February 2023 Sesshin Teisho

Day 4:

Blue Cliff Record #21 “Chimon and the Lotus.”

Teisho by Sensei Donna Kowal.   Automated Transcript

Blue Cliff Record #21 “Chimon and the Lotus.”

Day 3:

“Attaining the Way” by Master Sheng Yen

Teisho by Sensei Donna Kowal.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Attaining the Way: A Guide to the Practice of Chan Buddhism” by Master Sheng Yen.

Day 2:

“Subtle Wisdom” by Master Sheng Yen #2

Teisho by Sensei Donna Kowal.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Subtle Wisdom: Understanding Suffering, Cultivating Compassion Through Chan Buddhism” by Master Sheng Yen

Day 1:

“Subtle Wisdom” by Master Sheng Yen #1

Teisho by Sensei Donna Kowal.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Subtle Wisdom: Understanding Suffering, Cultivating Compassion Through Chan Buddhism” by Master Sheng Yen.

January 2023 Sesshin Teisho

Day 6:

“Song of Mind” by Sheng Yen, Part 2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 5:

“Song of Mind” by Sheng Yen, Part 1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 4:

“Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away” by Ajahn Chah #4

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away: Teachings on Impermanence and the End of Suffering” by Ajahn Chah (trans. by Paul Breiter)

Day 3:

“Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away” by Ajahn Chah #3

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away: Teachings on Impermanence and the End of Suffering” by Ajahn Chah (trans. by Paul Breiter)

Day 2:

“Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away” by Ajahn Chah #2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away: Teachings on Impermanence and the End of Suffering” by Ajahn Chah (trans. by Paul Breiter)

Day 1:

“Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away” by Ajahn Chah #1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on “Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away: Teachings on Impermanence and the End of Suffering” by Ajahn Chah (trans. by Paul Breiter).

November 2022 Sesshin Teisho

Day 6:

Hekiganroku #86, Ummon’s “Everybody has their own light”

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Description: What is my light? Why can’t I see it? How do I stop objectifying myself and those around me?

Source(s): The Golden Age of Zen by John C.H. Wu, Doubleday 1996.

Day 5:

The Teachings of Maurine Stuart-roshi 5

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Description: Zen practice is experiential — we each have to find our way to the truth, giving up our egoistic striving.

Source(s): Subtle Sound by Roko Sherry Chayat, Shambhala 1996.

Day 4:

The Teachings of Maurine Stuart-roshi 4

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Description: Pride in our good deeds reinforces our sense of self-importance, and therefore works at cross-purposes to our efforts to free ourselves from the delusion of separation.

Source(s): Subtle Sound by Roko Sherry Chayat, Shambhala 1996.

Day 3:

The Teachings of Maurine Stuart-roshi 3

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Description: A master once said, “The taste of Zen is pain in the knees.” How do we work creatively with pain and weariness in these early days of sesshin?

Source(s): Subtle Sound by Roko Sherry Chayat, Shambhala 1996.

Day 2:

The Teachings of Maurine Stuart-roshi 2

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Description: Practising right where we are.

Source(s): Meetings with Remarkable Women by Lenore Friedman, Shambhala 1987; Subtle Sound by Roko Sherry Chayat, Shambhala 1996.

Day 1:

The Teachings of Maurine Stuart-roshi 1

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Description: Biographical material

Source(s): Meetings with Remarkable Women by Lenore Friedman, Shambhala 1987; Subtle Sound by Roko Sherry Chayat, Shambhala 1996.

September 2022 Sesshin Teisho

Day 6:

Blue Cliff Record #53, “Hyakujo and the Wild Duck”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 5:

Zen Master Bassui from Mud and Water (trans. by Arthur Braverman) #2

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 4:

Zen Master Bassui from Mud and Water (trans. by Arthur Braverman) #1

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 3:

Zen Master Bassui from The Three Pillars of Zen

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

September 2022 2-Day Sesshin Dharma Talks

Day 1:

The Teachings of Empty Cloud (Xu Yun) followed by Q & A

Dharma Talk by Eryl Kubicka.   Automated Transcript

June 2022 Sesshin Teisho

Day 7:

Shoyoroku # 14, “Attendent Huo Serves Tea”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 6:

Mumonkan # 9, “Daitsu Chisho Buddha”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 5:

The Practice of Zen by C.C. Chang #2

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 4:

The Practice of Zen by C.C. Chang #1

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

January 2022 Sesshin Teisho

Day 7:

Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui #2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

On Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui, (trans. by J.C.Cleary).

Day 6:

Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui #1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

On Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui, (trans. by J.C.Cleary).

Day 5:

“Being Dharma” by Ajahn Chah #2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

On Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings by Ajahn Chah (trans. by Peter Breiter).

Day 4:

“Being Dharma” by Ajahn Chah #1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

On Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings by Ajahn Chah (trans. by Peter Breiter).

Day 3:

“Everyday Zen: Love and Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 2:

“Nothing Special: Living Zen” by Charlotte Joko Beck #2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 1:

“Nothing Special: Living Zen” by Charlotte Joko Beck #1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Transcript

December 2021 Sesshin Dharma Talks

Day 2:

“Opening the Hand of Thought” by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi #2

Dharma Talk by Trueman Taylor.   Automated Transcript
Day 1:

“Opening the Hand of Thought” by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi #1

Dharma Talk by Trueman Taylor.   Automated Transcript

November 2021 Sesshin Teisho

Day 7:

Mumonkan #16, “The Sound of the Bell”

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 6:

“Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui”

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui, translated by J.C. Cleary.

Day 5:

“Everyday Zen” by Charlotte Joko Beck #3

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 4:

“Everyday Zen” by Charlotte Joko Beck #2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 3:

“Everyday Zen” by Charlotte Joko Beck #1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 2:

“Attaining the Way” by Master Sheng Yen #2

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript
Day 1:

“Attaining the Way” by Master Sheng Yen #1

Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.   Automated Transcript

September 2021 Sesshin Teisho

Day 7:

Mumonkan # 17, “The National Teacher Calls Three Times”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 6:

“Zen Letters: Teachings of Yuanwu” #2

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Zen Letters: Teachings of Yuanwu (trans. by J.C. Cleary and Thomas Cleary)

Day 5:

“Zen Letters: Teachings of Yuanwu” #1

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Zen Letters: Teachings of Yuanwu (trans. by J.C. Cleary and Thomas Cleary)

Day 4:

“The Practice of Zen” by Garma C.C. Chang #2

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 3:

“The Practice of Zen” by Garma C.C. Chang #1

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 1:

“Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui (trans. by J.C. Cleary)

July 2021 Sesshin Teisho

Day 7:

Blue Cliff Record #4, “Tokusan Carries His Bundle”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript
Day 6:

“The Way of Korean Zen” by Kusan Sunim #6

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor)

Day 5:

“The Way of Korean Zen” by Kusan Sunim #5

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor)

Day 4:

“The Way of Korean Zen” by Kusan Sunim #4

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor)

Day 3:

“The Way of Korean Zen” by Kusan Sunim #3

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor)

Day 2:

“The Way of Korean Zen” by Kusan Sunim #2

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor)

Day 1:

“The Way of Korean Zen” by Kusan Sunim #1

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.   Automated Transcript

Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor)

June 2021 Sesshin Teisho

Day 5:

Mumonkan #10, Sozan and Poor Seizei

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Working with spiritual poverty.

Day 4:

“An Experience of Enlightenment” by Flora Courtois #4

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Arrival, loss and return — the universe changes on its axis, but how to share this amazing experience with others? Searching for a context for 20 years and finally finding one.

Day 3:

“An Experience of Enlightenment” by Flora Courtois #3

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

A turning point — no need to look further than the mind itself.

Day 2:

“An Experience of Enlightenment” by Flora Courtois #2

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Flora Courtois’ search for Reality, or the ground of being.
Text: An Experience of Enlightenment by Flora Courtois. Quest Books, 1986.

Day 1:

“An Experience of Enlightenment” by Flora Courtois #1

Teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.   Automated Transcript

Introduction to the text by Yasutani-roshi
Text: An Experience of Enlightenment by Flora Courtois. Quest Books, 1986.

May 2021 Sesshin Teisho

Day 2:

“The Third Turning of the Wheel: A Conversation with Joanna Macy”

Dharma Talk by Sensei Donna Kowal.   Automated Transcript

Dharma talk by Donna Kowal. Reading and commentary on excerpts from an interview with Joanna Macy that explores the Buddha’s teaching of dependent co-arising, nothing exists apart from anything else. (Source: Dharma Rain, edited by Stephanie Kaza and Kenneth Kraft, Shambhala Publications, 2000)

Day 1:

“World as Lover, World as Self” by Joanna Macy

Dharma Talk by Sensei Donna Kowal.   Automated Transcript

Dharma talk by Donna Kowal. Reading and commentary on excerpts from Chapter One.

November 2019 Sesshin Teisho

Day 7:

Shoyoroku #32, “Yangshan’s ‘Mind and Environment’”

Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.