Zen Community of Oregon Dharma Talks

This talk explores the Buddhist teaching of signlessness, including the fact that who we are cannot be reduced to fixed categories or identities. Drawing on Thich Nhat Hanh's insights, we look at how everything—including ourselves—is in constant transformation. Through mindfulness and embodied awareness, we can step outside rigid definitions and experience life as fluid and creative. This shift opens the door to compassion, integrity, and a deeper sense of freedom. This talk was given at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple in Portland, OR on June 22, 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

This episode explores how we can live from a place of love, even when we don't feel like we've earned it. We talk about the pressure to be perfect, the feeling of not being enough, and how choosing love—toward ourselves and others—can shift everything. With reflections from Adrienne Maree Brown, Rumi, and other voices, this is an honest look at what it means to let love lead. This talk was given as the fifth talk of the 2025 Loving-Kindness Sesshin. ★ Support this podcast ★

 In this talk Jomon dicusses the practice of metta, Loving-Kindness. She uses the analogy of metta being like the sun. This talk was given as the 4th talk of the 2025 Loving-Kindness Sesshin at Great Vow Zen Monastery. She also tells her story of doing metta for a difficult person and encourages us to do the same in our lives. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Hogen continues his talks from Thich Naht Hanh's Art of Living book. In this talk, Hogen explores the Kalama Sutta and Thich Nhat Hanh's reflections on how to cultivate true faith through direct experience rather than blind belief. We look deeply at how the Buddha encouraged the use of our own critical mind to investigate teachings for ourselves. Through practices like loving-kindness, compassion, and equanimity, we learn to discern what reduces suffering and brings peace. This living, ongoing inquiry keeps our spiritual path alive, fresh, and deeply authentic. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Jogen explores the nature of karma as our participation in creating the world, moment by moment. Using vivid metaphors like sending postcards to our future selves, he illustrates how our past actions echo into the present. He invites us to contemplate how these echoes shape our experience, while reminding us that each moment holds the possibility for fresh, liberating choices. This talk balances deep insight with practical reflections on compassion, equanimity, and freedom from old patterns. This talk was given during the Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple Wednesday night program on June 18, 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is the third talk of the 2025 Metta Sesshin at GVZM.  In this talk, jogen explores the boundless nature of the heart and its deep entanglement with mind, body, and world. Through poetic reflections and vivid metaphors, listeners are invited to question what shapes the heart and how love can continually be chosen. The talk reminds us that tenderness is indiscriminate, that our roots hold both nourishment and toxin, and that awakening is possible when we turn toward wholeness. Ultimately, this episode calls us to stay wholeheartedly engaged in the ever-renewing experiment of love and freedom. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is the second talk of the 2025 Metta Sesshin at GVZM. In this talk Jomon discusses love and appreciation. What do these words really mean, and how to they relate to our lives, right here and now? ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given during the 2025 Loving-Kindness Sesshin at GVZM. This is the first talk of the sesshin. In this talk Jogen discusses Loving-Kindness in general and how we can view metta through a lens of universal friendless.  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Jogen replies to a number of questions from practitioners during the Heart of Wisdom Wednesday night program on June 4 2025. Some questions include: Why is consciousness not the self? How to I balance striving, and relaxing and opening up? How do I balance enjoying pleasure and not attaching to it in my practice?  ★ Support this podcast ★

This is the fifth talk in a series on the Art of Living By Thich Naht Hanh. Hogen dicusses what he calls the physics of reality. He discusses impermanence and how it changes how we relate to our live and our sense of aliveness. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk is the fourth talk in a series on Thich Naht Hanh's book The Art of Living. In this talk Hogen continues to discuss chapter 1 of the book. He talks about our assumptions of who we think we are and how we can open to a more spacious view in our everyday lives.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Bansho during Ancestors Sesshin 2025 on the fourth day. This talk is about "Yunmen's Light" Koan, and many other topics about practicing when deeper in sesshin. He discusses the essence of the practice of zazen, and what we are really doing when we sit. ★ Support this podcast ★

How are we connected to the zen ancestors? To our biological ancestors? This practice is loving, and we are supported by all those who have come before us. This talk was given by Kisei on the last day of Ancestors Sesshin in May 2025 at GVZM. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Hogen on May 11 2025 at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. This is part three of a talk series on Thich Nhat Hahn's Art of Living Book. This talk is a discussion on the chapter titled Emptiness is the Door of Liberation.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was the fourth talk of the 2025 Ancestors Sesshi on May 15 2025.. In this talk Kisei discusses the Koan "Yun Men's Light". What is this light that all of us have? ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Bansho discusses the vows of our ancestors and their continuation in our daily lives. This talk was given by Bansho during the 2025 Light of Our Ancestors sesshin at Great Vow Zen Monastery in May 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk is about the koan "Zuigan Calls His Own Master". Jogen discusses this koan and its implications and nuances including the mind's tendency to stay in habitual pathways, excuses we use to avoid being wakeful and more. This talk was given by Jogen at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on May 28th 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given as the opening talk of 2025 Ancestors Sesshin. In this talk Kisei discusses our practice of sesshin, our relationships to the zen ancestors, and the use of the phrase light in various spiritual contexts. ★ Support this podcast ★

Looking into what is real and exploring the dream-like nature of reality. Are you dreaming? How does this simple question open the heart of compassion? This talk was given by Kisei in April 2025 during her Monday evening online program. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Hogen gives a recap/his version of the introduction of the book The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh. This talk was given by Hogen Roshi on May 4 2025 at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. ★ Support this podcast ★

We make a lot of assumptions about who we are and what is happening, the practice of regarding all dharmas as dreams awakens possibility, it invites us to question our assumptions and perhaps wake up from our self-centered dreams. This talk was given by Kisei in April of 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Hogen Roshi discusses the four divine abidings, or the four Brahma Viharas. These include loving-kindness, equanimity, sympathetic joy and compassion. This talk was given by Hogen Roshi on March 30 2025 at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Chozen Roshi discusses working with koans. She discusses the differences between koan study and formal koan training with a teacher. This talk was given on April 16th 2025 during Koan Sesshin. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Chozen Roshi on April 18th 2025 during Koan Sesshin at Great Vow Zen Monastery. In this talk Chozen talks about when barriers come up during practice and how they are a sign of progress. She also discusses koan practice in various ways, including the koan Joshu's Oak Tree in The Garden.  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Jogen discusses his view on three inherent "rawnesses" that humans have. The three rawnesses are uncertainty, sensory discomfort and lack of control. This talk was given by Jogen at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on April 30, 2025.  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Bansho discusses loving-kindness practice, and warm regard for our experience. This talk was given by Bansho during the 2025 Love and Spaciousness retreat at Great Vow Zen Monastery in May 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk Hogen gives a recap/his version of the first chapter of the Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh. This talk was given by Hogen Roshi on April 27 2025 at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Jogen at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on April 9, 2025. In this talk Jogen gives us advice on five things we can do to make the spiritual path easier. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Hogen Roshi at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on Sunday April 20 2025. In this talk Hogen discusses what koans are, their value, and how to practice with them.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Zen Teacher Jomon at Great Vow Zen Monastery Sunday Program on April 27 2025. In this talk she discusses emotions, social action and how spiritual practice relates to these things.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Kisei, Sensei during her weekly online program in March of 2025. Spiritual practice involves sacrifice, we must give up all habits of separation to realize true intimacy with what is. In this talk we explore the many dimensions of sacrifice and letting go that occur on the spiritual path. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Jogen Sensei at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on March 26, 2025. This is the third talk of a three talk series about the precepts given by Jogen Sensei. In this talk Jogen discusses the precept of not withholding spiritual or material aid, but giving freely when needed. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Jogen Sensei at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on March 5 2025. This is the second talk of a 3 talk series about the precepts given by Jogen Sensei. In this talk Jogen discusses The Three Pure Precepts and their effect on our lives and others lives. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Jogen Sensei at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on March 5 2025. This is the first talk of a 4 talk series about the precepts given by Jogen Sensei. In this talk Jogen discusses the precepts in a broad manner, and discusses ethical and psychological aspects of the precepts. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Amy Kisei Sensei in March 2025. "We live in a crazy time, yet the teachings say samsara has always been this way. Here are the 8 practices I turn towards in moments of crisis. " - Amy Kisei ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Hogen Roshi at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple in Portland, OR on April 6, 2025. In this talk Hogen talks about the inclusive nature of the mind, and becoming aware of awareness itself. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a talk given by Jogen Sensei at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on April 2, 2025. This talk is about cognitive errors and buddhist spiritual practice.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This podcast was given by Amy Kisei Sensei in March of 2025. Exploring Zen's teachings for the end times, this dharma talk reminds us that courage is a practice with heart. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a talk given by Jogen Sensei at Great Vow Zen Monastery During Sound Sesshin on March, 27th. In this talk Jogen discusses the gift of dharma practice in the midst of all of the things we are sold in our modern culture, and many more related topics to this. ★ Support this podcast ★

This Dharma talk was given by Hogen, Roshi at Great Vow Zen Monastery during Sound Sesshin on March 21st, 2025. In this talk Hogen Roshi discusses when people experience crisis in their life and how it propels them into spiritual practice. He also discusses working with koans like the Mu Koan. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a talk given by Jogen Sensei at Great Vow Zen Monastery During Sound Sesshin on March, 20th. In this talk Jogen discusses companioning our experience through tenderness and how we can take care of this life through practice. ★ Support this podcast ★

This Dharma talk was given by Hogen, Roshi at Great Vow Zen Monastery during Sound Sesshin on March 18th, 2025. In this talk Hogen Roshi continues the discussion on The Platfrom Sutra and how meditation or Samadhi is in fact the same as wisdom or Prajna. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a talk given by Jogen Sensei at Great Vow Zen Monastery During Sound Sesshin on March, 17th. In this talk Jogen discusses the Platform Sutra, the spaciousness of sound and how we can use it to practice before our mind evaluates reality.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This Dharma talk was given by Hogen, Roshi at Great Vow Zen Monastery during Sound Sesshin on March 15th, 2025. In this talk Hogen Roshi discusses the foundation of Sesshin, The Platform Sutra and Bodhidharma. ★ Support this podcast ★

An exploration of the archetype of Great Compassion and friendship on the spiritual path. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Kodo Conover on February 2nd, 2025 at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. In this talk Kodo shares her experience of being with those who are dying, our human fragility and examines our assumptions about death. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk was given by Dharma Holder Shonin at Great Vow Zen Monastery on February, 6th 2025. In this talk Shonin discusses the 4th precept or not lying but speaking and embodying the truth.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk is given by Kosho Janet Ault at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on February 9th 2025, given by Assistant Temple Manager at Heart of Wisdom and Manager of Trillium Zen practice house. In this talk Kosho discusses the various facets of death in our culture and in the Mahayana Buddhist view on spiritual death.  ★ Support this podcast ★

The Heart Sutra invites us to discover our true home, right here in our own being. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a guided mediation given by Lama Lekshe King Tamang on January, 13th 2025. In this talk Lama Lekshe discusses a poem she wrote about death and gratitude. ★ Support this podcast ★

This guided meditation was given by Kodo Conover on January 28th, 2025 at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. Kodo helps us find stillness through her years of practice. ★ Support this podcast ★