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 07/03/2022
From Master Wu-men’s Gateless Gate, Case 44 – Pa-chiao and a Stick
When we’re entangled, what is it we’re entangled in? Shugen Roshi reminds us that if we are to free ourselves from what binds us, it behooves us to know where to look.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 06/26/2022
Drawing from the teachings of Longchenpa (14th Century Tibet), Shantideva (8th century India) and Dogen (13th century Japan) Shugen Roshi speaks of The Four Immeasurables. He reminds us of the importance of reciting them as a practice each morning. The recitation is a raising of intention, a setting of our attitude – an attitude of love, compassion, sympathetic joy and impartiality. What’s next? Shugen Roshi encourages us to keep that intention in mind all day long, to “set out” to actualize them for others and ourselves in our everyday activities, continuously practicing and opening, with the guidance of the precepts and the Six Paramitas (Giving, Discipline, Patience, Diligence, Concentration and Wisdom.)
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 06/25/2022
Drawing from the teachings of Shantideva (8th century India), Dogen (13th century Japan) and Longchenpa (14th Century Tibet), Shugen Roshi speaks of bodhicitta, the wish to realize enlightenment for the benefit of others. “This bodhicitta is not something. It’s alive, it’s inexpressible, it’s inconceivable. It doesn’t belong to buddhism but buddhism understands it profoundly. It’s available to every person but you cannot possess it. You can’t lose it. But it can grow dim. It is born from faith, it is nurtured by faith, it is verified by faith, within ourselves. Bodhicitta requires an opening, a softening, to find its way in to our discerning mind that is beyond calculation. Where does this come from? In response to affinity between the dharma and the student. You feel it when it’s there. You know it. You may not understand it, be able to express it. But there is something going on. Something is stirring, something is coming together. It’s as if it is something you already know. It is not a stranger. But it is strange…”
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…”
Linda Shinji Hoffman, Senior Lay Student
Zen Center of New York City, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 06/19/2022
In this talk, Linda Shinji Hoffman explores the Seven Factors of Awakening through the lens of an orchardist tending to trees. She also honors Juneteenth.
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.
