Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast One Dharma International Podcast

Recorded on the final day of  Me as Blues Sky Retreat in 2023, this podcast includes Compassion Meditation led by Ven. Ryodo Yamashita, Sudhammacara Bhikku. Guidance on posture preparation and a brief Dharma talk on Compassion are also offered at the outset. Compassion meditation serves as the third part of the One Dharma Meditation Method,Continue reading "One Dharma Method Guided Meditation: Compassion Meditation"

This recording delves into the first two steps of the One Dhamra Meditation Method, namely the Four Elements Meditation and Subtle Body Meditation, guided by Ven. Ryodo Yamashita, Sudhammacara Bhikku, on the final day of Me as Blues Sky Retreat in 2023. The session starts with a brief Dharma talk in which Ven. Yamashita deciphersContinue reading "One Dharma Method Guided Meditation: Four Elements Meditation and Subtle Body Meditation"

This is a recording of chanting from the last day of Me as Blue Sky Retreat 2023. You can find the full text of the stanzas here.

To be mindful, you need to undergo a shift—moving from “this world”* to a dimension where awareness exists. When you happened to be mindful, according to Ven. Yamashita, it did not occur as the result of successful control of your mind, but because of the shift, which happened unnoticed and unintentionally. Without understanding this point,Continue reading "A Map to a Place Where Mindfulness Exists and How to Get There"

The importance of surrender has been one of the most significant themes in religious discussions. But what does it mean to surrender? And what is it to surrender in the context of mindfulness practice? Trying to control, and doing things to achieve specific desires, are inherent to our human nature. How can we stop this? Continue reading "Total Surrender, Then the ‘Jump’ Happens"

The truth that the Buddha discovered, referred to as Dimension X in this retreat, does not exist as a continuation of our ordinary mind. Entering it requires a “jump,” which made it extremely difficult to teach. For this jump to happen, you need to be ready–says Ven. Yamashita. According to him, when he sees practitionersContinue reading "Are You Ready for Crossing Over? —Three Essential Elements"

When participating in a retreat like ours, the most significant obstacle is not the pain in your leg but your ego. However, attempting to escape from it or suppress it only deepens the entanglement in ego– judgments, hatred, and reactive responses, qualities that are contrary to mindfulness. Then, what should we do? According to Ven.Continue reading "Retreat, Ego, and Dimension X (aka the Other Shore)"

While our suffering can take many forms, we know our mind is the culprit. Mindfulness can bring an end to it,  so we are convinced. However, can meditating with the same mind that causes suffering truly make us mindful?  “NO”. says Ven. Yamashita. In this introductory talk, he teaches that real practice won’t start unlessContinue reading "For your mindfulness practice to work"

December 7th, 2018, Pune, India Day 3 (the last day) of 2018 Zen and Mindfulness Retreat in Vajuradhatu In this final Dharma talk, Ven Yamashita once again lays out what mindfulness truly means. Mindfulness, an impossible attempt for our ordinary mind, and yet the Lord Buddha tasked us to do, is the bridge for usContinue reading "True Meaning of Mindfulness"

December 6th, 2018, Pune, India This is the 2nd Dharma Talk given at the 2018 Mindfulness and Zen retreat at Vajradhatu, Pune, India. “The Buddha’s path is your path. Buddhism is about you, and every single one of us. So it is quite important that we understand the Prince Siddhartha’s story as our own”. ByContinue reading "Middle Way in a New Light"

December 5th, 2018, Pune, India This is the introductory Dharma Talk given on the 1st day of 2018 Mindfulness and Zen retreat at Vajradhatu, Pune, India. In this talk, Ven. Yamashita explains the reason why we need subtle body meditation, which is the first part of the One Dharma Method. Subtle body meditation is anContinue reading "Why subtle body meditation?"

Meditation instruction recorded at the 2018 international retreat, Deer Park Institute, Bir, India. On December 2nd, 2018, Bir Please note that no recording of guided meditation was made at the 2019 international retreat. This is the latest version available in English as of 2020.

November 29th, 2018, Bir, India Day 2 of 2018 Zen and Mindfulness Retreat at Deer Park Institute When you lose touch with this one crucial thing about you, suffering is inevitable. You mistake who you are, and get caught up in life’s misery—birth, old age, sickness, and death. Also, key teachings of Buddhism, expressed inContinue reading "One Most Important Thing About You"

November 28th, 2018, Bir, India Day 1 of 2018 Zen and Mindfulness Retreat at Deer Park Institute Have you ever been fascinated by mindfulness? Have you ever tried it but found it difficult to remain in that state and wondered why? If your answer is yes, this is the talk for you. Because you knowContinue reading "A realistic strategy for mindfulness"

9/14/14  Hounen-in, Kyoto, Japan With Ven. Issho Fujita An introductory talk on meditation given to the Young Global Leaders Forum, a project of the World Economic Forum. YGL is “a community of exceptional young leaders who share a commitment to shaping the global future.” Ven. Issho Fujita speaks for the first 25 minutes (the veryContinue reading "Young Global Leaders Meditation Workshop"

12/28/13  PM,   New Delhi,  India From this talk:  “Once you start your own meditation, you find your mind does not work as you think.” Topics covered include: Mindfulness and problems in meditation, subject and object, the untrainable monkey mind, the fundamental misunderstanding, and the role of compassion in meditation

12/28/13  New Delhi,  India From this talk:  “If your mind created this anxiety, your mind can also stop this anxiety.” Topics covered include: Yamashita-sensei’s background and connection with Deer Park (Himachal Pradesh, India), an explanation of Blue Sky (Clear Sky) Meditation, the meaning of Dharma, and the cause of anxiety and how to handle it.

Talk given 12/22/13, Goa, India. Topics covered include breath awareness (anapanasati) and habitual tendencies, ego and the thinking mind, resistance, and true practice.

12/21/13  PM,   Goa,  India From this talk:  “If you check your mind please find your resistance. This is the core of your ego.” Topics covered include: ego vs. compassion, the meaning of samatha and vipassana, resistance and acceptance, the importance of retreats, and mindfulness in daily life.

12/21/13  AM,   Goa,  India From this talk:  “With your new identity you cannot have any negativity. This and compassion are the same. No negative emotion can survive in the dimension of compassion.” Topics covered include: Real medicine, the new dimension, the difference between ego and monkey mind, the right tool for meditation, and overcomingContinue reading "Real Medicine"

12/20/13  AM,   Goa,  India From this talk:  “Let’s focus on our own minds. This is the most important point.” Topics covered include: Yamashita-sensei’s self-introduction, pitfalls in approaching the Dharma, Right Attitude, problems in relationships, and a strategy for handling “monkey mind.”

12/20/13  PM   Goa,  India From this talk:  “Why does mindfulness really change the game?” Topics covered include: The real meaning of mindfulness, updating Buddhism, realizing you’re a patient, when meditation doesn’t work, and the ego’s game

12/9/13  Deer Park, Himachal Pradesh,  India From this talk:  “Little by little you enter into the dimension of the Blue Sky. Then, standing in the Blue Sky, you finally can deal with the white clouds. Your thought, your emotion. Everything.” Topics covered include: Thinking addiction, dysfunctional relationships, clouds of anxiety and attraction, and the viewContinue reading "After the Retreat"

12/7/13  Deer Park, Himachal Pradesh,  India From this talk:  “ We have clouds, but at the same time our essence is Blue Sky. So when can we enter the Blue Sky? Any time we realize it.” Topics covered include: Real happiness, the secret of mindfulness, the essential point of observation, Blue Sky and the worldContinue reading "The Blue Sky"

12/5/13  Deer Park, Himachal Pradesh,  India From this talk:  “If we can change our minds, the world itself will be different.” Topics covered include: Not realizing you’re locked up,  thinking mind and true identity, and a different approach to problems

9/3/13  Henson-so, Mungyeong, Korea – Day 3 English / Korean From this talk: “Unless you understand this change of identity, meditation doesn’t work.” The final Dharma talk from the 2013 Korea retreat. Topics covered include: the most difficult point in meditation, the role of trust in practice, the ego’s tricks, and the world of BlueContinue reading "Who Meditates?"

9/2/13  Henson-so, Mungyeong, Korea – Day 3 English / Korean From this talk: “During the retreat, we really concentrate on touching Silence. Then after the retreat, you go back to your daily situation. Then how to keep a connection with the Silence is your job.” Topics covered include: Endless thinking, walking meditation, zen metaphor, andContinue reading "Silence"

9/1/13  Henson-so, Mungyeong, Korea – Day 2 English / Korean From this talk: “You don’t have to know any texts at all, but you have to be very honest about yourself. ” Topics covered include: Knowing oneself, what all the traditions are talking about, the importance of failure in meditation, and meditation and creativity.

8/31/13  Henson-so, Mungyeong, Korea English / Korean Topics covered include: Confusion with different traditions and meditation techniques, clarifying vipassana and mindfulness, Blue Sky Meditation and Blue Sky Yoga, and the retreat schedule.

6/30/13   Hualien, Taiwan – Day 3 English / Mandarin From this talk: “Your identity is changing. You are White Clouds. But now you know, you are also Blue Sky.” Topics covered include: confusion with words of enlightened teachers, just sitting, view from the new dimension, and practical advice for applying meditation in daily life.

6/28/13   Hualien, Taiwan – Day 1 English / Mandarin From this talk: “Observing things as they are, it means observing things with acceptance.” Topics covered include: Likes and dislikes, objective observation, acceptance, and the fundamental mistake.

12/28/12   Goa, India A brief talk on “saying yes” through compassion, followed by a guided meditation.

12/28/12   Goa, India From this talk: “You don’t have to become a so-called Buddhist. You don’t have to become a member of such and such an organization. You can always start with you.” Topics covered include the similarity between Zen and early Buddhism, conflicts between religious traditions, ancient methods and modern people, the unity ofContinue reading "Beyond Traditions"

12/27/12  pt.3 Goa, India From this talk: “If you want to feel inside the body, you really have to let go of thinking mind.” A brief talk followed by “inner body awareness meditation” instructions. This is the first part of Yamashita-sensei’s “One Dharma Method.” This will be the last podcast of 2014. Thank you forContinue reading "Body in the Body"

12/27/12  Goa, India From this talk: “The purpose of compassion meditation is how to have a relationship based on compassion with [everybody].” Topics covered include: Real freedom, some benefits of meditation, mindful eating, mindfulness in everyday life, and compassion.

12/27/12  pt.2  Goa, India From this talk: “If you can improve your relationship with family members, then you can be called a good practitioner.” Topics covered include: Tich Nhat Hanh, the importance of practicing with others, the anapanasati sutta, and the four foundations of mindfulness

12/28/12   Goa, India From this talk: “Just saying yes to your present situation, finally your dissatisfaction has ended…that is the meaning of staying in the present moment.” Topics covered include: habitual tendencies, freedom from external circumstances, contentment with the present moment, and the difference between “no” and “yes.”

12/08/12   Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India From this talk: “[Desire] means you are saying “no” to your present state. But now you said “yes.” You are content. That’s why your desire will disappear.” Topics covered include subtle consciousness, the problem of dulling yourself down, desire, and leaving the world of thinking mind. With a question and answerContinue reading "Contentment With the Present Moment"

12/07/12   Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India From this talk: “Suffering is self-created. That’s it. You made it. You created the suffering…but I’m not blaming you. I’m giving you hope.” Topics covered include the first noble truth, criticizing mind, identifying as thinking mind, and who watches the breath. With a question and answer period at the end,Continue reading "Beyond Thinking Mind"

12/06/12   Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me. In those who harbor such thoughts, hatred will never cease. He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me. In those who do not harbor such thoughts, hatred will cease. For hatred does not ceaseContinue reading "The Cessation of Hatred"

12/18/11   From this talk: “When we observe from the Blue Sky point of view, this is true mindfulness.” Topics covered include avoiding confusion between traditions, form and formlessness, true mindfulness, and the cloud of anxiety.

12/17/11   From this talk: “Meditation’s not a personal thing anymore..as humanity itself, we should meditate to advance one step further. It means from the world of thinking mind. Now everywhere…we are already reaching the limit…[there are] so many environmental problems, so many psychological problems. So now humanity, as a race, we are already reaching someContinue reading "Meditation for Humanity"

12/16/11   From this talk: “We’ve been looking for peace of mind in completely the wrong place.” Topics covered include getting to the point, moving from room A to B, and the true meaning of mindfulness. Please feel free to discuss this week’s podcast below.

12/09/12   Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India From this talk: “We are Blue Sky from the beginning, but with our thinking mind we couldn’t understand. Why? Because our thinking mind can understand only the world of form. Why? Because our thinking mind itself is form.” Topics covered include remembering one’s original intention, the power of No andContinue reading "Living as Blue Sky"

Dharma Talk　12/03/11  New Delhi, India  From this talk: “Before being whatever religion, you’re just a human being. You have a body, you have a mind, you have this reality. We have a heart, and sometimes it’s painful. Let’s come back to this reality itself.” Topics covered include interdependence, connections with traditions and teachers, problems withContinue reading "We and They"