Explore every episode of the podcast Rochester Zen Center Teisho (Zen Talks)

A commentary on an episode of the Hidden Brain podcast: "Emotions 2.0: What’s Better than Being Happy?" and how being open to a variety of emotions, including negative ones, dovetails with Buddhist practice. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Emotional Diversity and Buddhist Practice (Updated) appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

January 2025 Sesshin, Day 6
A commentary on Nothing Special: Living Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck  Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post “Nothing Special: Living Zen” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

January 2025 Sesshin, Day 5
The fifth and final commentary in a series on Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Zen Master Guo Gu Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post “Silent Illumination” #5 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

January 2025 Sesshin, Day 4
Continuing the commentary from Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 on Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Zen Master Guo Gu Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post “Silent Illumination” #4 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

January 2025 Sesshin, Day 3
Continuing the commentary from Day 1 and Day 2 on Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Zen Master Guo Gu Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post “Silent Illumination” #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

January 2025 Sesshin, Day 2
Continuing the commentary from Day 1 on Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Zen Master Guo Gu Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post “Silent Illumination” #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

January 2025 Sesshin, Day 1
Commentary on Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening by Zen Master Guo Gu Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post “Silent Illumination” #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

A look at knowing and not knowing, in the intellectual sense — that is, using the discriminating mind — versus the Zen sense of waking up to the truth of No Self. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Knowing and Not Knowing appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

December 2024 Sesshin, Day 2
Dharma Talk by Eryl Kubicka.  Automated Transcript

The post Deepening Zen #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

December 2024 Sesshin, Day 1
Dharma Talk by Eryl Kubicka.  Automated Transcript

The post Deepening Zen #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

The foundation of the Buddha’s Path is recognizing and accepting how “things” are. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Right View and the Three Marks of Existence appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

The true potential of Taking the Precepts comes from our efforts to live them, to integrate them into our practice and our everyday interactions. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Practice and the Precepts appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Talk by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

The post Reflections on an Election Disaster appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Noticing when we’re lost in the dream and returning to direct, embodied experience. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Get Out of Your Head appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

It is what it is. The recent presidential election affected many people on a deep emotional level, and in differing ways. From the vantage point of Zen practice, how do we work with whatever we’re feeling? How do we step back and see more clearly things as they are? Dharma Talk by Tom Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Es lo que Hay appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

November 2024 Sesshin, Day 6
Commentary on “Everyday Zen: Love and Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Everyday Zen #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

November 2024 Sesshin, Day 5
Commentary on “Everyday Zen: Love and Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Everyday Zen #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

November 2024 Sesshin, Day 4
Commentary on the teachings of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Faith in Mind #4 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

November 2024 Sesshin, Day 3
Commentary on the teachings of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Faith in Mind #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

November 2024 Sesshin, Day 2
Commentary on the teachings of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Faith in Mind #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

November 2024 Sesshin, Day 1
Commentary on the teachings of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Faith in Mind #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Cynicism is a mindset characterized by mistrust and negativity, obstructing one’s ability to see things clearly. It’s also a social phenomenon that can spread across individuals and communities. A look at the science of cynicism and how Zen practice can help us to uncover our innate clarity and compassion. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Seeing Through Cynicism appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Breaking free from our preoccupation with the opinions of others. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Living Your Own Life appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September-October 2024 Sesshin, Day 6
Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Mumonkan (The Gateless Barrier) #22, “Kasyapa and a Flag Pole” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September-October 2024 Sesshin, Day 5
Commentary on Charlotte Joko Beck’s Ordinary Wonder: Zen Life and Practice. Edited by Brenda Beck Hess. Shambhala Press, 2021. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post “Ordinary Wonder” #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September-October 2024 Sesshin, Day 4
Commentary on Charlotte Joko Beck’s Ordinary Wonder: Zen Life and Practice. Edited by Brenda Beck Hess. Shambhala Press, 2021. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post “Ordinary Wonder” #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September-October 2024 Sesshin, Day 3
Commentary on Guo Gu’s The Essence of Chan: A Guide to Life and Practice According to the Teachings of Bodhidharma. Shambhala Press, 2012. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Bodhidharma #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September-October 2024 Sesshin, Day 2
Commentary on Guo Gu’s The Essence of Chan: A Guide to Life and Practice According to the Teachings of Bodhidharma. Shambhala Press, 2012. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Bodhidharma #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September-October 2024 Sesshin, Day 1
Commentary on Guo Gu’s The Essence of Chan: A Guide to Life and Practice According to the Teachings of Bodhidharma. Shambhala Press, 2012. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Bodhidharma #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Recognizing our propensity for mental shortcuts that cut us off from what’s actually happening and learning to take more in. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript

The post Mental Maps appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

What is happening in the brain when we feel bored? How can boredom aid us in our practice? Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Waking up to Boredom appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September 2024 Sesshin, Day 2
Subtitle: Working With This Conceptualizing Mind in Sesshin. Reading from the book Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Dharma Talk by Ven. Trueman Taylor.  Automated Transcript

The post Mindfulness in Plain English #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

September 2024 Sesshin, Day 1
Subtitle: Working With Problems and Distractions in Sesshin. Reading from the book Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana. Dharma Talk by Ven. Trueman Taylor.  Automated Transcript

The post Mindfulness in Plain English #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

October 1973 Sesshin, Day 6
From October 1973 Sesshin, Day 6. A commentary on the koan. Played on Founder’s Day – August 18, 2024. Teisho by Roshi Philip Kapleau.  Automated Transcript

The post Teisho by Roshi Philip Kapleau: Blue Cliff Record #7 “Fayen’s ‘You are Echo'” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Joy is not outside ourselves. It’s what we uncover through practice. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Making Way for Joy appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

The radical approach of Zen meditation: Turning inward rather than looking outside ourselves. Reading and commenting on I Gave Myself Three Months to Change My Personality: The Results Were Mixed by Olga Khazan and Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity by Roshi Soko Morinaga Dharma Talk by Ven. Trueman Taylor.  Automated Transcript

The post No-self, Personality, and Our Desire to Change appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

A look at Right Speech as a form of practice “off the mat”, using ways of responding to micro-aggressions as an example. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Transcript

The post What is Right Speech? appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2024 Sesshin, Day 6
Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

The post Mumonkan # 13, “Tokusan Carries His Bowls” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2024 Sesshin, Day 5
Commentary on Dream Conversations: On Buddhism and Zen by Muso Kokushi, translated by Thomas Cleary (Part 3) Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Muso Kokushi #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2024 Sesshin, Day 4
Commentary on Dream Conversations: On Buddhism and Zen by Muso Kokushi, translated by Thomas Cleary (Part 2) Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Muso Kokushi #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2024 Sesshin, Day 3
Commentary on Dream Conversations: On Buddhism and Zen by Muso Kokushi, translated by Thomas Cleary (Part 1) Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Muso Kokushi #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2024 Sesshin, Day 2
Commentary on Zen Letters: Teachings of Yuanwu, translated by J. C. Cleary (Part 2) Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

The post Teachings of Yuanwu #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2024 Sesshin, Day 1
Commentary on Zen Letters: Teachings of Yuanwu, translated by J. C. Cleary (Part 1) Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript

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The simplicity of Zen practice, with some inspiration from Henry David Thoreau. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

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Our discriminating mind divides the social world into groups based on perceived differences — racial, gender, class, age, ability, etc. How can we actualize our intrinsic not-twoness through Zen practice? Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post No Other appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2024 Sesshin, Day 6
Commentary on the teachings of Roshi Maurine Stuart (Part 3). From Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart. Edited by Roko Sherry Chayat. Shambhala Press, 1996. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Forgetting Everything appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2024 Sesshin, Day 5
Commentary on the teachings of Roshi Maurine Stuart (Part 2). From Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart. Edited by Roko Sherry Chayat. Shambhala Press, 1996. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Listening to the Mind appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2024 Sesshin, Day 4
Commentary on the teachings of Roshi Maurine Stuart (Part 1). From Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart. Edited by Roko Sherry Chayat. Shambhala Press, 1996. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post No Big Deal appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2024 Sesshin, Day 3
Commentary on the teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi (Part 3). From Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha: The Life and Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi. Translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa. Edited by Kogen Czarina. Afterword by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Shambhala Press, 2012. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post Suffering appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2024 Sesshin, Day 2
Commentary on the teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi (Part 2). From Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha: The Life and Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi. Translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa. Edited by Kogen Czarina. Afterword by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Shambhala Press, 2012. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript

The post The Illusion of a Separate Self appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.