Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchMeditation is about life and death. Nirvana is not. The thundering silence. 1990 Sesshin Friday
Season 1 Episode 30
We are born with this body which brings with it our parents, our grandparents and other lives. Then our essence is added. Then circumstances.Then there is what we do with all this. Also, the thunderi…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
Learning to differentiate what you see, what you think and what you feel. Aug 16, 1981
Season 1 Episode 29
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, asks: who will tell you when your mind is playing tricks on you? The importance of learning to differentiate what you see, what you think and what you feel. Also, distin…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
Your ego has no power to do anything. It’s impotent. Dec 6, 1981
Season 1 Episode 28
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, asks: If you were absolutely alone on the planet, would you be rich or poor? Would you be beautiful or ugly? Your ego, which establishes all your opinions, isn’t even re…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
Misfortune and our identity. And the tale of the farmer who asks God to let him choose the weather. Dec 03, 1981
Season 1 Episode 27
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains how many of us create an identity around our misfortune. But it is life’s challenges that helps us find our true selves. Lola recounts the story of the farmer w…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
Lao Tzu uses the metaphor of a vessel to show that while existence renders it (and us) actual, it is the vessel's non-existence (or emptiness) that renders it useful. Aug 23, 1981
Season 1 Episode 26
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains passages from Lao Tzu’s book, The Tao Te Ching. Elaborating on the metaphor of the knave of a wheel, or the emptiness of a vessel. And how their existence rende…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
What is consciousness? Does a rock have consciousness? Who are we? Summer 1990 Wed Night Sesshin
Season 1 Episode 25
One of the later talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee. Mid-way through a sesshin, this talk discusses what consciousness is. And how much do we know the world around us. Summer 1990 Wed Night Sesshin
Published on 1 year, 11 months ago
The mind-body relationship. And breathing from the Hara. Apr 14, 1981
Season 1 Episode 25
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the mind-body relationship. And breathing from the Hara. Apr 14, 1981
Published on 1 year, 11 months ago
Lola shares the tale of the monk and the bottomless pitcher. And how to focus with a no-thinking mind. 1990 Summer Sesshin Monday
Season 1 Episode 24
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, gives this talk at night during a week-long sesshin. We hear the crickets chirping and a dog barking. We can sense the atmosphere in which the sesshin takes place. Lola …
Published on 1 year, 11 months ago
When you're fast asleep and hear a noise you wake up. What wakes up? What was awake to hear the noise? Jan 27, 1985.
Season 1 Episode 23
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the Hindu concepts of Prakriti and Purusha. And the nature of karma. Lola also asks, When you're fast asleep, hear a noise and wake up... what wakes up? What h…
Published on 1 year, 11 months ago
First one finds quiet, explains Lola. Then one goes further and finds silence, or Shunyata. Mar 28, 1982.
Season 1 Episode 22
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains what is meant by Shunyata, or emptiness. First you find quiet. Then go further and find silence, or Shunyata. Mar 28, 1982.
Published on 1 year, 11 months ago