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.
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.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 05/29/2022
Dharma Encounter at the Conclusion of the Ocean Gathering Sesshin (and concluding the Spring Ango)
Using the Parable of the Good Physician from the Lotus Sutra, Shugen Roshi brought up questions for students to engage with him in Dharma Encounter. How can we be skillful when we are under the sway of our defilements and we don’t want to turn towards the medicine? How do we help others when they don’t want to take the medicine? When someone perceives medicine as poison, what is skillful? These and other question were engaged in live, unrehearsed dialog at the end of our 90 day ango training period.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Saturday 05/28/2022
From Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo Fascicle “Bussho: Buddha Nature”
When do the seeds of our practice ripen? Will our Buddha Nature appear at some moment in the future, or is it present now and we just don’t see it? In this talk, Shugen Roshi explores the relationship between practice and time, how we practice for the now and observe the cause and effect of our karma over time.
Ron Hogen Green, Sensei
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Friday 05/27/2022
Dharma Talk during the Ocean Gathering Sesshin
Drawing on the lyrics of the song ‘Momentum’ by Aimee Mann, Hogen Sensei illuminates how much our lives are driven by fear. What is the alternative to fear? When we are fearful, what is it that we do not want to feel? Instead of a strategy of numbness, how do we turn towards and disrupt the momentum of our fearful karmic patterns?
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Thursday Evening 05/26/2022
Dharma Talk during the Ocean Gathering Sesshin Fusatsu Ceremony
To navigate the Path, the Buddha taught an approach of skillful means. But what does that term mean for us as unique individuals, with our own karma, and in a world that is not fixed? In this talk, Shugen Roshi takes up this essential teaching as part of a Renewal of Bodhisattva Vows ceremony.
Danica Shoan Ankele, Senior Monastic and Dharma Holder
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Wednesday 05/25/2022
How does one accomplish Buddhahood? And how long does it take to do so? Using the story of the Dragon King’s Daughter from the Lotus Sutra, senior Monastic Shoan Ankele investigate this precarious question and offers guidance on the art of letting go.
Ron Hogen Green, Sensei
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 05/22/2022
What is true compassion and how do we develop it? If Buddhist teachings say a compassionate heart is our birthright, what must we do to reveal it? With Leonard Cohen’s song Sisters of Mercy as a muse, Hogen Sensei explores the nature of compassion, its relationship to wisdom and loving-kindness, and the vital role our own suffering plays.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 05/15/2022
From the Book of Serenity, Case 18 – Zhaozhou’s Dog
If buddha nature is ineffable, if it has no characteristics, then how do we turn towards it? We want to direct our attention towards it so we can examine it and realize it. But it doesn’t exist. It doesn’t have a form. So how do we study that which is our true self, our true nature? Shugen Roshi takes up these questions using the well known koan “Does a dog have buddha nature?”
Degna Chikei Levister, Senior Lay Student
Zen Center of New York City, Fire Lotus Temple, Sunday 05/15/2022
How do we bring all of who we are into practice? How do we embrace the full reality of the world while not getting turned around by external causes and conditions? In this talk, Chikei Levister explores the teachings of Zen Master Hongzhi on the practice of true reality.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Sunday 05/08/2022
From Master Wu-men’s Gateless Gate, Case 35 – Ch’ien and Her Soul Are Separated
How do we remain undivided amidst the divisive forces within and around us? And where can we truly go to seek wholeness in our lives? In this talk, Shugen Roshi explores the experience of division and wholeness, and how Zen practice brings us closer to the heart of the matter.
