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Title Speaker Date

The Jewel Called The Sangha

Serial: SF-00063 Sunday talk Jan PP; you are blessed by the people who want to practice with you who are not necessarily the people you would choose to practice with. The talk explores the essential nature of Sangha, the community of practitioners, emphasizing the role of individuals not necessarily chosen but present for practice. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding and...
Interdependence, Lotus Sutra, Separation, causation, Instruction, Intimacy, training, Observe...
Jan 11 1998
Green Gulch Farm

Sunday Lecture

Serial: SF-03620 The talk centers on the themes of generosity, compassion, and understanding from both Buddhist and literary perspectives. It uses Langston Hughes' story "Thank You, Ma'am" to exemplify the Bodhisattva ideal, relating it to...
Precepts, Emptiness, Offering, Bodhisattva Precepts, New Year, Observe, Ceremony, Buddha...
Jan 04 1998
Green Gulch

Buddhism At Millennium's Edge

Serial: SF-00030 Seminar 1 The talk explores the interplay between the speaker's writing career and Zen practice, detailing personal anecdotes from the literary world while discussing key principles of Zen that influence writing. Themes include confronting...
Dragons, Evil, Rinzai, Ego, Bell, Discrimination, Greed, Silence, Balance, Conversation...
1998

Turning Toward The Dark

Serial: SF-03641 Sesshin Lecture: The activity is below the ground - the re-enactment of Buddha's enlightenment story This talk explores the theme of Buddha's enlightenment story, contrasting the familiar Westernized interpretation with earlier narratives like those from the Mula Sarvastivada Vinaya that emphasize familial relationships and...
Birth-and-Death, Posture, resistance, Dragons, Book of Serenity, Monastic Practice, Zendo,...
Dec 01 1997
Green Gulch

Precepts Class

Serial: SF-03515 The talk delves into the multifaceted understanding of the precept against stealing in Buddhism, exploring its interpretations from literal, compassionate, and absolute perspectives. It highlights the importance of maintaining...
Precepts, Confession-and-Repentance, Repentance, Evil, Liberation, Buddha Nature, Delusion,...
Nov 17 1997
Green Gulch

Scholarship Conference Paper

Serial: SF-03238 Sunday Lecture The talk revolves around the relationship between academic scholarship and Zen Buddhist practice, specifically focusing on studying sacred texts and the integration of academic critique into spiritual practice. Key discussions...
Heart Sutra, Lineage, Platform Sutra, Soto Zen, Religion, Study Period, Emptiness, Chanting,...
Nov 16 1997
Green Gulch

One-day Sitting Lecture

Serial: SF-03214 The talk examines the nature of zazen practice, comparing it to the nourishing and steady nature of rain and highlighting its ability to reveal the vastness beyond our limited sensory perceptions. It critiques human arrogance in...
Manjushri, Bodhisattva Precepts, Precepts, Blue Cliff Record, Sangha, Practice Period,...
Nov 15 1997
Green Gulch

Precepts Class

Serial: SF-03529 The talk focuses on the practice and understanding of the Buddhist precepts, particularly the three pure precepts: refraining from evil, doing all good, and embracing the precepts in everyday life. There is a discussion about the...
Precepts, Evil, Attachment, Vow, Platform Sutra, Ceremony, Daily Life, Samadhi, Karmic...
Nov 03 1997
Green Gulch

Precepts Class

Serial: SF-03532 Brief Review of Class 1 - the Three Refuges The talk centers on the examination of the Three Refuges within Zen practice, emphasizing the indivisible nature of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as interconnected elements essential to understanding the bodhisattva precepts and...
Precepts, Emptiness, Three Treasures, Bodhisattva Precepts, Vow, Buddha Nature, Sangha, Suzuki...
Oct 27 1997
Green Gulch

One-day Sitting Lecture

Serial: SF-03250 The talk addresses the commercialization and popularization of Buddhism, expressed through media like Time and Forbes magazine, and its implications on practice and social perception. Concerns circulate around the potential...
Zazen, Bodhisattva Vow, Lay, Letting Go, training, Diversity, Nirvana, Posture, Attachment,...
Oct 25 1997
Green Gulch

Blue Cliff Record Class

Serial: SF-03092 Case 10 The talk introduces the Blue Cliff Record, emphasizing its role in Zen practice and koan study. The speaker explores the development, use, and significance of koans in Zen, particularly focusing on their dynamic role in capturing...
Silence, Birth-and-Death, Interview, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Funeral, Book of Serenity, Conversation...
Oct 21 1997
Green Gulch

Precepts Class

Serial: SF-03516 The class provides an introduction to the Buddhist precepts, their historical development, and their implementation within Zen practice. It explores the Bodhisattva precepts, distinct from the Vinaya rules for monks and nuns,...
Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Priest, Ceremony, Vow, Ordination, Lay, Mahayana, Repentance,...
Oct 20 1997
Green Gulch

Chao Chou's Four Gates

Serial: SF-03239 Sunday Lecture: case 9 of the Blue Cliff Record: "What is Chao Chou?" "East gate, west gate, south gate, north gate" The lecture explores the ninth case from the Blue Cliff Record, where a monk asks what Zhaozhou is, and Zhaozhou responds with "East gate, West gate, South gate, North gate." This illustrates openness and the permeability between...
Practice Period, Ordinary Mind, Buddha Nature, Blue Cliff Record, Suzuki Roshi, Mandala,...
Oct 19 1997
Green Gulch

Majjhima Nikaya Class

Serial: SF-03195 Middle-length Discourses The talk explores two pivotal suttas from the Majjhima Nikaya, focusing on Zen Buddhism’s interpretation of core teachings. The Bhadrakaratha Sutta is analyzed for its theme on "true aloneness," emphasizing present-moment...
Attachment, Addiction, Mindfulness, confusion, Four Noble Truths, Emptiness, Zazen, training,...
Oct 14 1997
Green Gulch

Sunday Lecture

Serial: SF-03240 Date on box 10-19-97, date on cassette 10-12-97, not corrected The talk explores contemporary relevance and adaptation of monasticism, proposing flexible models that incorporate spiritual practice into daily life while balancing familial and social responsibilities. The discussion emphasizes...
Commitment, Priest, Zazen, Peace, Observe, Concentration, Passions, confusion, realization...
Oct 12 1997
Green Gulch

Majjhima Nikaya Class

Serial: SF-03194 Middle-length Discourses The talk delves into zazen's non-dual meditation approach, which negates judgment of mental states, highlighting its effectiveness in counteracting the corrosive effects of personal judgment within a Western cultural context. The...
Attachment, Evil, Delusion, Hate, confusion, Don't Know Mind, Observe, Letting Go,...
Oct 07 1997
Green Gulch

What Is The Ember You Carry With You?

Serial: SF-00086 One Day Sit The talk explores the Zen concept of non-duality, focusing on the teachings of historical Zen figures such as Bodhidharma and Baizhang. The speaker discusses the importance of intimate practice and understanding of one's own...
Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, Non-duality, Fox, Bodhidharma, First Principle, Book of...
Sep 27 1997

Majjhima Nikaya Class

Serial: SF-03192 Middle-length Discourses The primary focus of the talk is an exploration of the Mahākammavibhanga Sutta within the Majjhima Nikāya, examining the complexities of karma and its implications on moral conduct. Through a narrative involving a...
Evil, Letting Go, Birth-and-Death, Karma, Faith, Precepts, Liberation, Karmic Consequences,...
Sep 23 1997
Green Gulch

Attention to Transitions

Serial: SF-03632 One-day sitting: transitions as a time you lose balance; time of equinox - going under into dark, gathering in time of transition and change; how to meet forms that wakes up formless side; making pure, complete, meticulous effort... The talk focuses on the time of transitions, notably equinoxes and life changes, stressing the importance of maintaining balance amid such shifts. Integrating Zen practices like "shoshin" (beginner's mind) and "shojin" (...
Precepts, Evil, Suzuki Roshi, Posture, Zendo, Right Speech, true dharma, Concentration,...
Sep 20 1997
Green Gulch

Majjhima Nikaya Class

Serial: SF-03222 Middle-length Discourses This talk centers on examining the Majjhima Nikaya, particularly focusing on "The Simile of the Snake" sutra. The discourse navigates how early Buddhist texts, despite their perception as austere, continue to be relevant in...
Impermanence, Passions, Karma, Faith, Nirvana, Letting Go, Offering, Attachment, Conversation...
Sep 15 1997
Green Gulch

How Can We Live The Next 10,000 Years?

Serial: SF-00136 The talk examines the concept of envisioning a sustainable future for humanity over the next 10,000 years, discussing threats like nuclear weapons and environmental degradation. Emphasis is placed on the role of Zen philosophy...
Transmission, Fasting, Peace, Oneness, Politics, Gratitude, Commitment, Passions, Evil,...
Sep 10 1997

Majjhima Nikaya Class

Serial: SF-03224 Middle-length Discourses The main thesis of the talk centers on examining the Buddhist text "Alagaddūpama Sutta" from the Majjhima Nikaya, focusing on interpreting the Buddha's teachings regarding the non-attachment to views, including those about...
Buddha Ancestors, Manjushri, Letting Go, Perfect Wisdom, Teacher-and-Student, Mahayana,...
Sep 09 1997
Green Gulch

Save The Redwoods - Mother Theresa and Lady Diana

Serial: SF-00088 Saturday lecture. The talk explores the compassionate lives of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana, emphasizing their acts of kindness as exemplars for others. The talk underscores the Buddhist precept to cherish all life, linking it to the urgent...
Vow, Precepts, Interdependence, Gratitude, Enemies, Religion
Sep 06 1997
City Center

Zazen

Serial: SF-00038 The talk focuses on Zazen, exploring its nature as a practice where judgments of "good" or "bad" are transcended, highlighting Zazen as a practice of opening to a deeper interconnected existence with all beings. This realm of...
confusion, Enemies, Balance, Bell, Attachment, Delusion
Aug 20 1997

Sesshin Lecture

Serial: SF-03642 This talk addresses the challenging yet simple practice of Sesshin, emphasizing the importance of sustained presence and effort. Personal anecdotes illustrate the common internal struggles of Sesshin, such as fear and self-...
Harmonizing, Obstacles, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Ego, Posture, Bell, Zendo, realization...
Aug 11 1997
Green Gulch

Wednesday Lecture

Serial: SF-03605 This talk explores the significance of integrity, emphasizing an alignment between one's inner psychological wholeness and outer expressions over time. It investigates how Zen practice and teachings encourage the embodiment of...
Karmic Consciousness, Separation, Fasting, Precepts, Karma, Religion, Balance, Concentration,...
Jul 30 1997
Green Gulch

The Practice of Morality in Buddhism

Serial: SF-03099 Sunday Lecture The talk explores the concept of morality in Buddhism, contrasting it with Judeo-Christian notions of morality. It emphasizes that moral practices in Buddhism aim not at seeking divine approval but at 'cleaning up one's life' to...
Precepts, Ceremony, Letting Go, Gratitude, training, Commitment, Right Speech, Lineage,...
Jul 13 1997
Green Gulch

Majjhima Nikaya

Serial: SF-03221 The talk explores the Mahāsattva Sutta from the Majjhima Nikaya, focusing on how the Buddha, addressing recluses, lays out a detailed program of practice emphasizing moral conduct, moderation, wakefulness, and mindfulness. The...
Mindfulness, Hindrances, Evil, Liberation, Soto Zen, Lay, Doubt, Faith, Daily Life, Gratitude...
Jul 10 1997
Green Gulch

Majjhima Nikaya

Serial: SF-03220 The talk focuses on the exploration of the "Maha Asapura Sutta" from the "Majjhima Nikaya," emphasizing the fundamentals of Buddhist teachings from moral practices to liberation and insight. The discussion acknowledges the...
Evil, training, Liberation, Greed, Renunciation, confusion, Hate, Enemies, Delusion, Precepts...
Jul 08 1997
Green Gulch

Jukai: How Do You Manifest The Precepts In Your Life?

Serial: SF-02714 The talk discusses the significance of Jukai, the ceremony of receiving the Bodhisattva precepts, and how these precepts manifest in everyday life through actions of body, speech, and mind. It emphasizes the practice of Zazen as...
Precepts, Daily Life, Three Treasures, Repentance, Zazen, Ceremony, Sangha, Buddha Ancestors,...
Jun 25 1997
Unknown

One-day Sitting Lecture

Serial: SF-03635 The talk discusses the practice of vows, particularly the Bodhisattva vows and their role in addressing personal and collective suffering. Emphasis is placed on the arising of bodhicitta (compassionate intention) as a response to...
Vow, Bodhisattva Vow, Ceremony, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Precepts, Suzuki Roshi, Greed, Hate,...
Jun 24 1997
Green Gulch

Sunday Lecture

Serial: SF-03100 The focus of the talk is the interplay between suffering, practice, and enlightenment in Zen Buddhism, framed through Emily Dickinson's poem "After great pain, a formal feeling comes," and teachings by Dogen Zenji from the Genjo...
Delusion, Letting Go, Zendo, Bodhisattva Vow, Freedom, realization, Ego, Don't Know Mind...
Jun 22 1997
Green Gulch

Genjo Koan workshop

Serial: SF-03183 The talk delves into the Zen concept of "Genjo Koan," exploring the metaphor of the moon reflected in water to illustrate enlightenment and the nature of duality. The discussion highlights how enlightenment pervades life without...
resistance, Emotions, Daily Life, Passions, Emptiness, Interview, Instruction, Happiness,...
Jun 15 1997
Green Gulch

Genjo Koan workshop

Serial: SF-03175 Presentation and discussion of the first four lines of Genjo Koan The talk explores a detailed analysis of the first four lines of "Genjo Koan," focusing on Dogen's teachings to illustrate shifting perspectives on views and dualities. There is an emphasis on distinguishing between...
Delusion, Letting Go, Birth-and-Death, realization, Attachment, Discrimination, Hate, Emotions...
Jun 14 1997
Green Gulch

Genjo Koan workshop

Serial: SF-03184 The talk primarily explores Dogen's concept of "dropping body and mind" as a path to spiritual enlightenment, emphasizing that realization means transcending attachment to self, body, and mind. It highlights that true...
Birth-and-Death, Attachment, Letting Go, Dependent Origination, Separation, Funeral, Intimacy...
Jun 14 1997
Green Gulch

Genjo Koan workshop

Serial: SF-03185 To carry yourself forward and experience myriad things is delusion, that myriad...' Delusion itself is the agency of my enlightenment; totally enter delusion and embrace it and realizee it for what it is... 'To study the self is... The talk discusses the "Genjo Koan," particularly how delusion and enlightenment coexist and the importance of embracing both in practice. Through examining Dogen's work, the speaker emphasizes that studying the self leads to...
Delusion, realization, Precepts, Emotions, Subject-and-Object, Monastic Practice, Soto Zen,...
Jun 14 1997
Green Gulch

Dharma As Medicine

Serial: SF-03621 Sunday Lecture, children's talk: good medicine (cabin) anything remarkable, beautiful, unique, like a gift from nature that anyone was able to see or feel; in quiet you are able to see things others are not able to see; up to... The talk focuses on the concept of "good medicine," emphasizing the significance of profound, unique experiences in nature that resonate deeply with individuals. This idea is tied to the teaching that quiet observation allows one...
Book of Serenity, Impermanence, Three Treasures, realization, true dharma, Samadhi, Dragons,...
Jun 01 1997
Green Gulch

Mothers' Day

Serial: SF-03101 Sunday Lecture: being born from a mother guarantees two ingredients, a bit of love and suffering, both necessary for enlightenment. The essential point of zen is questioning; on questioning The central thesis of this talk is the exploration of questioning as the essence of Zen practice, emphasizing that questioning transcends conventional teaching, doctrine, and ideology. The concept is presented as a relentless,...
Manjushri, Commitment, Karma, Four Noble Truths, Letting Go, Religion, zen meditation, Buddha...
May 11 1997
Green Gulch

Think Neither Good Nor Bad

Serial: SF-00962 The talk explores the nature of transiency and interconnectedness through Zen practice, specifically focusing on personal experiences and historical Zen stories. It emphasizes the importance of understanding life's fragility, the...
Sangha, resistance, Suzuki Roshi, Anger, Nirvana, Offering, Lay, confusion, Peace...
Apr 30 1997
Unknown

The Most Important Thing: Just This As It Is

Serial: SF-00091 The talk emphasizes the essential Zen practice of embracing life "just as it is," urging a focus on the present moment and relinquishing the need for control or change. It discusses finding confidence in meeting each moment as it...
Gratitude, Suzuki Roshi, Monastic Practice, Don't Know Mind, Practice Period, Tassajara...
Apr 26 1997

Buddha's Birthday

Serial: SF-03098 Sunday Lecture The talk centers on celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, reflecting on Buddha's teachings and contributions, intertwined with a tribute to the late Allen Ginsberg, recognized for his role in promoting Dharma in Western...
Buddha's Birthday, Ceremony, Bell, Heart Sutra, Humility, Chanting, Renewal, Nirvana,...
Apr 06 1997
Green Gulch

Path Beyond Destination: Embracing Infinity

Serial: SF-00101 The talk explores the central concept of "the way" in Mahayana Buddhism, emphasizing its distinction from the goal-oriented perspective of Hinayana. The path is portrayed as a metaphor for continuous, ongoing practice rather than...
Hindrances, Heart Sutra, Mahayana, Zazen, Letting Go, Vimalakirti, Suzuki Roshi, Nirvana,...
Mar 15 1997

Sunday Lecture

Serial: SF-03637 This talk examines the intricate parallels between a Buddhist memorial service and a Bodhisattva initiation ceremony, highlighting the themes of new beginnings and careful ritual practices. An exploration of tradition is offered...
Big Mind, Ceremony, Buddha Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Right Speech, Practice Period, Precepts, Soto...
Mar 09 1997
Green Gulch

No Species Is Only Itself

Serial: SF-03103 Sunday Lecture: Tigers are awesome, unchained wildness; species are disappearing; every species exists as an important factor in the world of many other species; for humans, creatures not only of our physical world but also of... The lecture underscores the interconnectedness of all living species, particularly emphasizing the profound importance and symbolism of tigers. It highlights that the extinction of a species, such as the tiger, represents a...
Forgiveness, Dream World, Mindfulness, Ego, Four Foundations, Commitment, Beginners, Letting...
Mar 02 1997
Green Gulch

Recollections of Early Zen

Serial: SF-00121 The talk explores the evolution and intersection of Zen Buddhism and American culture post-World War II, highlighting how the transmission of Buddhism from Asia to the West and vice versa has transformed Buddhist practice. It...
Lotus Sutra, Precepts, Priest, training, Lineage, Lay, Zendo, Rinzai, Fox, Demons...
Feb 08 1997
1 of 3
Green Gulch Farm

Recollections of Early Zen

Serial: SF-00122 The talk delves into the unique socio-religious landscape of Japanese Zen Buddhism, focusing on the complexities and controversies surrounding the institution of married priests and the historical shifts that led to this...
Priest, Demons, Vinaya, Funeral, Religion, Ceremony, Lay Practice, Six Realms, training, Faith...
Feb 08 1997
2 of 3
Green Gulch Farm

Recollections of Early Zen

Serial: SF-00123 The talk examines the complexity and diversity of American Buddhism, emphasizing the coexistence of different cultural influences and the notion that there is no single "correct" form of American Buddhism. It highlights the...
Priest, Rinzai, Peace, Ceremony, New Year, Mahayana, Zazen, Diversity, Funeral, Lineage...
Feb 08 1997
3 of 3
Green Gulch Farm

Song of Jewel Mirror Samadhi

Serial: SF-00072 5:00 class The talk centers on the "Song of Jewel Mirror Samadhi" (Hokyo Zamae), examining the dialectic between the relative and absolute, critical within Soto Zen philosophy. The discussion explores the seamless integration of these...
Buddha Ancestors, Four Noble Truths, Absolute-and-Relative, Emptiness, Samadhi, Concentration...
Feb 04 1997

Poetry of Enlightenment

Serial: SF-00071 Class This discussion revolves around appreciating Zen poetry, particularly the works of Su Dongpo, exploring how poems reflect and enrich the spiritual journey of practice. The analysis emphasizes the interplay of language, perception...
realization, Emptiness, Dragons, Balance, Bell, Priest, Emotions, Freedom, Doubt...
Feb 04 1997
1

Journey from Prince to Plum Blossom

Serial: SF-03623 Sunday Lecture The talk covers a retelling of Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper," a story where two young boys of different social standings swap lives, learning valuable lessons about compassion, society, and justice. It then transitions...
Practice Period, Mindfulness, Precepts, Funeral, Obstacles, Vow, Priest, Freedom...
Feb 02 1997
Green Gulch

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