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.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 09/12/2021
From The True Dharma Eye – Case 21: Panshan’s “Cut a Fine Piece”
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 09/05/2021
Ango Opening Talk with Introduction of the Chief Disciple
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 09/04/2021
From Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo Fascicle “Arousing the Aspiration for Enlightenment”
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 08/29/2021
From the Book of Serenity – Case 21: Ungan Sweeps 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.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 08/28/2021
From the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate) – Case 41: Bodhidharma and Peace of Mind
Danica Shoan Ankele, Senior Monastic and Dharma Holder
Zen Mountain Monastery, Friday 08/27/2021
In this clear talk from Hazy Moon Sesshin, dharma holder Shoan Ankele focuses on how we can use the very struggles and suffering in our everyday life to help free ourselves and discover our heart full of love.
Chris Yudo Abraham, Senior Lay Student
Zen Mountain Monastery, Thursday 08/26/2021
From Milarepa: “This path leads to a Life of no Regrets.”
Appreciate our lives? It seems simple at first but when we study our experience closely, we realize that’s difficult. What should we do when it looks like everything is going wrong in our life? The first step is to open up and feel what we really feel.
Susan Seien Wilder, Senior Lay Student
Zen Mountain Monastery, Wednesday 08/26/2021
On the Sutra of Great Compassion.
Seien begins her heartfelt talk by inviting the Sangha to chant the Sutra of Great Compassion together. She goes on to ask who are we invoking? Who is Kanzeon? Who could it be but ourselves?
Bear Gokan Bonebakker, Senior Monastic
Zen Mountain Monastery, Sunday 8/22/2021
In our life, we experience not getting what we want, getting what we don’t want, so we try to change things immediately – fueling our suffering. Can we hold our hearts still in the presence of our impatience? Can we make ourselves larger, more inclusive, to live beyond our discontent?
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday Morning 08/15/2021
From The Book of Serenity, Case 75 – Ruiyan’s ‘Constant Principle’
Shugen Roshi asks “What is change?”. Impermanence means that nothing stays the same. We want to escape suffering and we crave pleasure. Our very behavior creates suffering as we cling to things that are impermanent and try to escape what is unpleasant. So the question is: “How can we be free from suffering?” Roshi suggests that a first step would be to practice patience.
