Explore every episode of the podcast Buddhist Books Podcast: Zen Buddhism

In which Dogen tells the story of the prostitute who put on a nun's robe as a joke, resulting in her eventual enlightenment.

To be in the Form but not of the Form; to be in the Emptiness but not of the Emptiness.

It's the one about the robe. Part one of several.

In Soviet Russia, Dharma Wheel turns you!

In which Zen Master Eihei Dōgen blows our minds (again).

It turns out The Kingdom of Heaven and The Western Pure Land may have a few things in common...

In which Dogen disses the guy in that Allen Ginsberg poem.

The thieves, the gates, and the different kinds of dust.

How to hear the Sutras in the sounds of a passing river.

This is part 13 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll begin reading "The Platform Sutra" of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism, thought to have been composed around 780 CE.

This is part 12 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s “Shobogenzo” the chapter entitled “Raihai-Tokuzui” meaning "Prostrating to Attainment of the Marrow" which he wrote in early April of 1240 C.E.

This is part 11 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll begin reading "The Platform Sutra" of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism, thought to have been composed around 780 CE.

This is part 10 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s “Shobogenzo” the chapter entitled “Senjo” meaning "Washing" which he wrote in 1239.

This is part 9 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll begin reading "The Platform Sutra" of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism, thought to have been composed around 780 CE.

This is part 8 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s “Shobogenzo” the chapter entitled “Soku-Shin-Ze-Butsu” meaning "Mind Here and Now Is Buddha" which he wrote in 1239.

This is part 7 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s 'Shobogenzo' the chapter entitled “Ju-Undo-Shiki” meaning "Rules for the Hall of Heavy Cloud" which he wrote in 1239.

This is part 6 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s 'Shobogenzo' the chapter entitled “Ikka-No-Myoju” meaning "One Bright Pearl" which he wrote in 1238.

This is part 5 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading Eihei Dōgen’s 'Shobogenzo' the chapter entitled "Genjo-Koan" meaning "The Realized Universe" which he wrote in 1233.

This is part 4 of the “Zen Buddhism” series on Buddhist Books Podcast. In this episode, we’ll be reading the first lecture recorded in Eihei Dōgen’s “Shobogenzo” entitled “Bendowa,” which he wrote in 1231.

This is a special episode because, rather than being filmed in my office in Delhi, it is filmed in Bodh Gaya with Mahabodhi Temple just behind me. In today's episode, we briefly jump ahead on the timeline from the early Theravada schools of Buddhism to Master Dogen bringing Soto Chan into Japan in the 13th century and, because of his accent, calling it "Zen." In other words, it was the beginning of what could be called "Japanese Zen."

This is a special episode in which we'll take a look at the past year of the Buddhist Books Podcast since it began on December 5th, 2021. I'll also be reciting Eihei Dogen's "Fukanzazengi" or "Universal Recommendation for Sitting Meditation," which he wrote in 1227 CE.

Introducing the audio-only version of "Buddhist Books Podcast: Zen Buddhism."