Greater Boston Zen Center Podcast

GBZC member Julie Nelson (sensei) speaks about Zen stories and koans, both classical and contemporary. 

GBZC member James Lopata (Masters of Theological Studies) speaks about the history of Zen.

Julie Nelson speaks about bringing all off ourselves to our practice, even our anger. (June 9, 2023)

Julie Nelson comments on a case from the Book of Equanimity. (May 26, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about why we get distracted from doing things that are important to us. (May 19, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about what our Zen practice can say about a grumpy mood. (May 10, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about Raihai Tokuzui, written in the medieval times by the founder of Soto Zen. (May 7, 2023)

Julie Nelson reflects on the difference between using time and being time. (May 5, 2023)

Julie Nelson talks about the danger of holding to a romantic ideal of merger, whether in regard to a life partner or a spiritual teacher. (April 28, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about the story of Nanin pouring tea, at the April GBZC sesshin. (April 21, 2023) (No discussion)

Julie Nelson discusses whether it is possible to be grateful in any circumstances, in a way that is not just spiritual bypassing. (April 14, 2023)

Rebecca Moonspike leads a discussion about what things help us be present, and what things that feel like interruptions are actually our practice. (April 15, 2023)

Julie Nelson talks about not using our practice to hide our "gold," our beauty and uniqueness. (April 6, 2023)

Julie Nelson talks about not using our practice to try to bypass our anger. (March 31, 2023)

Susan Myoyu Andersen of the Great Plains Zen Center gives a guest talk at GBZC. (April 1, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about bliss states, why we need to come out of them, and why perfect wisdom can't do the job. (March 28, 2023)

Julie Nelson talks about not using our practice to try to bypass our trauma and grief. (March 24, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about becoming intimate with our failures. (March 17, 2023)

This is a short talk (with no discussion) in which Julie Nelson comments on how traveling in Alaska woke her up to things taken for granted.(March 8, 2023)

Julie Nelson comments on how traveling in Alaska woke her up to things taken for granted. (February 28, 2023)

Karen McCormack leads a discussion of the question "What inspires your practice?" (with an introduction to this format by Jill Gaulding). (February 18, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about the five skandhas: form, sensation, perception, mental reaction, and consiousness. (February 4, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about the Virya Paramita. The quotes are from Diane Rizzetto's book Deep Hope. (February 3, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about practicing with a heavy heart and with worry. The quote is from the work of Rainer Maria Rilke. (January 27, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks briefly about the five skandas (or aggregates) in Buddhist psychology. (January 20, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about the story of "Chiyono's No Water, No Moon." (January 13, 2023)

Julie Nelson speaks about taking the phrase "Are you afraid of this happiness?" as a koan through the day. (January 6, 2023)

Fran Ludwig reflects on the instruction to "observe...even if it costs you everything." (January 4, 2023)

Fran Ludwig asks, "Are we the looker looking for the looker?" (December 21, 2022)

Jeff Seul speaks about opening to suffering, bearing witness, and the Middle Way. (December 17, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about how framing the Buddha's Enlightenment as a story of a "hero going forth" hides other elements. (December 16, 2020; Rohatsu Sesshin; Dharma Discussion not recorded.)

Fran Ludwig encourages us to be patient with whatever is arising, good or bad, for it will surely change. (December 14, 2022)

Julie Nelson talks about how our affection for certain kinds of stories may distort our understanding of the Buddha's (and our own) enlightenment. (December 9, 2022)

Fran Ludwig asks, "How do we live in a way that benefits others?" (December 9, 2022)

Fran Ludwig talks about the Buddhist holiday of Rohatsu. A lively discussion of teaching transmission follows. (December 3, 2022)

Julie Nelson reflects on Wumen's verse about "walking freely in the universe." (December 2, 2022)

Fran Ludwig asks, "How do we find ourselves taking pleasure in other people's pain?" (November 30, 2022)

Julie Nelson reads and comments on the story "Ziyong's Earth," from The Hidden Lamp. (November 25, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk. How can we avoid creating extra suffering our lives? (November 23, 2022)

Julie Nelson reads two passsages from the Tao Te Ching. (November 25, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk. How do we notice what motivates our compassion and altruism? (November 16, 2022)

Jeff Seul speaks about the Verse of the Kesa. (November 10, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about how cultivating compassionate behavior takes time. (November 9, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about some the fruits of our practice. The text (abridged) is from Richard Rohr's book The Naked Now. (November 8, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk based on Robert Sharf's essay, "The Looping Structure of Buddhist Thought." (November 5, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, speaking about how holding others responsible for relief of our suffering robs us of the power to fully meet it ourselves. (November 2, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer speaks about dedications of merit. (October 29, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk about being able to ride out our upswings and downswings. (October 28, 2022)

James Peregrino speaks about the history and practice of kinhin, or walking meditation. (October 25, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer speaks about our true home. (October 22, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about responding to others who are difficult with kindness. (October 19, 2022)