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January 2026 Sesshin, Day 6 Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Hekiganroku #24 , “Irongrindstones Tetsuma” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
January 2026 Sesshin, Day 5 Commentary on Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart. (ed. by Roko Sherry Chayat). Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Maurine Stuart: “Subtle Sound” #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
January 2026 Sesshin, Day 4 Commentary on Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart (ed. by Roko Sherry Chayat). Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Maurine Stuart: “Subtle Sound” #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
January 2026 Sesshin, Day 3 Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor). Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Kusan Sunim: “The Way of Korean Zen” #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
January 2026 Sesshin, Day 2 Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor). Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Kusan Sunim: “The Way of Korean Zen” #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
January 2026 Sesshin, Day 1 Commentary on The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim (trans. by Martine Batchelor). Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Kusan Sunim: “The Way of Korean Zen” #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Understanding the Buddha's fundamental teaching – The origin of suffering is craving, attachment, and ignorance. Seeing how grasping leaves us unable to appreciate our lives. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Getting There vs. Being Here appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
December 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 Commentary on “Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha: The Life and Zen Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi”. Part 2 Dharma Talk by Eryl Kubicka. Automated Transcript The post Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Decemner 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 Commentary on “Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha: The Life and Zen Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi”. Part 1 Dharma Talk by Eryl Kubicka. Automated Transcript The post Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Exploring sights along the spiritual journey and how to navigate the path of Zen. Includes excerpts from Deepening Zen: The Long Maturation, Book 2 by Roshi Mitra Bishop. Teisho by Sensei Jissai Prince-Cherry. Automated Transcript The post No Map: Finding Our Way In Zen Practice appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Accepting others as ourselves. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post The Buddhist Precepts appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Why does a practice that is so utterly simple feel so difficult? Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Simple, Not Easy appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Commentary on an Interview of Richard Gere About the Dalai Lama Talk by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Two Flavors of Dharma appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
November 2025 Sesshin, Day 6 Commentary on “Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen” by Master Sheng-Yen and John Crook Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Illuminating Silence #6 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
November 2025 Sesshin, Day 5 Commentary on “Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen” by Master Sheng-Yen and John Crook Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Illuminating Silence #5 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
November 2025 Sesshin, Day 4 Commentary on “Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen” by Master Sheng-Yen and John Crook Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Illuminating Silence #4 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
November 2025 Sesshin, Day 3 Commentary on “Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen” by Master Sheng-Yen and John Crook Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Illuminating Silence #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
November 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 Commentary on “Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen” by Master Sheng-Yen and John Crook Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Illuminating Silence #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
November 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 Commentary on “Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen” by Master Sheng-Yen and John Crook Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Illuminating Silence #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Coming to the Path Talk by Catherine Jones. Automated Transcript The post Coming to the Path Talk by Catherine Jones appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
How does our True Self that is No Self function in everyday life? Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Self and No Self appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
What we're looking for is here. Learning not to look past this moment. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post This Moment Itself Is Mind appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
October 2025 Sesshin, Day 6 Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Mumonkan #47, “Tosotsu's Three Barriers” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
October 2025 Sesshin, Day 5 Commentary on “Ichi Tantei, One Doing: Tangen Roshi of Bukkokuji.” Edited by Ron Klein. Translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa. Independently published, 2024. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Harada Tangen Roshi #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
October 2025 Sesshin, Day 4 Commentary on “Ichi Tantei, One Doing: Tangen Roshi of Bukkokuji.” Edited by Ron Klein. Translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa. Independently published, 2024. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Harada Tangen Roshi #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
October 2025 Sesshin, Day 3 Commentary on “The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Hakuin.” Translated by Normal Waddell. Shambhala, 1994 Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Zen Master Hakuin #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
October 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 Commentary on “The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Hakuin.” Translated by Normal Waddell. Shambhala, 1994 Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Zen Master Hakuin #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
October 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 Commentary on “The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Hakuin.” Translated by Normal Waddell. Shambhala, 1994. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Zen Master Hakuin #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Though zazen is mainly considered a concentration practice, mindfulness plays an important role as well. Whether we're working in the kitchen or walking in a park, everything flows more freely once mindfulness is in the forefront and we get out of the way. Dharma Talk by Ven. Trueman Taylor. Automated Transcript The post The Two Sides of Practice: Mindfulness and Concentration appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
All beings and things expound the Dharma. With their spontaneity and wholehearted singing, what can we learn from birds? Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post The Dharma of Birds appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Trying to be perfect backfires and cuts us off from life. Openness and willingness is a better way. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Stop Fixing Yourself appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
What is a Zen teacher? What can a Zen teacher give you? This commentary was given on the day after her Zen teacher sanctioning ceremony. Teisho by Sensei Jissai Prince-Cherry. Automated Transcript The post Blue Cliff Record #11: “Obaku's ‘Mash Eaters'” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Three encouragement talks given by Roshi Philip Kapleau during a 1975 sesshin, accompanied by comments from his successor, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Presented in honor of Founder's Day—Roshi Kapleau's birthday. Talk by Roshi Philip Kapleau. Automated Transcript The post Sesshin Encouragement appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Forgetting the self and awakening to the “world of ten thousand things.” Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Unselfing appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
July 2025 Sesshin, Day 6 Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Shoyoroku #20: Dizang's “Most Intimate” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
July 2025 Sesshin, Day 5 Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Mumonkan #15: Tozan and Sixty Blows appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
July 2025 Sesshin, Day 4 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Master Daikaku, Part 2. Source: The Original Face: An Anthology of Rinzai Zen by Thomas F. Cleary (Editor). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Master Daikaku #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
July 2025 Sesshin, Day 3 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Master Daikaku, Part 1. Source: The Original Face: An Anthology of Rinzai Zen by Thomas F. Cleary (Editor). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Master Daikaku #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
July 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Masters Foyan and Daikaku. Sources: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present by Thomas Cleary (Translator) and The Original Face: An Anthology of Rinzai Zen by Thomas F. Cleary (Editor). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Masters Foyan and Daikaku appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
July 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Master Foyan. Source: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present by Thomas Cleary (Translator). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Master Foyan appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Opening up to life as it is requires us to let go of the desire to be in control of conditions and to get intimate with suffering — not just our own, but the suffering of others and the planet. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Turning to “No Hope” in Difficult Times appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
June 2025 Sesshin, Day 6 Commentary on “Everyday Zen: Love & Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck, Part 2 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Everyday Zen #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
June 2025 Sesshin, Day 5 Commentary on “Everyday Zen: Love & Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck, Part 1 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Everyday Zen #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
June 2025 Sesshin, Day 4 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha's Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 4 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #4 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
June 2025 Sesshin, Day 3 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha's Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 3 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
June 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha's Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 2 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
June 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha's Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 1 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Finding the Silence that doesn't depend on conditions. Dharma Talk by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post Beyond Words and No Words appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Moshan Liaoran (c. mid-late 800s) was the first female ancestor to be recognized in the official record of Dharma transmission. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal. Automated Transcript The post Moshan Liaoran and the Way of Women appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.
Our evolutionary heritage instills and reinforces the dream of self and other and blinds us to how little is actually within our control. Everything begins to open up when we drop our demands and learn to work with things as they are. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript The post The Delusion of a Separate Self appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.