Seattle Soto Zen: Recent Episodes
Seattle Soto Zen
Recent Dharma talks given at Seattle Soto Zen by senior teachers. Find more at https://seattlesotozen.org.
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1329
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1318
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1319
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1311
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1272
Kanshin's dharma talk for the 11-14-2020 Zazenkai all-day sit. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1280
For the fall practice period, this week's dharma talk was given by guest teacher Shudō Chris Burkhart from Red Cedar Zen Community. The talk will discusses the first paramita, the Perfection of Generosity. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1256
Guest teacher Shudō Chris Burkhart shares a dharma talk to open the 2020 fall practice period. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1266
Closing up the book What is Zen?, Kanshin speaks this morning about the vow of saving sentient beings. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1249
Continuing with chapter 12 of What is Zen?, Kanshin discusses the affect that Zen practice has on our family, work, and other relationships. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1241
Continuing with the book What is Zen?, Kanshin speaks this week about sangha, the Buddhist community. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1237
This week Kanshin covers two chapters from the book What is Zen? by Norman Fischer and Sue Moon: chapter 8 "Stages of Practice" and chapter 9 "Over the Long Haul". This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1235
Continuing with chapter 8 of Norman Fischer and Sue Moon's books What is Zen?, Kanshin discusses Zen teachers. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1234
08-16-2020 Dharma talk. Picking up with chapter seven of the book What is Zen?: Zen teachings. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1231
Working from chapter 4 of Norman Fischer and Sue Moon's book "What is Zen?", Kanshin talks on the subject of Zen history and the lineages of teachers. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1223
Continuing with chapter four of Norman Fischer's book What is Zen?, Kanshin discusses the concept of awakening. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1211
Using chapter three of Norman Fischer's book What is Zen? as a jumping off point, Kanshin discusses form and ritual at Seattle Soto Zen. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1207
The dharma talk from the July sesshin. Using chapter 2 of Norman Fischer's book What is Zen?, Kanshin delves into the details of zazen.
As the physical zendo home of Seattle Soto Zen is packed up this weekend, Kanshin speaks on the topic of home and leaving home. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1204
Using Norman Fischer's book What is Zen? as a jumping off point, this week Kanshin starts with Chapter 1: What's the Point?
Amazon link to What is Zen? This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1202
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1199
Book: Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1197
Online references for today's dharma talk:
Stages of Monastic Life
Hilarious World of Depression
This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1186
Dharma talk for 5/31/2020 Sunday service. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1183
Dharma talk given during a one-day sesshin on May 30, 2020. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1182
May 17, 2020 - Guest speaker Norman Fischer uses the story of Zhaozhou's Dog to speak on the quandary of our imperfection in perfectly-created world. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1177
May 10, 2020 - Kanshin speaks on the story of Mahapajapati, maternal aunt to the Buddha. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1176
April 26, 2020 - This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1175
April 12, 2020 - Kanshin returns to case 83 from The Book of Serenity: who are the sick, and who are the not-sick? This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattlesotozen.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1174
One day sitting dharma talk on Dogen Zenji’s essay “The Acupuncture Needle of Zazen”. Why would we spend an entire Saturday just sitting?
Every December, we celebrate Rohatsu, which commemorates the day of Buddha's enlightenment.
Allison retells the story of Buddha's path to freedom.
2600 years ago, Brahmin Barajva approached the Buddha and asked "This generation is tangled within a tangle. Who can untangle this tangle?"
Conditioner having not yet been invented, the Buddha responded with a more permanent approach.
How do we respond to the pain of the world? How do we respond to things we can't control? The ancient Stoics had the answer: indifference. Just chill and it will all go away.
Tell that to the Italian monkeys. In a landmark experiment, it was discovered that all of our actions deeply effect the brains of all of us. Chill all you want, but it's working on you, anyway.
How do Buddhists approach what we can't control? Equanimity says bring it on. We can hold that insecurity and fear. Embrace, don't shun.
This week, our resident philosophy professor Mike Gillespie helps us navigate the subtle waters between indifference and equanimity.
Life is full of stuff we don't like, but well, here it is. Sort of like a pet you inherited from a family member who recently passed away. You didn't ask for this, you don't want it, but now you have to care for it.
Our chronic pain, both physical and mental, are like the cat that came back. The only response that works is to just care for it, with whatever compassion we can muster.
Our own John Nomura was born in the Japanese Internment Camps during WWII, so it's no wonder he was greatly moved by American Sutra, a history of Buddhism in the Internment Camps.
What was meant to be a sort of book report became a weaving narrative between stories from the book, first person experiences and stories from his family, covering themes of a resilient people who refused to relinquish their dignity, personal protests and the relentless pursuit of mythological trout by sneaking out of the camps in the dead of night.
It was a time when Americans turned against Americans and immigrants in a witch hunt whipped up by a paranoid government. Sounded all too familiar...
Ed Cadman reminisces about his teacher Genki Takabayashi, the late Rinzai teacher and his pithy phrases of compassion.
Everything OK! Just now!
Ed realizes this is a great practice for a crowded train, especially when we find ourselves stuck in self-pity.
In what is likely the highest stakes poetry slam in history, fifth ancestor Hongren announced a lightning round smackdown, the winner of which would inherit his temple and carry the name of sixth ancestor. He alone would judge the submissions.
Last time we heard from Shenxiu. This time, Huineng steps up to the mic and expounds:
Bodhi is fundamentally without any tree; The bright mirror is also not a stand. Fundamentally there is not a single thing— Where could any dust be attracted?
In classic Zen braggadocio, Huineng not only expresses a deeper truth, but turns his rival's submission inside out. The chorus of snapping fingers sounded like a cloudburst.
The master was pleased.
When asked his name in the street as a young boy, Huineng replied, "My name is Buddha Nature."
Later, Dogen reframed this as impermance itself is Buddha Nature. This pulls the rug out of any fixed view of Buddha Nature. It's not something you can have or even be called. It brings up doubt.
Joan Stambaugh tells us, "To begin to understand impermance one must first of all doubt."
In what is likely the highest stakes poetry slam in history, fifth ancestor Hongren announced a lightning round smackdown, the winner of which would inherit his temple and carry the name of sixth ancestor. He alone would judge the submissions.
Sweatting over his quill for the better part of two weeks, Shenxiu gives it his best shot:
The body is the bodhi tree; The mind is like a bright mirror’s stand. Be always diligent in rubbing it— Do not let it attract any dust.
Verdict from the judge? "The wisdom expressed in this poem is like that of a person who stands inside of the open door of awakening, but doesn't have the courage to step inside."
Ouch. Although Shenxiu will forever be known as the guy who lost the Super Bowl, the silver medal is no small feat. Allison gives this master his due.
Dogen ends the Shobogenzo with: "The treasure house opens and you will spend freely."
Who opens the treasure house? Can you open it? Or is it that you are present for the opening? Is the opening a mystery?
Ed suggests the treasure is simply to be available for connection to others.
Jeff offers us some final thoughts at the teacher transition ceremony where we formally passed the role of resident teacher from Eko Jeff to Kanshin Allison.
While at times with a voice cracked from the emotion of the moment, Jeff reminds us that we are always practicing together, wherever our paths take us.
In the ancient Pali Canon of early Buddhists Angulimala is one bad dude. The legend tells us he was sent to collect 1000 fingers, which he harvested as trophies from his murder victims. His renuciation of that life is taken as a story of redemption -- no matter who you are, the Buddha can offer you peace.
However, Susan Elbe visits us to explore the story deeply, and uncovers more lessons that can inform our practice.