A collection of dharma talks, events, interviews and other media from Zen Mountain Monastery and the Zen Center of NYC. Please scroll down for all available talks. Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play
A collection of dharma talks, events, interviews and other media from Zen Mountain Monastery and the Zen Center of NYC. Please scroll down for all available talks. Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play
Stop: Practicing Peace in a Time of War
This talk by Shugen Roshi was offered on February 27th, soon after the initial invasion of Ukraine. Roshi speaks about the power of our mind, which can be both destructive or generative, can create war and can bring about peace. We are always communicating our clarity or confusion: how do we understand the karma of our words and the actions they beget? Roshi explores the radical practice of stopping, noticing, and taking responsibility. Roshi begins with a prayer for peace, speaking from our hearts and our deepest wish to live in peace, not in war. Click here for a video of this talk. You can also listen to an audio version of this talk and see excerpts printed in Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.
Dharma Talks on Livestream
Check out our continually expanding library of talks archived on Livestream. And join us live each Sunday morning for zazen, liturgy and a talk that concludes our training week.
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A Guided Tour of the New Jizo House
In August, we consecrated the new Jizo House, and completed the latest phase of the Jizo Project—our initiative that aspires to make Zen Mountain Monastery a more accessible and welcoming place for all.
A Look Back on 40 Years
Check out This Thing We Made: a special filmstrip that looks back on the Monastery’s origins and development over the course of 40 years on Tremper Mountain.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 06/26/2022
The Four Immeasurables. Drawing from the teachings of Shantideva (8th century India), Dogen (13th century Japan) and Longchenpa (14th Century Tibet).
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 06/25/2022
Bodhicitta. Drawing from the teachings of Shantideva (8th century India), Dogen (13th century Japan) and Longchenpa (14th Century Tibet).
Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Friday 06/24/2022
How do we relate to all that comes up in our everyday life – our “ingredients” – and what are the attitudes with which we conduct ourselves? How do we practice our lives? Hojin Sensei guides us through Master Dogen’s “Tenzo Kyōkun – Instructions for the Cook”, and explores Dogen’s “Secrets of Enlightenment”: 1) Living with a joyful heart 2) Caring with the deep concerns of a parent 3) Performing all activities with compassion.
Degna Chikei Levister, Senior Lay Student
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Thursday 06/23/2022
From a poem, “Friend”, by an early Buddhist Nun, Mita.
How do we know when we are acting out of our conditioning? Are we always aware of our emotional drivers, our fears? From the Early Buddhist nuns to Master Dogen to our contemporaries, Chikei shares her inspiration to diligently and continuously practice everything in our life (“Don’t waste your suffering.”), be vigilant of our conditioning (“Know thyself.”) and remember to hold ourselves with compassion (“Make everyone a friend, especially ourselves.”).
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Wednesday 06/22/2022
From Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo Fascicle “King of Samadhis”
We speak of Samadhi as being meditation, concentration, single-minded focus. In this talk Shugen Roshi points out that in the Buddhist sense Samadhi is based in morality and compassion. It’s not separate. It’s one aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path, all eight of which are to be cultivated together.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 06/19/2022
From The Book of Serenity, Case 70 – Jinshan Asks About Nature
“What happens in the moments when the self has been seen through and we are still being held back? In that moment, that which has been seen is not being actualized. Having tamed the untamed, having freed the buddha from its entanglements, those entanglements still have energy, still have life. That’s why the idea that we can practice, apply effort, have an experience that we call enlightenment and be done is a false idea. What is this whole idea of being ‘done’? If you’re an artist, when are you done? If you’re a school teacher, a parent, when are you done? Not just done in the sense that there is something more to do, but done in the sense of strengthening your strength, refining your skill…”
Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei and Ron Hogen Green, Sensei
Zen Center of New York City, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 06/12/2022
Hojin Sensei and Hogen Sensei officiate the June 2022 Jukai ceremony at Fire Lotus Temple in which four students received the sixteen Buddhist precepts: Marie Ninsei (“Patient, Enduring Heart Vow”) Ringo, Dan Chikyuu (“Endlessly Clarifying Enlightenment”) Donohue, Tate Kairyu (“Open Dragon”) Dougherty, Stu Shintai (“Percevering Faith Mind”) Kennedy. Ninsei, Chikyuu, Kairyu, and Shintai have all been practicing as formal students and studying these moral and ethical teachings for a number of years. During the ceremony, Hojin Sensei and Hogen Sensei offer joyful encouragement to the recipients as they take up these vows.
Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Senior Monastic and Dharma Holder
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 06/12/2022
With the teaching of Bodhidharma’s “Outline of Practice” and recalling Daido Roshi’s frequent admonition: “trust yourself”, Gokan offers us heartfelt encouragement to make these teachings our own.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 06/05/2022
From The Book of Serenity, Case 12 – Dizang Planting the Fields
“How do we stop our seeking that which is outside and turn the light around? How do we learn how to investigate in a way that is nonconceptual? How do we use this mind? This bright, clear, sharp, awake, miraculously aware mind? We have to bring it out of its dullness, sleepiness and lethargy. All of which are good strategies to live in a world that’s kind of hard to live in. Just shut it down. It makes sense. Lower the curtain, put up a wall, close the door. It seems to be quieter. But it’s not really a life yet. And so, in opening the curtain, opening the door, turning on that bright clear light, now we have to learn how to meet pain and sorrow. Inside and outside…”
Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei
Zen Center of New York City, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 06/05/2022
How can we hold the beauty and love in our life and the deep human suffering? In this talk, Hojin Sensei invokes the story of Patachara, one of the earliest Buddhist women ancestors: within a life of immense loss and grief she followed her heart, awakened, and became an influential teacher. Hojin Sensei also recognizes the 22nd anniversary of Fire Lotus Temple and all those who have devoted their time and energy to establishing and maintaining this refuge.
