life. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: October 5th-6th, 2018 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI! »

Today's Talk will reflect on a portion of Master Dogen's 'Shobogenzo-Jukai' as we commence our Jukai and Ango Season for this year. In the Western Heavens and the Eastern Lands, wherever the transmission has passed between Buddhist patriarchs, at the beginning of entering the Dharma there is inevitably the receiving of the precepts. Without receiving the precepts we are never the disciples of the...

(Reigetsu) Susan Moon is a writer, editor, and lay teacher in the Soto Zen tradition. She is the author of a number of books about Buddhism, including the humor book The Life and Letters of Tofu Roshi and This Is Getting Old: Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity. For many years she was the editor of Turning Wheel, the journal of socially engaged Buddhism. Her short stories and essays have...