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
Sweeping the Ground
In this concluding talk to Hazy Moon Sesshin, Shugen Roshi explores how we can sabotage our own best efforts in the midst of our practice. We set aside the time to cultivate compassion and clarity in the midst of three treasures, and yet we still get caught in distractions and self-pity. This is why Buddhism has always taught the skillfulness of looking directly at dukkha, dissatisfaction and suffering. They remind us of the importance of practice. “Else we may stray off some dusty road.” Else we may fool ourselves into thinking we can’t be of benefit in the world. Else we may forget how cultivation is inseparable from the world.
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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.
A live conversation between Shugen Arnold, Roshi, abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery, and Buddhist neuroscientist Dr. Phillip Ninan. The two tackle a number of tricky questions where the findings of science, the teachings of the Buddha, and the practice of meditation all intersect to better illuminate one another.
Danica Shoan Ankele, Senior Monastic and Dharma Holder
Zen Mountain Monastery, Sunday 10/10/2021
In allowing ourselves to be uncomfortable, in experiencing the discomfort of whatever is binding us, we touch our aliveness and see into our true nature. Mn. Shoan talks about vulnerability as a path of liberation.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 10/03/2021
From The Blue Cliff Record, Case 100 – Pa Ling’s Blown Hair Sword
What are the most effective, skillful means to liberate ourselves? Along with meditation which is the primary practice in most branches of Buddhism, there is koan practice which is central in our Zen tradition. Shugen Roshi describes how these are engaged together using the example of a blown hair sword.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 09/26/2021
Dharma Encounter at the Conclusion of the Mountains and Rivers Sesshin
How do wisdom and compassion manifest together in our lives? Shugen Roshi asks us to consider the questions: Why is loving kindness – cultivation of compassion – crucial for our awakening of insight? And how do we understand our practice, the noble 8-fold path, the 8 gates, the life we’re living in practice, as a way to be bringing forth that insight? Do we bring it forth as we diminish our negative karma or as we realize it? Are those different? And how is it that “Wisdom without compassion, compassion without wisdom are not complete”?
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 09/25/2021
From Transmission of the Light, Case 17 – The 17th Indian Ancestor, Rahulata (Ragarata)
Ron Hogen Green, Sensei
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Friday 09/24/2021
The Book of Equanimity, Case 18 – Zhaozhou’s “Dog”
Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Senior Monastic
Zen Mountain Monastery, Thursday 09/23/2021
“Begin with the Body.” Gokan suggests that studying the vital, but seemingly esoteric, subject of karma – i.e. examining and understanding the karma of our life – requires our full attention on basic, everyday activities, and talks about how helpful “The Four Foundations of Mindfulness” can be in that regard.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Wednesday 09/22/2021
From Transmission of the Light, Case 21 – The 21st Indian Ancestor, Jayata
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 09/19/2021
From The Book of Serenity, Case 13 – Linji’s “Blind Ass”
It’s important to study the lives of the ancestors and get to know them. Though, who is it we’re really getting to know? And what is transmitted down through the ages? Is that karma? This Dharma Discourse was given by Shugen Roshi at the conclusion of a weekend retreat on Ch’an Buddhist History led by Dr. Elizabeth Morrison.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Thursday Evening 09/16/2021
Dharma Talk during the September 2021 Fusatsu Ceremony
How do we consciously live a moral life? How do we examine cause and effect and see evermore deeply into their intimate relationship? Shugen Roshi begins with a koan from the Miscellaneous Koan Collection “How do you go straight on a path of 99 curves?”
