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In this opening session of Upaya's 2026 Dogen Seminar, Roshi Joan Halifax welcomes a gathering of teachers assembled to explore the life and teaching of Eihei Dogen, the 13th-century Zen master and founder of the Soto school of Zen. Sensei Kaz Tanahashi, whose decades of translation work brought Dogen's Shobogenzo into English, traces its long path from centuries of obscurity to worldwide… Source
In this session of Upaya's Dogen Seminar 2026, Steven Heine, professor of religion and history and director of Asian Studies at Florida International University, traces Dogen's life and teaching — from proverbs posted at Soto temple gates to manga retellings of his years in China. Returning to a question raised the night before, about Bodhidharma's charge to “bear what is unbearable… Source
In this session of Upaya's Dogen Seminar 2026, Roshi Konjin Gaelyn Godwin gives a close textual reading of Dogen's fascicle Shunju, tracing a single koan — when a monk asks how to escape cold and heat, and Dongshan answers, “When it's cold, the cold kills you. When it's hot, the heat kills you” — through the Blue Cliff Record, multiple named commentators, and competing translations. Source
In this session of Upaya's Dogen Seminar 2026, Sensei Kaz Tanahashi traces Dogen's contemporary journey from a Zen ancestor barely mentioned by D.T. Suzuki — whose paradigm of sudden awakening had little room for Dogen's teaching — to a figure now studied in more than two hundred English-language publications and translated into other languages across the world. He recounts his own thirty-three… Source
In this session of Upaya's Dogen Seminar 2026, Roshi Norman Fischer takes up Dogen's fascicle Bodhisattva Shishobo, the Four Methods of Guidance: generosity, kind speech, beneficial action, and identity action. He frames this text as a departure from Dogen's earlier work — scholars believe it may reflect a late-life turn in Dogen away from esoteric philosophy and toward plain ethical conduct. Source
In this session of Upaya's Dogen Seminar 2026, Reverend Tenmyo Dojima introduces baika, the Soto Zen tradition of Buddhist hymn-singing, chanting a hymn drawn from one of Dogen's own poems: “Even upon a high, steep cliff where the rough waves cannot reach, the true Dharma clings and takes firm root, just as oysters cling to the rock.” Roshi Joan introduces the faculty panel of the weekend's… Source
In this final session of Upaya's Dogen Seminar 2026, Sensei Sokaku Kathie Fischer takes up Dogen's Mountains and Waters Sutra, tracing how sustained attention dissolves the boundary between self and world. Drawing on stories from her own practice life, she returns often to the way small, ordinary contact with things — a stone, a teacup, a mountain trail — can either be led by our concepts or… Source
James Flaherty gives a talk on “Making Friends with Dōgen” to the Dharma Seminar on August 12, 2026 referencing Dōgen’s “Bendōwa.” Suggested donation: $7 https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Themes-From-Dogens-Bendowa-Core-Texts-Teachings-of-Dogen-James-Flaherty-August-12-2026.mp3
Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei – ZMM – 08/16/2026 – Drawing on Dogen's Mountains & Rivers Sutra and various texts on walking meditation, Hojin Sensei brings alive a study of how we move through space and time. Drawing on the “virtue of walking” as a constantly alive practice , she asks: how does stillness move? How does practice on the cushion stand up and move through all aspects of our lives?
James Flaherty gives a talk on “Making Friends with Dogen” to the Dharma Seminar referencing Dogen’s “Bendowa”. Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you! https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Making-Friends-With-Dogen-James-Flaherty.mp3
Japan has a reputation for being incredibly safe, but what does “safe” actually mean? The Krewe is joined by Jordan Green, aka AfroInJapan from YouTube & Instagram, to explore safety in Japan beyond just crime, including natural disasters, wildlife, xenophobia, & the considerations travelers & foreign residents should keep in mind. Does Japan live up to it's rep? You be the judge! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Jordan Green/AfroInJapan ------ AfroInJapan on YouTube AfroInJapan on Instagram AfroInJapan's "The Myth of Crime in Japan" ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
James Flaherty give a talk on “Dogen and Orientation” at the Green Gulch Farms All Day Sitting August 2026. Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you! https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dogen-and-Orientation-All-Day-Sitting-2026-James-Flaherty.mp3
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi – 8/9/26 – With effort in practice, we bring forth our natural aliveness. To do this we make an effort to let go of self-clinging and other ways we deplete our energies. Even with expectations of the way we imagine “letting go” to be, when we encounter the reality of how tight we grasp on to our attachments, can we yield our fixed and self-centered ideas? Shugen Roshi explores this energy of aliveness with the Five Powers of the Buddha as well as a koan from Dogen's 300 Koan Shobogenzo. (From The True Dharma Eye, Case 44: Guishan’s “I have already exhausted myself for you.”)
Rev. Sanshin Alexander is a visiting monk from the community of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland UK, and a disciple of Rev. Master Daishin Morgan. In this talk he explores Dogen's phrase 'This is the merit of non-action and non seeking. The awakening to True Wisdom." and how this applies to us in our daily practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday July 5, 2026. YouTube: https://youtu.be/e9vdbBchqTITwitter/X: @shastaabbeyemail: podcast@shastaabbey.org
Most of what we have read or heard about sitting meditation has come from contemporary vehicles for Buddhism. This lovely piece, King of Samadhis, helps communicate the direct teaching of sitting meditation expounded hundreds of years ago to monks in Dogen's assembly. Read the Journal while listening
Solo travel or group travel: is one really better for seeing Japan? The Krewe welcomes Ryotaro Sakurai back to the podcast to break down the pros and cons of both, from flexibility and independence to planning, convenience, and shared experiences. Plus, Ryotaro gives us a look at Umami Travel, the group tour company he's building and why he thinks there's room for a different kind of Japan travel experience. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Ryotaro & Umami Travel ------ Ryotaro's Japan YouTube Channel Ryotaro on IG Umami Travel Website Kessennuma Knitting INEtoAGAVE (Craft Sake) ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
Drawing on Dogen's instructions for the monastery cook, this talk unpacks three orientations that Dogen considered essential to wholeheartedly engaging the way — the happy heart that finds joy in vacuum lines and borrowed victories, the fierce nurturing love of grandmother mind, and the vast unbiased ocean of magnanimous mind that meets every turn of fortune with "we'll see." ★ Support this podcast ★
Bernd Bender, Dharma-Vortrag, Sommer-Sesshin, 22. Juli 2026 in WilhelmsaueIm Zuge unseres Sommer-Sesshins hielt Bernd einen Vortrag über die Kunst der Untätigkeit und ihre Verbindung zur Zen-Praxis. Da Untätigkeit in unserer Gesellschaft als Defizit abgewertet wird, das es schnellstmöglich zu beheben gilt, entgeht uns „das Reich und der Reichtum der Untätigkeit,“ wie der Philosoph Byung-Chul Han sich ausdrückt. Zen kann ein Zugang zu diesem Reich gewähren. Indem wir lernen, in den Dingen zu Ruhen, können wir erfahren, dass alles hier und jetzt da ist, dass nichts hinzugefügt werden muss, und dass wir, so wie wir sind, vollkommen sind. Support the show
What goes into kicking off, planning out, & sustaining a podcast? The Krewe presented their lived experiences in podcasting, along with recommendations & tips for aspiring content creators in the US-Japan space, during a workshop on July 30, 2026 at the NAJAS (National Association of Japan-America Societies) National Conference. This episode is that workshop! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for NAJAS ------ NAJAS Website NAJAS Conference Website ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
Former LSU standout, NBA veteran, and professional basketball player Johnny O'Bryant III joins the Krewe to discuss his unique connections to Japan, from playing for the Ibaraki Robots in Japan's B.League to founding Noir Caesar, his own manga publishing company. We explore his experiences living and competing in Japan, how a lifelong passion for manga grew into a business, and what it takes to balance life as a professional athlete and entrepreneur. It's a conversation about basketball, Japanese culture, creativity, and chasing passions both on and off the court. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Johnny & Noir Caesar ------ Noir Caesar Website Johnny on IG B.League Website ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
What role do Japan Societies and Japan-America Societies play in strengthening the relationship between the United States and Japan? In this episode, the Krewe sits down with Dr. Joshua Walker, former President and CEO of the Japan Society in New York, to discuss U.S.-Japan relations, the unique impact organizations of all sizes can have at every level of cultural exchange, and why local interactions remain essential to the partnership between both nations. We also explore what the future may hold for U.S.-Japan relations and how individuals and communities can help shape it. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Joshua & Japan Society ------ Joshua's LinkedIn Joshua's Book -- Japan: Beyond the Genkan (Amazon) Japan Society (NYC) ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
Dogen speaks clearly about the mind that seeks the way and how to maintain the intensity of practice over time. We couldn't ask for a world of more distraction than the one we currently inhabit. Read the Journal while listening
Season 7 is here! The Krewe kicks off the new season with language learner & content creator Kyle Metcalf, known for his viral street interviews in Japan where he practices his Japanese through conversation... until he's fluent in Japanese! Kyle joins us to share his Japanese language journey, how real conversations helped him build confidence & move towards fluency goals, practical advice for overcoming the fear of speaking, and what goes on behind the scenes of his popular street interview videos. Whether you're just beginning to learn Japanese or looking for inspiration to take your skills further, this episode is full of insights, encouragement, & plenty of fun stories. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Kyle ------ Kyle on Instagram Kyle on TikTok Kyle on YouTube Kyle's TEDx Talk (YouTube) ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
SURPRISE! Season 7 is almost here! The Krewe has been grinding away, putting together a jam-packed line-up of spectacular guests & intriguing episode topics. This preview is packed with sneak peeks at what's to come in Season 7. Some snippets include: - Interviewing Kyle Metcalf in English about interviewing people in Japan until he's fluent in Japanese - Discovering the roles of Japan Societies big & small with Dr. Joshua Walker - Exploring the intersection of manga & basketball with pro basketball player & entrepreneur Johnny O'Bryant III - Debating the benefits of solo travel vs group travel with YouTuber & travel expert Ryotaro Sakurai of LifeBridge & Umami Travel - Finding out if Japan really is safe with Jordan Green aka AfroInJapan - Unearthing opportunities for intercultural exchange through the Fullbright Program with Dr. Rose Honegger - Indulging in some Kabuki theatre with Larry Kominz - Tapping into the creativity of cosplay with Maria of Oz Costumes - Teaching Japanese through the J-LEAP Program with Aina Kondo - Hitting the hiking trails of Tohoku with Quinlan of Go North Japan This is only HALF of what's to come this season... we got a lot more still in the works but gotta keep that unwrapped! So stay tuned for our season 7 premiere on July 10, 2026 and stick around for the rest of the season to find out what else we have in store on Season 7 of Krewe of Japan Podcast!! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
Rev. Patrick Teverbaugh - Dogen's Heart of the Way Dogen's Heart of the Way Rev. Patrick Teverbaugh
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Fushin takes us through the currents of the Buddha’s raft metaphor — where practice becomes binding together grass, twigs, and branches to cross from a shore that is dangerous and fearful to one that is safe. Drawing on Dogen’s Uji (Being-Time), Fushin challenges the notion of completion, suggesting there is actually no shore to rest on: “There’s no shore to reach, and there’s no clean sequence of this crossing and this river and this arrival.” Blending the relative and absolute, Fushin turns us away from the notion of a distant destination: “The raft and the shore aren’t two different places. They never were.” Through stories of a dying chemistry professor’s unguarded joy, a crisis counselor named Janice whose presence asked nothing, a climbing partner’s quiet word at a frozen moment, and his grandmother’s overcooked roast served as pure love, Fushin traces how we become rafts for each other without knowing it. “Sometimes we build the raft, sometimes we’re carried by it, and sometimes we’re someone else’s raft without even knowing it.”
Case 93 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; May 7, 2024): Shenshan was sewing when Dongshan said, “What are you doing?” Shenshan said, “I am sewing.” Dongshan said, “What is sewing?” Shenshan said, “Each stitch follows the other.” Dongshan said, “If my companion of twenty years says so, I guess there is a point.” Shenshan said, “What would you say, Elder?” Dongshan said, “Each stitch is like the earth exploding." —from The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki Tanahashi You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Case 76 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; April 16, 2024): Dagui was once asked by a monastic, “What is the Way?” Dagui said, “No-mind is the Way.” The monastic said, “I don't understand it.” Dagui said, “It's good to understand not-understanding.” The monastic said, “What is not-understanding?” Dagui said, “It's just that you are not anyone else.” —from The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki Tanahashi You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Case 70 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; February 20, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Case 77 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; March 5, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Case 73 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; April 2, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo, Case 59 (Koun Franz; December 5, 2023). You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Case 67 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; January 31, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Drawing on Dogen's meditation manual, Rumi's "Guest House," and the playful wisdom of Zen ancestor Joshu, Bansho explores how zazen is an embodied practice of patient absorption — not a mental project — where welcoming whatever arises with steadiness and lightheartedness reveals that the ordinary mind itself is the way. ★ Support this podcast ★
Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo, Case 47 (Koun Franz; September 19, 2023):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Dan Orlowitz re-joins the Krewe to preview Japan's tournament outlook. We break down Samurai Blue's final roster, key players to watch, group-stage matchups, and what a successful World Cup would look like for Japan. Plus, Dan shares his predictions for the tournament's biggest surprises, disappointments, and who he thinks will be lifting the trophy when it's all said and done. Whether you're a diehard soccer fan or a once-every-four-years World Cup viewer, this episode is the perfect primer before kickoff. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Past KOJ Sports-Related Episodes ------ Bridging Communities Through MLB Players Trust ft. Amy Hever & Chris Capuano (S6E18) Japanese Soccer on the World Stage ft. Dan Orlowitz (S6E6) Meet the J.League ft. Dan Orlowitz (S6E4) Kendo: The Way of the Sword ft. Alexander Bennett, 7th Dan in Kendo (S4E16) The Life of a Sumotori ft. 3-Time Grand Champion Konishiki Yasokichi (S4E10) Talking Sumo ft. Andrew Freud (S1E8) ------ About Dan Orlowitz ------ Dan's Socials & Writings J-Talk Podcast ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk preceding the weekend retreat Planting Life, longtime teacher and master gardener Wendy Johnson calls the community “to plant life together in utterly dangerous times.” Weaving traditional ecological knowledge, Dogen's Instructions to the Cook, and more than fifty years of earth dharma practice, Wendy plants us deep in our seats, reminding us planting is: “not… Source
1285 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Taigen Dan Leighton The post Dogen's Extensive Record and American History first appeared on Ancient Dragon Zen Gate.
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.
Days before the official opening of our temple, Sensouji (千湊寺), some thoughts on the temple and what we really do offer. (Koun Franz; July 4, 2023) Case 56 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo: “It's just that the gift belongs to everyone.”The giver, receiver, and the gift are the same. You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.
Dogen said that enlightenment is an intimacy with all things. Mary reflects on this thought and it's similarity to equanimity and an undefended heart. How do we show up for the reality of the moment with complete openness. It is a journey and all we can do is begin with right now.Recorded Mary 23, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.
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.
Almost exactly one year after Season 6's Expo 2025 deep dive with Sachiko Yoshimura, the Krewe closes the loop with two people who were actually there. Lea Disimone & Bridget McCarthy served as Youth Ambassadors at the US Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, and they share what the program was really like from the inside, from a day in the life to the lasting impact it left on them. Two New Orleans connections, one world's fair, and a conversation worth the wait. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, Threads: @kreweofjapanpodcast & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Past KOJ Episodes ------ Expo 2025: Japan on the World Stage ft. Sachiko Yoshimura [S6E2] Hanging Out In Hyogo ft. Rob Dyer of The Real Japan [S5E14] Checking Out Miyagi ft. Ryotaro Sakurai (Guest Host, William Woods) [S5E5] Explore Matsue ft. Nicholas McCullough [S4E19] Travel Hiroshima ft. Joy Jarman-Walsh [S4E4] Travel Aomori ft. Kay Allen & Megan DeVille [S3E17] Hungry For Travel ft. Shinichi of TabiEats [S3E15] Henro SZN: Shikoku & the 88 Temple Pilgrimage ft. Todd Wassel [S3E12] ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
Norman gives a dharma talk on “Dogen’s Refrain From Unwholesome Action” to the Mountain Rain Sesshin May 2026. https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Dogens-_Refrain-From-Unwholsome-Action_-Mountain-Rain-Sesshin-May-2026.mp3
Beginning with this segment of the UnMind podcast and DharmaByte column, I want to depart from commenting on the content of my Substack postings, which feature chapters from a manuscript we anticipate publishing in future, working title: "Speaking With One (Zen) Voice." It is subtitled: "25 Centuries of Buddha-Dharma; 3 Countries of Origin; 9 Dharma Masters; 2 Dozen Teachings; with Commentary by an American ZenElder." Long subtitle, but at least it lets you know what your are in for. Instead, in going forward, I want to introduce you to some of the most mysterious and compelling implications of Buddhism that I have come across in my studies, admittedly limited to those texts that are available in English translation. The first is the startling claim that Buddha enjoys an infinite life span throughout eternity, as testified to in the Lifespan Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, considered to be his last teaching. This use of "buddha" should, I think, be understood in both senses: as it relates to the historical "fully-awakened one," his teachings about reality and his place in it—Buddha with a capital "B"; as well as its application to human consciousness—buddha with a small "b." The latter, generalized as buddha-nature, true of all sentient beings. This message implies that in our conventional wisdom—philosophical and religious beliefs surrounding the "Great Matter" of birth and death—we are making a kind of category error as to first causes and final conclusions. Let's take a look at what a cursory bit of research online has to say about this phrase, consulting Master AI: AI Overview — category errorA category mistake (or category error) is a logical fallacy where an object, property, or concept is mistakenly assigned to a category to which it does not belong. Popularized by philosopher Gilbert Ryle, it often involves treating abstract concepts as if they were physical objects, or mixing up different logical levels, such as asking for the "location" of a team's "spirit" after seeing the players. Note that the fallacy is defined as "logical," calling into question all instances of the most basic category of intelligence: logic itself. Next, our friendly online AI assistant lists examples of various types of category mistakes, such as confusion between the abstract and the physical, mixing up parts and wholes, conflating mental and physical phenomena, as well as functional, linguistic, and scientific confusions. All conceptual. Then, we are treated to key characteristics of categorical errors, including rank absurdity or nonsense; nouns as subjects of verbs they cannot perform; using terms in the wrong syntactical context; or using inadequate data to support an analytical operation. Dutifully providing links for further study to various online sources such as Reddit, Philiosophy Stack Exchange, and YouTube, AI summarizes succinctly: Essentially, it is a way to make a philosophical argument cringe by treating a "concept" as a "thing." Glad we cleared that up! Speaking of "making a philosophical argument "cringe" is, in itself, intentionally or not, a kind of category error, is it not? Can an argument cringe? Do AIs have a sense of humor? However you feel about the current debate over AIs encroaching upon human territory—which may be another categorical error, just on a meta level—you have to admit that they can throw together a neat and comprehensive summary, saving this writer the time and effort it would take to track down all of those links. Good enough to support the point I am trying to make, anyway. My point being that Buddha seems to be saying, based on his own direct research in meditation, that we are grossly misinterpreting the phenomena of birth and death, making a "thing" of the concepts we have about them. If birth, as well as death, are not "things,"—that is, not real—in the sense we imagine, it begs the question, then what are they? They definitely denote a change, but what order of change? This seems to be the point of one of the standout assertions of the Hsinhsinming—Trust in Mind, from Sengcan, third patriarch of Ch'an Buddism: Change appearing to occur in the empty world we call "real" only because of our ignorance We can understand this claim on a universal level, I think. From the perspective of the solar system or the galaxy, change on this tiny planet does not seem all that dramatic. But on a proximate and personal scale, it takes on draconian dimensions. Matsuoka-roshi's suddenly cutting off one of his senior student's statement about dying is another finger pointing at this particular moon. He didn't qualify the assertion. He just said, matter-of-factly, "You don't die," correcting the assumption "Sensei, when I die" mid-expression. What it is that we refer to as "I" comes under intense scrutiny in Zen. We assume that this aggregation—of what are called the Five Skandhas: form, feeling, thought, impulse and consciousness; and the Six Senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and thinking—taken together, is what constitutes the "I" in question. This self-awareness is then assumed to have been born with the birth of the body-mind complex, developing along with the fetus in the womb, consciousness slowly emerging out of the growth of the brain and nervous system. This is common knowledge. Which is why it is callenged in Zen. Another reference to the kind of singular realization that Zen is pointing to comes from Tozan Ryokai, 200 years after Sengcan, in Hokyo Zammai—Precious Mirror Samadhi: Although it is not constructed it is not beyond wordsLike facing a precious mirror form and reflection behold each other You are not IT but in truth IT is you The first line refers to the unconstructed nature of what Master Muso Kokushi, a generation or two after Master Dogen in Japan, called the "uncreate" in his letters, or "Dream Conversations," to the two brothers who shared the shogunate at the time. Master Dogen also pointed a few fingers at this same moon, such as this excerpt from Fukanzazengi—Principles of Seated Meditation recently posted by Joan Halifax-roshi: Put aside the intellectual practice of investigating words and chasing phrases, and learn to take the backward step that turns the light around and shine it inward. Your body and mind will drop away of themselves, and your original face will manifest. If you want to get into touch with things as they are, you—right here and now—have to start being yourself, as you are. Approaching "things as they are," the singularity of Zen, then, requires a fundamental reversal, a 180-degree flip, of our usual approach to learning, engaging in un-learning. Not learning something new, but unlearning what we think we know, in order to return to the original state of not-knowing. Huineng, sixth patriarch in China, coined the phrase: Show me your original face before your father and mother were born Another teaching attributed to Hakuin Zenji asks, "What nostrils would there be on that face?" In other words, what was THIS—long before our body came into being? Whatever that was, it must also still be what it is after the body deconstructs into its components, as Master Dogen asserts in another teaching: Just as firewood does not become firewood again after it is ashYou do not return to birth after death This analogy refutes the common (mis)belief in reincarnation left over from early Hinduism—that there is an essence, entity, or spirit, the atman, a "thing"—believed to be reborn again and again, transmigrating from one lifetime to another. There is no "you" to return to birth, just as there is no "you" that can die. The body is the firewood. Buddha testified that he found no evidence of the existence of such a "thing" in his direct experience, likening the incarnated body to a chariot. When the chariot is taken apart, and the parts are laid out on the ground, where, he asked, is the chariot? The chariot (or any other thing) functions as a chariot only when assembled. There is no entity, no "there" there, between the parts somewhere. Likewise, the human body, which seems to be one thing, is more like a jellyfish, consisting of an unimaginably complex amalgam of many parts all functioning together to create the illusion of a single entity. This raises the question of what kind, or order, of experience Buddha can be talking about, if at the center of it there is no self, no soul, nothing but connectivity of the parts. How can that realization even be called an "experience"? This conundrum is hinted at in the Heart Sutra, after a long line of negations: "given emptiness...no seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching...no realm of sight, no realm of mind-consciousness," etc. Again, Zen wisdom from Master AI: The phrase "until we come to no consciousness also" refers to a specific passage in the Heart Sutra (Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya) that systematically negates the traditional Buddhist categories of experience to reveal their "emptiness" (śūnyatā). Which brings us to the functioning of zazen, or shikantaza, the objectless meditation of Zen. It is often misinterpreted as "emptying your mind of thought." But this is not the point of zazen, however, and in any case not really feasible. Thinking is not the problem; it is our over-reliance on thinking that gets in the way. It is not for nothing that Zen is called the meditation school of Buddhism. All other sects practice meditation to some degree, of course, but the singular emphasis upon upright seated meditation belongs to Zen, primarily Soto Zen, or what we refer to as "Dogen Zen," as illustrated by this line from his Jijuyu Zammai—Self-fulfilling Samadhi: From the first time you meet a master without engaging in incense offering chanting Buddha's name repentence or reading scriptureyou should just wholeheartedly sit and thus drop away body and mindWhen even for a moment you express the Buddha's sealby sitting upright in Samadhi the whole phenomenal world becomes the Buddha's seal and the entire sky turns into enlightenment Emphasis mine. One aspect of Dogen's particular genius was to recognize the centrality of this practice of upright seated meditation, referred to as the genuine transmission of realization from generation to generation of the lineage, going all the way back to Shakyamuni himself. And according to Buddha himself, even previous, "prehistoric buddhas." Like transmitting art or music, the method can be taught, but the essence of the practice cannot. Art and Zen have to be discovered by the student from their own experience. In the process, they have to set aside all they think they have learned. Zen and creativity are based on the process of unlearning what we have learned to the present. A current trope may make this point a bit more succinctly. In zazen, we are "reverse-engineering" consciousness itself, allowing it to manifest untrammeled by our ideas about it. Let's pick up the thread in the next segment. Meanwhile, practice-practice-practice: attention-attention-attention.
With NASA's Artemis II mission sending humans around the Moon for the first time since the 70s, we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes from 2024. The Krewe sat down with Dr. Kate Kitagawa of JAXA for a fascinating look at Japan's role in the global space race: from SLIM's pinpoint lunar landing to Japan's partnership in the Artemis program and beyond. If the Moon is on your mind right now, this one's for you. ++++++ OG Show Notes ++++++ Prepare for lift off as the Krewe sits down with returning guest Dr. Kate Kitagawa of JAXA to look deep into the past, present, and future of Japan's space program! From pencil rockets & SLIM landers to international collaborative efforts, discover Japan's role in exploring the far reaches of outer space. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, Threads: @kreweofjapanpodcast & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Past Episodes with Dr. Kate Kitagawa ------ The Age of Lady Samurai (S01E12) ------ Links about JAXA & Dr. Kate Kitagawa ------ JAXA (English) on Twitter JAXA (Japanese) on Twitter JAXA on Instagram JAXA (English) on Facebook JAXA (Japanese) on Facebook JAXA Website (Japanese) JAXA Website (English) ISAS (English) on Twitter ISAS (Japanese) on Twitter ISAS on Instagram JAXA on YouTube JAXA Space Education Center Website (English) MMX Game Lunarcraft Game SLIM The Pinpoint Moon Landing Game Kate's Book "The Secret Lives of Numbers" Kate's Website ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!
04/04/2026, Marc Lesser, dharma talk at City Center. Marc Lesser weaves together personal stories, Shunryu Suzuki, Dogen, and the Enneagram, in an exploration of how we interpret our identities and the world.
04/01/2026, Henzan Roger Hillyard, dharma talk at City Center. Roger Hillyard explores how Dogen's most poetic sutra, Mountains and Rivers, can help us practice with tragedy and lead us towards equanimity.
Norman gives his third talk on Dogen’s “Refrain From Unwholesome Action” as found in fascicle 11 in Kaz Tanahashi’s translation of the Shobogenzo, “Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Shobo Genzo.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you! https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Dogens-_Refrain-from-Unwholesome-Action_-Talk-3.mp3
Norman gives his second talk on Dogen’s “Refrain From Unwholesome Action” as found in fascicle 11 in Kaz Tanahashi’s translation of the Shobogenzo, “Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Shobo Genzo.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you! https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Dogens-_Refrain-From-Unwholesome-Action_-Talk-2.mp3