Auckland Zen Centre: Weekly Podcasts

Reflections on the situation in Gaza and readings from Carlo Rovelli's book, White Holes.A Dharma talk by Richard von Sturmer.

A tale of Long Covid, anxiety and encounters with the bodhisattva of compassion. Resources: John Blofeld, "Bodhisattva of Compassion: The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin", Shambhala Classics, 2009.

 Main text used: 'Encouraging Words' by Robert Aitken"Dharma talk by Richard von Sturmer.

Early life.

Encountering the Dharma and zen training at Hosshin-ji.

3. Realization.

4. The illusion of separate self.

The importance of vows.

Impermanence.

Chan teacher Guo Gu explores how koans (gong'ans in Chinese) are not meant to be solved by us, but rather they can dis-solve our self preoccupations and cherished opinions.Source(s): Passing Through the Gateless Barrier: Koan Practice for Real Life by Guo Gu Shambhala 2016

Kyogen presents a dilemma. How can a man hanging by his teeth from a tree answer a question about Bodhidharma's coming from the west? If he opens his mouth to speak he'll fall to his death, if he remains silent he fails the questioner. When to remain silent, when to speak, and what to say can be life koans. Words are never sufficient, but they are called for at times. How can we respond authentically?

Some reflections on violence and non-violence after the shootings at a downtown building site last Thursday [20 July].Source(s): Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh, Rider 2022.

Ethical behaviour is at the very centre of the process of awakening. The Jukai ceremony allows us to renew our commitment to harmless and compassionate thought, speech and action, and sketches out in broad strokes what they look like.Sources: Being Upright: Zen Meditation and the Bodhisattva Precepts by Reb Anderson Shambhala 2001, Disciples of the Buddha by Zenno Ishigami Kōsei 1989

The Diamond Sutra, part of the Prajna Paramita sutras, is second only to the Heart Sutra in importance for Zen Practitioners. A number of phrases taken directly from the sutra are to be found among the preliminary koans.Source: The Flowing Bridge by Elaine MacInnes Wisdom 2007Automated transcripthttps://otter.ai/u/PK4ZrjzRqCkTNTuGBEoOodCke2E

Some reflections on the three main components of Earth Day -- sitting (mind), chanting (speech), and work (body).

A very simple koan -- but don't be fooled --Tozan's 3 pounds of flax is unfathomable.

Buddhist and Zen teachings on work.

Effort is an essential element in practice. It is one of the strands of the 8-fold Path, one of the 6 Paramitas, and one of the 7 factors of enlightenment. What is right effort, and does it relate to Aimlessness?Sources:Various

As extreme weather events grow more frequent and it becomes more apparent that we have "entered a period of consequences" in regard to the climate crisis, how do we work with change, loss and devastation in ways that are healthy and helpful?Automated transcripthttps://otter.ai/u/6OHcNJEnuep9ypXoeWdauGOd55c

Working with worries about the future and forgiving wrongs of the past.Text used: Our Appointment with Life: The Buddha's Teaching on Living in the Present, by Thich Nhat Hanh (translated by Annabel Laity), Parallax Press 1990.