Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks – Details, episodes & analysis

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Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks

CrookedRiverZen

Religion & Spirituality

Frequency: 1 episode/26d. Total Eps: 16

Zen & Buddhist teachings explained in regular talks shared at Crooked River Zen Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Crooked River meets Thurs evenings at 7pm & Sat mornings at 9:30am @1813 Wilton Rd. - Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. Talks primarily given by CRZC guiding teacher Dean Williams. CRZC is based in the Soto Zen tradition. For more info see our website.

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Apple

Data updated on 10/09/2026

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Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
12/09/2026
#91
🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
11/09/2026
#57
🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
10/09/2026
#85
🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
28/08/2026
#88
🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
27/08/2026
#52
🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
26/08/2026
#62
🇺🇸 USA - Buddhism
25/08/2026
#44

Spotify

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https://bookshop.org/p/books/living-by-vow-a-practical-introduction-to-eight-essential-zen-chants-and-texts-shohaku-okumura/e217c72590a083b8?ean=9781614290100&amp
5 shares
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-way-of-the-bodhisattva-shantideva/26d6fd3621944952?ean=9781590303887&amp
1 share

https://www.crookedriverzen.org/home
1 share
http://thriftbooks.com/w/zen-mind-beginners-mind-by-shunryu-suzuki/251995/item/4810501/?utm_source=google&amp
1 share

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Score global : 27%

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9/3/26- "No Form" (Heart Sutra)

Episode 11

Sunday, September 6, 2026 • Duration 37:51

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on emptiness. What the section about "having no form, no feelings, no perceptions, no impulses, no consciousness, no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind..." is pointing us toward.

This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Emptiness in Practice". Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 9/3/26.

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8/29/26- "True Naturalness" (Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind)

Episode 10

Sunday, August 30, 2026 • Duration 53:02

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on 'Naturalness' in Buddhism. Dean discusses how True Naturalness, which is an activity based on nothingness and independence from conditioned responses.

This is discussing the section "Naturalness', beginning on pg 96 of Shunryu Suzuki's classic Zen Text Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen meditation & Practice

Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/29/26.

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8/27/26- "Emptiness in Practice" (Heart Sutra)

Episode 9

Sunday, August 30, 2026 • Duration 54:13

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on how we practically work with the core concept of Emptiness in Buddhism. Dean discusses relying on mental formations and thought constructions which leads to meaningless arguments because it is so subjective and involves picking and choosing - which is a necessary activity in society but not reality.

The Section of the Heart Sutra: O, Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they do not appear nor disappear, are not tainted nor pure, do not increase nor decrease.

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8/22/26- "Humility"

Episode 8

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 36:09

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on humility in Buddhism. Dean describes "humility" as an appropriate term to characterize the wisdom teaching of the emptiness of all things, and is an essential aspect of seeing one's true nature. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/22/26.

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8/20/26- "Understanding Emptiness" (Heart Sutra)

Episode 7

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 44:57

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the core concept of Emptiness in Buddhism. Bowing in Buddhism is Emptiness bowing to Emptiness. Emptiness does not mean that nothing is real but rather it means that nothing possesses a substantial, independent existence. Everything exists because of its interconnectedness and interdependence with all other beings.

This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Emptiness in Theory" & "Emptiness in Practice". Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/20/26.

The Section of the Heart Sutra: O, Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they do not appear nor disappear, are not tainted nor pure, do not increase nor decrease.

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8/13/26- "The Two Truths- Relative & Absolute" (Heart Sutra)

Episode 6

Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 51:54

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on reconciling the Two Truths in Buddhism - the Relative & the Absolute. Dean explains that form represents the conventional realm, while emptiness represents the absolute. These two realms are interdependent and inseparable; you cannot have one without the other.

This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Emptiness in Theory". Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/13/26.

The Section of the Heart Sutra: O, Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they do not appear nor disappear, are not tainted nor pure, do not increase nor decrease.

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8/8/26- "Open Q&A" (Mu, Metaphors, Letting Go etc.)

Episode 5

Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 36:40

Sensei Dean Williams hosts the regular Open Q&A for the group. Sangha members raised questions for Dean on the idea taking the boat to the other shore; the mechanics of letting go; prajna paramita (wisdom); the koan Mu; and more. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/8/26.

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8/1/26- "Solitude & Meditation" (Way of the Bodhisattva Chap 8)

Episode 1

Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 01:21:17

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on Chapter 8 of The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, focusing primarily on the juxtaposition of solitude and meditation, vs having community and relationships.

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8/6/25- "Emptiness of All Things" (Heart Sutra)

Episode 3

Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 01:06:18

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Emptiness of All Things continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Both Sides". Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/6/26.

The Section of the Heart Sutra: Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, When practicing deeply prajña paramita, Perceived that all five skandhas are empty and was saved from all suffering & distress.

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8/15/26 - "Mu" Koan (Case 1 of Gateless Barrier)

Episode 2

Thursday, August 20, 2026 • Duration 53:00

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the "Mu" (neither yes or no) Koan - Case 1 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/15/26.

The Koan:

A monk asked Joshu, “Does a dog have the Buddha nature?”

Joshu said, “Mu.”

In the 18th century, Hakuin established Mu as one of the introductory Zen koans. Mu is the first of 49 koans in the Gateless Gate or Gateless Barrier (Mumankan), which was compiled by Muman. Muman himself spent six years working on Mu to achieve his awakening.

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Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

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Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Bookshop2

Other2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Bookshop2

Other2

Apple Podcasts

Spotify