Appamada

Kim gives a dharma talk on "Coleus in the Garden" and other koans.

Most of us have a favorite way of getting stuck. A particular dance we do — the old pattern in new clothes, the familiar mistake in a new context, the same persistent bad habit, again. Today, we look at stuckness not as a problem to be solved but as something we might actually need. The Buddha had something to say about this, as did Suzuki Roshi. And you'll get to find out which kind of horse you are.

2026-06-16 I Inquiry I Great Determination? I Trudy Johnston by Appamada

2026-06-16 I Inquiry I Great Determination? I Trudy Johnston by Appamada

2026-06-15 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

2026-06-08 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

2026-06-09 I Inquiry I Plight thee my troth I Flint Sparks by Appamada

For the last two Sundays, we investigated the ditches of comfort and striving. This week, we turn to what's between them, what some describe as effortless effort. Joko Beck describes this as pure activity: Pure activity is very rare. There's nearly always a shadow, a film over it. We may not be aware of that; we may just be aware of some tension. There's no tension in pure activity, beyond the physical contraction required to do the activity itself. This activity is something altogether different from our comfort-seeking and striving. It arises and unfolds. This Sunday, we explore it together.

2026-06-01 Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

2026-06-02 I Inquiry I Wandering and Wondering I Josh Gifford by Appamada

Last week we sat with the cost of comfort. Today, we turn to comfort's restless cousin: striving. Most of us have a complicated relationship with achievement — driven by it, exhausted by it, quietly convinced that enough effort will finally get us somewhere. Dogen had thoughts. He opens the fascicle Bendowa with a puzzle: "This Dharma is abundantly present in each human being, but if we do not practice it, it does not manifest itself, and if we do not experience it, it cannot be realized." Not a permission slip for striving, nor a dismissal of it either, Dogen points to something stranger: the Dharma is already fully here — and yet it requires us. What kind of effort is that? And what does it mean for those of us who arrive on the cushion with an internal scoreboard already running? We explore together today.

2026-05-26 I Inquiry I If you examine myriad things I Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-05-25 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

How comfortable have you gotten? Is the room the perfect temperature? Does Alexa/Siri/Gemini answer all of your questions instantly? Is that difficult conversation still scheduled for someday later? Dogen's teacher, Tendō Nyojō, carried his cushion in his sleeve. He sat until he ached. At sixty-five he still didn't claim to understand zazen, yet still hadn't missed a day in decades. Nate offers a dharma talk on what comfort costs us. Dōgen called the alternative gyoji. We explore it together.

2026-05-19 I Inquiry I A Blessing - A Birthday I Flint Sparks by Appamada

2026-05-18 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

Program Welcome Incense Offering & Three Bows Heart Sutra Head Student Reads the Case Head Student Raises the Staff Head Student Statement Questions for the Head Student Head Student Comment Final Statement Head Student Returns the Staff Congratulatory Statements Dedication of Merit Bodhisattva vows Three Bows Exit Procession Appamada Senior Teachers Nathan Smalley, Flint Sparks and Peg Syverson Entrusted Teachers Todd Bankler, Joel Barna, Kim Mosley, Laurie Winnette

2026-05-11 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

Reflection question: How have you been shaped or formed by your primary or first relationships?

2026-05-05 I Inquiry I A hidden ally I Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-05-04 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

The fear of missing out (FOMO) is the engine of missing out. The reaching is the leaving. Building on the intensive teachings of Peg, Joel, and Flint, Nate offers a dharma talk on encounter — what it is, why we keep missing it, and what the craving mind is actually building while it's busy looking elsewhere. There is a poem by Mary Oliver (below). There is a koan or two. There is a story about a youth soccer game that went poorly for a vocal subset of parents, the dharma teacher in attendance, and every available adult on the sideline— though notably not for the seven-year-olds. Except from Mary Oliver's poem, "At the River Clarion": 1. I don't know who God is exactly. But I'll tell you this. I was sitting in the river named Clarion, on a water splashed stone and all afternoon I listened to the voices of the river talking. Whenever the water struck a stone it had something to say, and the water itself, and even the mosses trailing under the water. And slowly, very slowly, it became clear to me what they were saying. Said the river I am part of holiness. And I too, said the stone. And I too, whispered the moss beneath the water. I'd been to the river before, a few times. Don't blame the river that nothing happened quickly. You don't hear such voices in an hour or a day. You don't hear them at all if selfhood has stuffed your ears. And it's difficult to hear anything anyway, through all the traffic, the ambition.

2026-04-28 | 2026 Intensive | Day 3 | Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-05-01 | 2026 Intensive | Day 6 | Peg Syverson by Appamada

2026-04-28 I Inquiry I Merciful Messengers I Suzanne Kilkus by Appamada

2026-04-30 | 2026 Intensive | Day 5 | Joel Barna by Appamada

2026-04-29 | 2026 Intensive | Day 4 | Peg Syverson by Appamada

2026-04-27 | 2026 Intensive | Day 2 | Flint Sparks by Appamada

2026-04-26 | 2026 Intensive | Day 1 | Peg Syverson by Appamada

2026-04-26 | Dharma Talk | No Gaining Mind | Ellen Hippard by Appamada

2026-04-21 I Inquiry I Into the mouth of the Demon I Trudy Johnston by Appamada

2026-04-20 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

Instructions for small group activity: Divide into groups of 3. Groups of 2 are ok. Take 2 minutes for each role. Each person will have an opportunity to share, be heard, and bear witness. Person 1 will share what they like in what they see/hear/experience about Person 2. Person 3 will listen, hold the space, and notice. They will then share their observations with person 1 & 2. Person 2 can reflect about what they have heard and what it means to them to be noticed in that way, Then change roles and repeat. Additional discussion question: what would you need to change to bring out the qualities in yourself that you see in others?

2026-04-14 I Inquiry I Leaving So Much Unborn I Flint Sparks by Appamada

2026-04-13 | Depth In Practice | The Sutra of Hui-neng Grand Master of Zen by Appamada

References: "Nothing Holy About It," by Tim Burkett Hsin Hsin Ming, Appamada chant book (https://appamada.org/s/Appamada-Chant-Book.pdf) "The Wakeful Body," Willa Baker

2026-04-07 I Inquiry I The Smallest Thing I Josh Gifford by Appamada

2026-03-23 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

This Dharma Talk is experiential, with the Sangha addressing and sharing from the prompts of the previous Dharma Talk on "Cooking & the Sangha". There is a brief summary talk given and then we delve more deeply into the topic with discussion prompts. Prior attendance at the first Dharma Talk is NOT a requirement.

Begin Flint's talk at 11 minutes in for reference to Inquiry https://youtu.be/X3m2oM_C9bQ?si=Q-4yae5iykfSjStI

2026-03-30 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

Discussion prompts: 1. What concerns me about the world today? 2. What am I doing to care for this life? Quote from Joanna Macy's book, "Coming Back to Life." Poem by Li Po, "At Chin Ling": Tucked into the earth, Chin-Ling City the river curving past, flowing away: there were once a million homes here, and crimson towers along narrow lanes. A vanished country all spring grasses, the palace buried in ancient hills, this moon remains, facing timeless islands across Thereafter Lake waters, empty.

2026-03-28 | Introduction to Zen | Class 1 by Appamada

2026-03-24 I Inquiry I It matters to Other I Suzanne Kilkus by Appamada

2026-03-23 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

This Sunday's Dharma Talk is by Head Student C. Seren8y, in which they discuss "Cooking and the Sangha," drawing from the writings of Dogen, Kosho Uchiyama and Bernie Glassman. References: Glassman, Bernie and Fields, Rick, "Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life that Matters" Dogen, Eihei and Uchiyama, Kosho Roshi, "How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment"

2026-03-17 I Inquiry I Feel the anguish and act from Love I Trudy by Appamada

2026-03-16 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada

Today's readings are from the Platform Sutra, by Huineng, including "The Gatha of Truth and Falsehood and Movement and Stillness": Nothing that exists is true don't think what you see is true if you think you see the true what you see is surely false if you want to find the true the mind free of the false is true unless your mind forsakes the false nothing is true where true can't be. Living things know how to move lifeless things stay still those who practice staying still resemble motionless lifeless things to see what truly doesn't move in movement find what doesn't move what doesn't move is what doesn't move lifeless things have no buddha seeds. If you can perceive its attributes the ultimate truth doesn't move if you can realize this you will see how reality worksall you students of the Way be relentless and concentrate don't stand at the entrance of the Mahayana clinging to views about birth and death. If those before you are ready tell them the Buddha's teaching and if they aren't truly ready bow and tell them to be good there's nothing to argue about in this teaching those who argue lose sight of the Way clinging to blindness arguing about teachings they lead their nature into birth and death.

Why love what you will lose? There is nothing else to love. “From the Japanese” by Louise Gluck

2026-03-02 | Depth In Practice | Vimalakirti & the Awakened Heart by Appamada