Japanese Buddhist monk who popularized Zen in the US
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In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Jiryu affirms the central practice of Zen is to become truly ourselves. Reading from Suzuki Roshi's teachings, and sharing quotes from Shohaku Okamura, Katagiri Roshi, and […]
Neal Shorstein gives the ninth talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Mind Waves." This series of talks is given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/08/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-9-Mind-Waves-Neal-Shorstein.mp3
Neal Shorstein gives the tenth and last talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Nirvana, the Waterfall." This series of talks is given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/08/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-10-Nirvana-the-Waterfall-Anlor-Davin.mp3
Michael Guilfond gives the seventh talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "God Giving." This series of talks is given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-7-God-Giving-Michael-Guilfond.mp3
Judy Fleischman gives the eighth talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "God Giving." This series of talks is given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-8-God-Giving-Judy-Fleischman.mp3
Steve Gross gives the sixth talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "No Trace." This series of talks is given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-6-No-Trace-Steve-Gross.mp3
Alan Block gives the fifth talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Control." This series of talks is given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-5-Control-Alan-Block.mp3
John Murray gives the fourth talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Beyond Experience." This series is part of five class talks given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-4-Beyond-Consciousness-John-Murray.mp3
Christopher Dumbleton gives the third talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Experience Not Philosophy." This series is part of five class talks given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-3-Experience-Not-Philosophy-Christopher-Dumbleton.mp3
James Flaherty gives the second talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Prologue: Beginner's Mind." This series is part of five class talks given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-2-Study-Yourself-James-Flaherty.2.mp3
Judith Gilbert gives the first talk of the Zen Mind Beginner's Mind 2025 Series on "Prologue: Beginner's Mind." This series is part of five class talks given by senior Everyday Zen teachers on the chapter of their choice from Suzuki Roshi's book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. 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/2025/07/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Mind-2025-Series-Talk-1-Prologue_-Beginner_s-Mind-Judith-Gilbert.mp3
07/05/2025, Mark Lesser, dharma talk at City Center. Marc Lesser discusses a teaching from Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh: Breathing, smiling and living are three ways to practice.
07/02/2025, Doshin Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center. Doshin Dan Gudgel explores the image of Indra's Net and how it relates to life in this complicated, messy modern world.
06/22/2025, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. As senior dharma teacher Linda Ruth Cutts prepares to move from Green Gulch and SFZC residency after 54 years she brings up the practice of being upright in the midst of great change.
06/21/2025, Esho Sudan, dharma talk at City Center. Esho Sudan explores the life-story and great legacy of Sozen Nagasawa Roshi, a Soto Zen abbess and teacher, founder of the only women's training monastery in WW2-era Japan.
2025-06-10 I Inquiry I Suzuki Roshi's “Swinging Door” I Joel Barna by Appamada
06/07/2025, Monitsu Pamela Weiss, dharma talk at City Center. Monitsu Pamela Weiss explores the stories of our early women ancestors, Mahapajapati and Yasodhara.
06/04/2025, Monitsu Pamela Weiss, dharma talk at City Center. Monitsu Pamela Weiss explores the life of Huineng and living a life of vow, in this talk from the summer 2025 practice intensive at Beginner's Mind Temple.
06/01/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler takes up the theme of “Becoming Yourself,” the title of a new book of talks by Suzuki Roshi, by reflecting on two lines from the book.
05/25/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Shosan Victoria Austin examines the Memorial Day holiday through a Buddhist lens, particularly looking at the ethical dilemmas in the oaths taken in our society.
05/14/2025, Myogen Kathryn Stark, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, Myogen Kathryn Stark talks about Shantideva, his work on the Way of the Bodhisattva, and how we apply this to our own lives.
05/14/2025, Tatsudo Nicole Baden, dharma talk at City Center. Tatsudo Nicole Baden explores two foundational Buddhist perspectives: that everything changes (impermanence) and that everything is interconnected (interdependence).
05/11/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, drawing on Suzuki Roshi's teachings, points to Zen practice as fundamentally about opening to the innate love and innate wonder that is our basic nature as human beings.
05/10/2025, Jisho Lisa Hoffman, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, Jisho Lisa Hoffman reflects on Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, and her teacher Darlene Cohen.
05/07/2025, Ryotan Cynthia Kear, dharma talk at Tassajara. During a study week devoted to her teachings, Cynthia shares her memories of her teacher, Darlene Cohen.
Kōgetsu Mok discusses Suzuki Roshi's "Not Always So"—Be Kind with Yourself.Our practice has an emphasis on warm heart and warm zazen. This kind of practice shows us how to take care of ourselves, our lives and others. When we're kind with our breathing, true practice can emerge as we learn to manage our impulses and busy lives.
05/04/2025, Myles Cowherd, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Myles Cowherd outlines core Zen Buddhist teachings and practices, emphasizing the discovery of inherent Buddha-nature, a guided meditation for presence and compassion, and a positive reframing of the precepts as a guide for life.
05/03/2025, Peter van der Sterre, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinnji), Peter van der Sterre reflects on his years of practice at Zen Center, the people who particularly inspired him, and the value of sitting in community.
In this second full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Shinzan explores the Four Bodhisattva Vows as expressions of what Suzuki Roshi described as an “inflexible determination to carry out one's will […]
04/27/2025, Myoju Erin Merk, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Myoju Erin Merk reflects on the yogic power of simplicity in Zen practice, emphasizing how grounding ourselves in the present moment can restore steadiness and wholeness amid overwhelm.
04/26/2025, Sozan Miglioli, dharma talk at City Center. Sozan Miglioli explores the vertical and horizontal dimensions of practice. Understanding this balance between depth and breadth, between going deep and going wide, is key. In today's world, we often lean too far toward one at the expense of the other.
04/16/2025, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at City Center. Shundo David Haye reflects on the upcoming lay ordination ceremony at Beginner's Mind Temple, and talks about how a teacher sees a student: both how they are right now, and the potential of who they will become through practice.
Eli Brown-Stevenson offers a talk titled The Art of Just This. Inspired by art and this quote from Suzuki Roshi, Eli talks about the importance of being with the process and not just focused on outcomes and results. “A wonderful painting is the result of the feeling in your fingers. If you have the feeling of the thickness of the ink in your in your brush, the painting is already there before you paint.”
04/13/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler reflects on comments from Suzuki Roshi's talks on Case #36 of the Blue Cliff Record, exploring lines like “Buddhists resign from the world of suffering in order to live in the world of perpetual joy” and “human beings prefer the unreal to the real.”
04/12/2025, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at City Center. Ryuko Laura Burges, a lay entrusted teacher, talks about the timeless power of story and shares her recent book, Wisdom Stories of Tibet: Tales of Magic, Adventure, and Bravery.
Norman gives a talk to the Dharma Seminar on "Becoming Yourself." This is based on excerpts of a new upcoming book on Suzuki Roshi by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler that is to be published within the next year. https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Susuki-Roshi-Becoming-Yourself.mp3
In light of revelations about the theft of countless authors' work by one A.I. company (guess which one), Ethan finally talks about a topic he's been requested to cover for a while: Buddhist views on artificial intelligence. He begins by positioning the conversation within the frame of View and Intention, asking the question of what "technology" is and why and how we even want it to progress, along with proposing the sacredness of human labor, wisdom and creativity as a basic Buddhist principle, as well as a principle of right livelihood. He also includes a Buddhist understanding of the meaning of consciousness, and why AI might never meet the standard. Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor Dharma Moon. Free video courses, such as The Three Marks of Existence, are also available for download. Notes: To see some of the energy usage date on artificial intelligence, see this link To see which author's works have been pirated, see The Atlantic's list here. To read about The "Suzuki Roshi" Chatbot, read here. An alternate translation of Suzuki Roshi's famed quote to his students is: “Each of you is perfect the way you are ... and you can use a little improvement.”
03/23/2025, Gil Fronsdal, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Gil Fronsdal explores the profound importance of pausing between stimulus and response.
Beginner's mind is a Zen Buddhist principle of seeing everything as new, as it is, without preconception or expectation. It can be considered the simplest state but also the most advanced. Mind identifies, creates the illusion of separation, and focuses on survival of the individual body and psychological structure. But we can open to “big mind,” our true nature which has limited itself, as occurs in deep sleep and sometimes in meditation. We all experience freedom from the prison of ordinary mind at times in life—as the sun peeks through the clouds—because it is our nature. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is a book by Suzuki Roshi, who referred to beginner's mind as the “goal” of practice. Quotes from the book and from the American teacher Lee Lozowick are discussed. A matrix of practice is needed to hold beginner's mind, which is not something we can bring about. We can see that everything is transient, but we often don't see that we're always changing as well and that there is no solid self. Calmness arises as we give images in our mind a large spacious meadow, allowing them to come and go, which requires special effort. If we do not indulge our tendencies, ego will show us itself at deeper levels. Practice without gaining idea does not mean to have no purpose. Just to do something can be our purpose. If we have spiritual pride in our understanding, we will lose the characteristic of beginner's mind, which cuts though pride in the knowledge that everything comes from big mind. Vajra pride is unshakable self-esteem rooted in recognition of our true nature, which everyone has. True creativity comes from nothing. The greatest moments of creativity come when we forget what we know. Life continues to put us in new situations where we are beginners again. VJ Fedorschak is the organizer of the Western Baul Podcast Series and the author of The Shadow on the Path and Father and Son.
03/09/2025, Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler explores the practice of seeing the present moment, just as it is, as “the mystic peak” of spiritual fulfillment, with reference to Suzuki Roshi's comments on case #23 of the Blue Cliff Record.
03/01/2025, Edward Brown, dharma talk at City Center. Edward Espe Brown shares teachings from Eihei Dogen's “Tenzo Kyokun”, and stories from practicing as tenzo (head cook) at Tassajara under the guidance of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.
02/22/2025, Dōshin Mako Voelkel, dharma talk at City Center. Abiding Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel explores the dharma teachings of the past year-plus of renovation work, community cooperation and trying new forms.
02/19/2025, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. Anshi Zachary Smith asks “How can we study and engage with memory and mind processes in such a way that it allows for skillful, discerning activity?”
______________ Steven Tierney (Kai Po Koshin) is a Dharma transmitted teacher in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Steven has a new Sangha: Oceans Compassion Sangha and also practices with Gay Buddhist Fellowship, Meditation in Recovery at SFZC, Great Spirit Sangha, SFLGBTQA Sangha, and the Hartford Street Zen Center. Steven believes that we can find wisdom, compassion and awakening wherever good people come together for practice, healing, service and joy. Dr. Tierney is a psychotherapist in private practice and Professor Emeritus in Counseling Psychology at CIIS.He is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been named a Diplomate in Clinical Mental Health by the American Mental Health Counselors Association. He is also a certified suicide prevention and intervention trainer, providing workshops, classes, and consultations. Steven can be reached at 415-235-1061 or steventierneysf@gmail.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
02/08/2025, Doshin Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center. Doshin Dan Gudgel offers suggestions and principles for providing and engaging in online practice, and celebrates the connection between ‘sacred' and ‘everyday' activities in Soto Zen.
02/01/2025, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. Sozan Michael McCord uses the lens of "The Harmony of Difference and Equality" by Shitou Xiqian, to unpack the relevance of remembrances such as Black History Month and how such events are not in conflict with our ultimate truth, that we are all one interconnected humanity.
01/15/2025, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. Anshi Zachary Smith examines two koans (Zen teaching stories) from the Blue Cliff Record that have to do with duality, and rice.
12/21/2024, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. On the occasion of the Winter Solstice, Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman delves into the themes of stillness, rest, liminality, and balance.
12/10/2024, Chikudo Catherine Spaeth, dharma talk at Tassajara.
Helping us reflect on our daily habits and feelings, Jack shares how Right Attitude, Wise Aspiration, and Mindful Thought allow us to uncover the sweet joy of living in The Way.This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.“With Wise Attitude we begin to discover the power of kindness, the joy in not grasping, the delight in generosity, the ease in letting go, and the immediacy of freedom and liberation that is here in every moment.” – Jack KornfieldExploring the second step of the Eightfold Path, Jack mindfully shares on:Right Attitude, Wise Thought, the second step on the Eightfold PathSeeing directly the true power of mind and heartOvercoming habitual patterns of thought, action, and attitudeThe Buddha on nobility, integrity, and the heartOvercoming greed, hatred, and delusionKnowing the sweet joy of living in The WayWise Aspiration and the path of the BodhisattvaReflecting on our attitude around deathRumi, Stephen Levine, Martin Luther King Jr, Suzuki Roshi, and Alan WattsTaking what life gives us as “grist for the mill” of awakeningExamining spiritual teachings in our own life (what works, what doesn't?)Trading ‘protection and defensiveness' for ‘openness and curiosity'Accepting each moment as an unrepeatable miracleBeginner's Mind and Don't Know MindOpenness, respect, and compassion“It is knowing what is true that brings ourselves freedom. We don't get free by making ourselves free.” – Jack Kornfield“It is only through mercy, through the kindness of compassion, that reconciliation happens, that what's locked in suffering begins to grow and breathe new life.” – Jack KornfieldThis Dharma Talk recorded in 1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.