Podcast Episodes

How often do we think that we—as individuals—are going to be enlightened? Oct 30, 1988

Season 2 Episode 100

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, shares the tale of a student who asked his teacher why, after he had fasted and prayed for 30 years that he had still not found God. The teacher’s response: “You could s…

Published on 6 months ago

Meditate for one hour daily, and truly concentrate, and you can merge with the Ku. July 31, 1988

Season 2 Episode 99

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, continues her examination of Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching, now in Chapter 17.

"The great rulers - the people do not notice their existence;

The lesser ones - they attach to and …

Published on 6 months, 1 week ago

The One-finger Zen of 9th Century Chinese Master Gutei. Jul 10, 1988

Season 2 Episode 98

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, goes into considerable detail early and late in the talk about meditation to help prepare students for a sesshin.

Lola talks about how the subject and object become one. …

Published on 6 months, 2 weeks ago

To meditate no action is required—simply a shift in consciousness. Exploring the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16. Jul 3, 1988

Season 2 Episode 97

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, continues a discussion of Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching. Today, Chapter 16 (Suzuki translation)

By attaining the height of abstraction we gain fulness of rest.

All the …

Published on 6 months, 3 weeks ago

How do we cross an icy stream? Exploring the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 15. May 28, 1988

Season 2 Episode 96

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, continues her exploration of the Tao Te Ching. Today, Chapter 15:

The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.

The depth of their knowledge…

Published on 6 months, 4 weeks ago

A detailed exploration of Chapter 14 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, “Praising The Mysterious.” May 8, 1988

Season 2 Episode 95

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, provides a detailed exploration of Chapter 14 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, “Praising The Mysterious.” In it Lao Tzu calls Reason the form of the formless. Reason’s clue.

Bu…

Published on 7 months ago

Lao Tzu on two fundamental types of meditation. May 1, 1988

Season 2 Episode 94

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, gives a detailed explanation of Lao Tzu’s notion that there are two basic types of meditation one should practice. One of emptiness only, and one of concentration.

Published on 7 months, 1 week ago

More Bible parables that can help you practice Zen. Dec 12, 1984

Season 2 Episode 93

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, who is also an ordained Christian minister, continues her exploration of Christian parables and how they might apply for Zen practitioners.

Jesus spoke, in the book of Lu…

Published on 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Bible parables that can help you practice Zen. Dec 9, 1984

Season 2 Episode 92

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, who is also an ordained Christian minister, discusses parables from the Bible and how they can help Zen practitioners.

Understanding Jesus’ parables is like puzzling with…

Published on 7 months, 4 weeks ago

Zen is not a belief system. Zen disturbs the dreaming mind. Nov 12, 1984

Season 2 Episode 91

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains that enlightenment is not a goal. “A goal is like the horizon. You can never reach it.”

The immediate is the ultimate. You have to be aware and wake up to this m…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago