Zen Talks from Windhorse Zen Community

In this teisho from a few weeks ago, Sunya-roshi talks about how in a world of war and vast suffering, flowers still miraculously leap out of the ground, new blossoms burst forth from bare branches, birds again sing their exuberant spring songs. Our dharma practice together can help us to open to  all  of it: the searing pain of the senseless death and destruction, the glory and wonder of this ann...

Roshi Sunya Kjolhede tells a story of prince from Persia who must rouse his courage and face a terrifying lion to become king. In much the same way, we muster our courage in practice to face whatever comes our way. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this final teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Sunya-roshi talks about Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of compassion in action or skillful means. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talks about Bodhidharma meeting Emperor Wu of Liang (Hekiganroku #1) and how nothing is holy or seperate. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from the Summer 2025 sesshin, Sunya-roshi gives advice on sesshin guidelines and the importance of recommitting oneself to practice. She also talks more about the importance of early childhood experiences that often lead one to Zen. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen....

In this teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talks about Kannon (Guanyin/Avalokitasvara), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

This is a kind of third part to Sunya-roshi's "55 Years of Practice" series. She looks at the importance of experiences in childhood that lead to Zen practice—not only hers, but others. She begins with the Buddha's Rose Apple Remembrance. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

2025 marked the fifty-fifth anniversary of when Sunya-roshi first met Roshi Philip Kapleau (then Sensei) and moved from Michigan to the Rochester Zen Center to practice. In this second of two special teisho, Sunya-roshi talks about memories of the early days of the Rochester Zen Center and the Polish Sangha. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in W...

2025 marked the fifty-fifth anniversary of when Sunya-roshi first met Roshi Philip Kapleau (then Sensei) and moved from Michigan to the Rochester Zen Center to practice. In this first of two special teisho, Sunya-roshi offers a bit of a practice retrospective on her years as a student and as a teacher of Zen Buddhism. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma...

In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede concludes her series on Affirming Faith in Mind ( Xinxin Ming ). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on Affirming Faith in Mind ( Xinxin Ming ). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on Affirming Faith in Mind ( Xinxin Ming ). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede begins a series on Affirming Faith in Mind ( Xinxin Ming ). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

September 27, 2025 marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene ripping up the coast and decimating of Asheville and Western North Carolina. Windhrose was in the final day of a 5-Day Zentensive Sesshin when it hit. In this first teisho after we reopened, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talked about the necessity of practice during difficult times. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-rosh...

This teisho is from the seventh day of Windhorse's 2024 Rohatsu Sesshin offered by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede. In it, she begins by discussing Case #46 of the Mumonkan, "How do you step from the top of a 100 foot pole?" To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

This teisho is from the fifth day of Windhorse's 2024 Rohatsu Sesshin offered by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses Case #14 of the Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku) on the third day of Windhorse's 2024 Rohatsu Sesshin. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede reflects on the spiritual, cultural, and historical context of the Buddha's awakening, emphasizing its relevance to our present-day challenges. She calls us to renew their dedication and to affirm that the potential for awakening exists within all beings, right here and now. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North...

In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the importance of the animal kingdom, one of the six realms of existence in the Buddhist Wheel of Life. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from November 2024, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the life and teachings of Suzuki Shōsan (1579-1655). Originally a samurai warrior, Shōsan studied Zen and became a teacher. One of the practices he advocated was to keep awareness of your eventual death in the forefront at all times. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and...

Here, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede concludes her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji) from the October 2024 7-Day Sesshin. He is one of the greatest Zen Masters of Song Dynasty China. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. 

Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji). He is one of the greatest Zen Masters of Song Dynasty China. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. 

Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji). He is one of the greatest Zen Masters of Song Dynasty China. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. 

From this first teisho of the Fall 2024 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede begins her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji). As she discussed in the previous podcast on his "Vow for Enlightenment" chant that we use at Windhorse, he is one of the greatest Zen Masters of the Song Dynasty in China. But, she begins the teisho with some admonishments on how we s...

In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede unpacks "Master Dahui's Vow For Enlightenment," a chant often used at Windhorse. Dahui (Japanized: Daie Zenji) was a well-known Zen Master from the Song dynasty. This chant reflects his intense desire for awakening and he inspires us to follow suit "however long the road ahead appears to be." To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work...