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Are the Buddha's Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 1
Episode 248
The Buddha was pretty clear. If you wanted to experience complete liberation, it was best practice renunciation - to leave all worldly things behind:…
2 years, 10 months ago
Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 3
Episode 247
In Part 3 of my "Sangha Challenges" discussion, I finish my list of reasons you may resist joining a Buddhist community or find it challenging to mai…
2 years, 11 months ago
Two Episodes Recommended by Listeners
This is my third and final post during my 2023 sabbatical month. I'll be back soon with a full episode, but in the meantime I wanted to share two pas…
2 years, 11 months ago
Recommended Episodes on Zazen
Here again with recommended episodes for you to listen to while I'm on my August sabbatical from Zen teaching and writing. Your chosen form of medita…
2 years, 11 months ago
Announcement and Recommendation
I take a sabbatical from my Zen teaching one month a year, and this year it's in August. In this announcement I explain (and thank you for your pati…
3 years ago
246 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 2
Episode 246
In Part 2 of my "Sangha Challenges" discussion, I talk about various reasons you may resist joining a Buddhist community or find it challenging to ma…
3 years ago
245 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 1
Episode 245
Should you join a Sangha? Sangha, or community, is one of the "Three Treasures" of Buddhism, but is it really necessary? How important is it? There a…
3 years ago
Zazen as a Religious Act
Episode 244
Seated Zen meditation – zazen – is less like the meditative practices of many other spiritual traditions, and more like prayer in theistic traditions…
3 years, 1 month ago
243 - The Buddha's Life Story as Archetype and Teaching
Episode 243
Understanding the teachings of Buddhism starts with becoming familiar with the Buddha's life story. This isn't because he is believed to have been di…
3 years, 1 month ago
Reflections on Sansuikyo, Dogen's Mountains and Waters Sutra
Episode 242
One of Zen master Dogen's most beloved writings is a relatively short essay called "Sansuikyo," or the Mountains and Waters Sutra. In this episode, I…
3 years, 1 month ago