Village Zendo Talks

Vimalakirti 8 - Compassion and the Goddess

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 21:23:26 -0500

Roshi relates the dialogue between Vimalakirti and Manjusri about compassion of the Bodhisattvas to our everyday life; then the Goddess appears and turns things around for Shariputra!

Joshin Sensei: The Tathagata’s Food

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:11:46 -0500

Joshin talks about how our practice hinges on our willingness to be nourished by what each moment offers.

Roshi Vimalakirti 7: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:51:09 -0500

In this talk, Roshi parallels the Bodhisattva actions and words of Vimalakirti and Dr. Martin Luther King. She urges us to take action in our lives for all those around us who suffer from poverty and injustice.

Roshi Vimalakirti 6

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:03:07 -0500

Roshi relates the interchange between Shariputra and Vimalakirti, clarifying the qualities of a true meditation practice.

Roshi Vimalakirti 5

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:48:58 -0500

Roshi concludes sesshin with a talk about the skillful means of sickness in the Sutra.

Joshin: Vimalakirti and Mara

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:55:36 -0500

Joshin Sensei looks at non-duality from the perspective of forgiveness.

Vimlakirti 3: Ryotan Sensei

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:00:35 -0500

Ryotan Sensei offers a compelling metaphor for seeing the Buddha Fields - and then he deconstructs it.

Vimalakirti 2: Myoko

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:46:11 -0500

Myoko talks about Shariputra’s view of pure and impure buddha fields. And our own!

Vimalakirti 1

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:46:33 -0500

Roshi introduces the Sutra on the first day of our Year-end Sesshin.

Ryotan Sensei: Rohatsu

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ryotan Sensei, after a long pause, gives an encouraging talk on the night of Rohatsu at the Village Zendo in Manhattan.

Why Zen?

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:39:34 -0500

Roshi questions why practice Zen? And what is medicine and what is not?

Joshin Sensei: Shining Through

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:43:02 -0500

Joshin Sensei encourages us all to explore our relation to silence, to sound, to our practice, to life itself. She tells a story from old Japan that resonates in our lives today.

Include Everything

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:09:25 -0400

Roshi reflects on her Street Retreat, the religious groups that offer food and shelter, and on Daido Roshi’s passing.

Seeking the Ox

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:34:00 -0400

Sensei Joshin opens the Ox Herding Series by getting us to investigate how we ‘turn away from our own awakening.’

Atonement and Repentance

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:07:43 -0400

How can we recognize our unskillful actions, without blame or denial, and restructure our consciousness?

Roshi on Bodhisattvas

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:44:53 -0400

Dear Bodhisattvas: can you find your Bodhisattva nature?
Roshi offers four elements to look for....

On Beggars and Begging

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:14:00 -0400

Roshi welcomes everyone back to the fall season and engages the question: what don’t we want to see when we walk down the street?

Losing and Not Losing

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:12:13 -0400

Roshi offers encouragement at the end of sesshin and the ango period: let’s go back to our daily lives with insight and compassion.

Joshin Sensei: Zen and Play

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:13:48 -0400

Sensei considers the rich relationships of zen practice, trust, and play through the poetry of Ryokan.

Shinryu: Remembering Olivia

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:20:08 -0400

Hoshi Shinryu remembers a friend and reminds us of the way of life and death.