Brenda's Talks - All Faith Zen: Recent Episodes
Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.d.
Enjoy Brenda's Zen talks offered at Inisfada Zen Group and elsewhere. They not only focus upon Zen koans, but include the wisdom of all faiths. There is no place, Zen cannot be found or where we cannot experience love.
Before new look can bloom life as we know must wither. We must let go of old ideas, hopes, attachments and open our mind and heart to life itself and allow it to bloom as it will. Just at the moment when things often look most bleak, no hope, no life left to our surprise a blossom blooms, and life sprouts up in ways we could not have ever imagined.
The heart of Zen practice is to stay still, stop the endless coming and going, searching, finding, gaining, losing. As we sit, we find the path where everything is waiting.
This talk explores the nature of constriction and our slavery to time. Based upon Passover and the splitting of the red sea, we see what it is that has brought plagues into our lives, and what is truly needed to go from freedom to liberation.
The great Zen Master and Zen poet, Ryokan, called himself the Great Fool and the most useless of men. Come learn more about him and his great life teaching.
A great deal of our sorrow and disappointment are due to the false promises of Samsara, how we live for them, grip them, and are so shocked when they don't fulfill our needs. However, a deeper Zen teaching tells us that Samsara IS Nirvana, the joy and fulfillment we constantly seek. This podcast explores how to make every moment beautiful as it is.
When Eliezer went to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac, he took his camels and went to the place Abraham designated. When Rivkah appeared she was carrying a jug of water. Eliezer asked for a sip to quench his thirst in the heat. She said, "Not only may you drink to your fill, but I will bring up as many jugs of water as needed so all your camels may drink to their full, as well." What a magnificent example of fullness of heart and sensitivity to all of life. Rivkah held nothing back. She, indeed, was fit to become the Matriarch of the land.
This is a wonderful practice for all of us, Feed Not Only One Another, but all their camels. Hold nothing back.
Noah walked with God, did as asked with no questions. He spent one hundred years building an ark, not knowing floodwaters were coming. With deep devotion, patience and faith he created a place which would withstand the the raging tides of fear, draught, confusion and the loss of stable ground.
His message is for all time. Build your ark! Enter it. Make it a sanctuary where you can constantly be in touch with God, no matter what comes.