Dharma Talks by Koji Acquaviva Dreher

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Talks given by Zen Teacher Koji Acquaviva Dreher. For more information visit www.kojiacquaviva.com

Koji Acquaviva


    • Sep 8, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 17 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Dharma Talks by Koji Acquaviva Dreher

    Hekiganroku case 43: Tōzan's No Cold or Heat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2024 41:22


    Koji gives a teisho on case 43 of the Blue Cliff Record at Clouds in Water Zen Center on September 8th, 2024

    Postural Yoga and Bhakti in Zen and Pure Land

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2024 47:02


    Dharma talk on the importance of postural yoga, bhakti, and Pure Land in Soto Zen practice. Given at Clouds in Water Zen Center on August 18, 2024.

    Entrusting, Not Accomplishing: The Zen Path of Ease and Acceptance

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 46:15


    Many spiritual teachings we encounter convey to us that individualism has limited usefulness on the spiritual path, yet in contemplative traditions we can often be left feeling that meditation is an endeavor to overcome or conquer aspects of ourselves.  In this talk Koji will expound on an approach to Zen practice where we don't strive to overcome or improve anything about ourselves, but rather we sit easefully in the recognition of our own wholeness. This is a particularly helpful way of practice for those who have grown weary of trying to transform themselves into something “better” and want to open to the awe and satisfaction of simply being alive. Given at the Nebraska Zen Center on April 14, 2024

    Hōkyō Zanmai: Couplets 12-22

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 53:36


    Dharma talk from day 4 of Rohatsu Sesshin at Clouds in Water Zen Center. December 5, 2023. Presentation of Couplets 12-22 of the Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi (Hōkyō Zanmai 宝鏡三昧). 如臨寶鏡 It is like facing a jewel mirror; 形影相覩 form and image behold each other - 汝不是渠 you are not it, 渠正是汝 in truth it is you. 如世嬰児 Like a babe in the world, 五相完具 in five aspects complete; 不去不來 it does not go or come, 不起不住 nor rise nor stand. 婆婆和和 “Baba wawa”- 有句無句 is there anything said or not? 終不得物 Ultimately it does not apprehend anything 語未正故 because its speech is not yet correct. 重離六爻 It is like the six lines of the illumination hexagram: 偏正回互 relative and ultimate interact - 疊而為三 piled up, they make three, 變盡成五 the complete transformation makes five. 如荎草味 It is like the taste of the five-flavored herb, 如金剛杵 like a diamond thunderbolt. 正中妙挾 Subtly included within the true, 敲唱雙舉 inquiry and response come up together. 通宗通塗 Communing with the source, travel the pathways, 挾帶挾路 embrace the territory, and treasure the road.

    Don't be a Hero: How Ease Begets Ease in Zen Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 43:44


    A Dharma Talk given on October 1, 2023 at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, MN

    Skill in Means: Zen, Vedanta, and Bhakti

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 47:43


    A talk on integrating South Asian devotional practices and Zen. Given at the Austin Zen Center on July 16, 2022.

    Zen Practice and the Luminous Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 46:09


    Koji speaks on first the physicality of Zen meditation and then on the ultimate purpose of Zen practice.

    Not Self doesn't mean Not Sacred

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 44:56


    A Dharma Talk given on February 20, 2022 at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, MN

    Dissatisfaction, its cause, and zazen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2021 43:07


    An online class taught by Koji through the Austin Zen Center on March 2nd, 2021 about the three turnings of the Dharma with special emphasis on the four noble truths, dependent origination, and what they have to do with zen meditation.

    Some Words on Privilege/General Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 54:48


    This talk was given by Koji at the Austin Zen Center on Feb 8th, 2020.

    Religious Authority and Spiritual Gaslighting

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 54:21


    This talk was given by Koji at the Austin Zen Center of February 1st, 2020.

    No Authority but Yourself

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 53:42


    This talk was given by Koji on January 4th, 2020 at the Austin Zen Center.

    Bodhidharma's Two Entries and Four Practices

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 50:47


    This talk was given by Koji at the Austin Zen Center on November 17, 2018.

    Adoring the Buddha Realm, Being Adored by the Buddha Realm

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 40:21


    This talk was given by Koji at the Austin Zen Center on July 21st, 2018

    Inquiry and Devotion

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 55:15


    This talk was given by Koji at the Austin Zen Center on January 27th, 2018

    Wounded Priests

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 65:38


    This talk was given by Koji on June 25, 2016 at the Austin Zen Center.

    Total Dynamic Function

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 40:22


    This Dharma Talk was given by Koji on June 18, 2016 at the Austin Zen Center.

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