04/02/2025, So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center.So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson examines the rich intersection between Zen practice and artistic expression—not as a pursuit of perfection, but as a way to return to our true nature.So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson

03/29/2025, Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel, dharma talk at City Center.Abiding Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel explores how the spirit of Dogen’s “Tenzo Kyokun” extends beyond sesshin, inviting us to discover how zazen mind manifests in our homes and workplaces.Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel

03/28/2025, Doshin Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center.Doshin Dan Gudgel explores the idea of a ‘caretaker’ as it relates to the Parental Mind that Dogen encourages in his Tenzo Kyokun text.Dan Gudgel

03/22/2025, Onryu Mary Stares, dharma talk at City Center. Onryu Mary Stares speaks about Eihei Dogen Zenji’s text “Tenzo Kyokun (Instruction to the Cook)” as part of the March 2025 intensive focus on kitchen practice.Onryu Mary Stares

03/19/2025, Judith Keenan, dharma talk at City Center.Judith Keenan explores the relationship between temple kitchen work and other types of work practice, and presents a short video interview with Sojun Mel Weitsman.Judith Keenan

03/15/2025, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. Sozan Michael McCord looks at Zen kitchen practice and work practice generally, connecting to the joy of activity, learning to care and venerate all things, and how to have a broad vast mind for holding what arises.Sozan Michael McCord

03/08/2025, Zenki Mary Mocine, dharma talk at City Center.Zenki Mary Mocine speaks about Eihei Dogen Zenji’s text “Tenzo Kyokun (Instruction to the Cook)” as part of the March 2025 intensive focus on kitchen practice.Zenki Mary Mocine

03/05/2025, Teah Strozer, dharma talk at City Center. Teah Strozer speaks about Eihei Dogen Zenji’s text “Tenzo Kyokun (Instruction to the Cook)” as part of the March 2025 intensive focus on kitchen practice.Teah Strozer

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.Edward Espe Brown

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.Dōshin Mako Voelkel

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?”Anshi Zachary Smith

02/16/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman explores the nature of the commitment that a priest makes, shares his own journey to ordination, and describes the responsibility that comes with the archetypal role.Tenzen David Zimmerman

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.Dan Gudgel

02/02/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler suggests that to meet the current moment, we might practice a deep-rooted kindness, like the kindness of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, whose imperturbable compassion is born of the study of perfect wisdom.Jiryu Rutschman-Byler

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.…

01/18/2025, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center.This talk by Jisan Tova Green weaves together themes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s sermons, teachings of Zen ancestor Eihei Dogen and the late Hozan Alan Senauke, and stories from Tova's life.Jisan Tova Green

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.Anshi Zachary Smith

01/11/2025, Keiryu Liên Shutt, dharma talk at City Center.Keiryu Liên Shutt discusses how the hands and eyes of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, need to be directed towards ourselves, too. Especially in times of crisis.Keiryu Liên Shutt

01/08/2025, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, Shundo reflects on the qualities that practice can imbue us with, which are much needed in the world at this time.Shundo David Haye

01/04/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center.Shosan Victoria Austin asks: How does Zen training help us find a sense of refreshment in ordinary, simple activities?Shosan Victoria Austin

12/28/2024, Sozan Miglioli, dharma talk at City Center.Sozan Miglioli explores the four fundamental principles of Wa, Kei, Sei, and Jaku—core teachings rooted in Zen and essential to the Way of Tea.Sozan Miglioli

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.Tenzen David Zimmerman

12/18/2024, Roger Hillyard, dharma talk at City Center.Roger Hillyard explores the idea of transmission — how it flows in all directions, how we experience it in our lives, and how Eihei Dogen wrote about it in “Twining Vines.”Roger Hillyard

12/14/2024, Zenki Mary Mocine, dharma talk at City Center. Zenki Mary Mocine asks: How should we practice with dis-ease, fear and even anger? Remember your connection with and compassion for all beings, including yourself.Zenki Mary Mocine

12/10/2024, Chikudo Catherine Spaeth, dharma talk at Tassajara.Chikudo Catherine Spaeth

12/07/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center.Jisan Tova Green weaves together several themes in this final talk of the City Center Fall 2024 Practice Period: welcoming beginner's mind and the ten ox-herding pictures, Buddha's enlightenment, and seeing our path of practice as a journey, not unlike Buddha's journey.…

11/30/2024, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center.Sozan Michael McCord discusses where the concept of work practice came from in the Zen Buddhist tradition and how the principles found in the monastic setting can be used in any modern work context.Sozan Michael McCord

11/24/2024, Kiku Christina Lehnherr, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Kiku Christina Lehnherr teaches that practicing and overtly expressing appreciation, gratitude and generosity towards all the people, situations and things, great and small, that support our lives and fill them with love and beauty, is a powerful antidote to challenging situation…

11/23/2024, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk by former central abbot Rinso Ed Sattizahn examines Suzuki Roshi’s open, inviting practice, and unpacks Wang Wei’s poem “In my middle years…”Rinso Ed Sattizahn

11/20/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center.In this dharma talk by Fall 2024 practice period co-leader Jisan Tova Green, Tova investigates how it's possible to find inner freedom in a world in which so many beings are not free to fully be who they are.Jisan Tova Green

11/17/2024, Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk, closing a five day sesshin, Jiryu talks about the unborn, undying aspect of reality, opened to through the practice of stopping, dropping off everything, and just being our ordinary self.Jiryu Rutschman-Byler

11/16/2024, Paula Arai, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk by visiting teacher Paula Arai at Beginner’s Mind Temple explores Buddhism from a woman’s perspective, focusing on the liberating power of storytelling in sutras. Combining rigorous research and an embodied approach, Arai humanizes Buddhist women’s experiences. She shared two stori…

11/13/2024, Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, co-leader of the fall 2024 Practice Period at City Center. Inspired by the teachings from Suzuki Roshi and the symbolism of the bell in Zen practice, this talk explores the Bodhisattva’s unwavering path of s…

11/10/2024, Zesho Susan O'Connell, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk by Zesho Susan O’Connell examines the vast field of existence, the fabric of our world that can get torn and faded. We are not in control, but we can “clearly observe” the tears.Zesho Susan O’Connell

11/09/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Fall 2024 Practice Period co-leader Jisan Tova Green. How can we welcome what we find unwelcome—from pain, disturbing emotions or thoughts in Zazen to events in our country or the world? Drawing from teachings on Bodhicitta (awakening mi…

11/06/2024, Gengyoko Tim Wicks, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by tanto (head of practice) and practice period co-leader Gengyoko Tim Wicks. In the talk, Tim shares some of the teachings that are being studied this practice period and talks about practicing wherever we find ourselves. Recorded on Wed…

11/03/2024, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this practice period talk, Senior Dharma Teacher Eijun asks: how do we practice when we are anxious and fearful —especially when there are great challenges in our life. Back to the basics!Eijun Linda Cutts

This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by visiting teacher Gaylon Ferguson. During the Fall 2024 Practice Period at Beginner’s Mind Temple, the community is studying Dr. Ferguson’s book “Welcoming Beginner’s Mind: Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature.” Dr. Ferguson begins by talking about the historical and …

10/30/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center.In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Jisan Tova Green describes the Sejiki Ceremony, in which hungry ghosts are cajoled and offered food, including the sweet dew of the Dharma. She likens this to the experience many of us have when we set out on a spiritual path and describes the fi…

10/27/2024, Furyu Nancy Schroeder, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.Senior dharma teacher Furyu Schroeder examines a variety of approaches for working with the difficulties in our life, all of them include bringing our attention to our thoughts and to our feelings.Furyu Schroeder

10/26/2024, Tenku Ruff, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by visiting teacher Tenku Ruff. How can we stay present during this great storm of the present moment?Tenku Ruff

This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Fall 2024 Practice Period co-leader So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson. This talk centers on the Zen practice of welcoming, rooted in Suzuki Roshi's teachings. We explore how welcoming everything—joy, discomfort, and impermanence—brings us into deeper alignment with the present moment. Through the meta…

10/20/2024, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Linda explores how the mind of a Bodhisattva is able to meet the challenges of our lives, and celebrates the traditional forms of Practice Period, that help us to be able to fully express an “appropriate response” to our world.Eijun Linda Cutts

10/19/2024, Gengyoko Tim Wicks, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple’s October one-day sitting, held at Unity Church, by Tanto (head of practice) Gengyoko Tim Wicks. Using this famous koan (Zen teaching story) Tim discusses the connection that our pasts have with the present and how it is that we practice …

10/13/2024, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.This dharma talk was given at Green Gulch Farm by San Francisco Zen Center president Sozan Michael McCord. While we honor and treasure the memories, lessons and times with people who we knew in the past, it is that very memory of how temporary this life is — that everything is changi…

10/12/2024, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman. In Case 36 of the ‘Gateless Gate’ (Mumonkan), Zen teacher Wuzu poses a question to his students: “Meeting a person of the Way, not using words or silence, how will you greet them?” Abbot David …

10/09/2024, So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson. Words are powerful, but they can also lead us astray—especially when teachings cross cultures and languages. In this talk, we’ll explore how mistranslations and misunderstandings of Buddhist concepts s…

10/06/2024, Gyokuden Stephanie Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.In this talk, from Green Gulch Farm by Gyokuden Steph Blank, Steph reflects on practice in the temple and in the marketplace with an abiding love for both environments.Gyokuden Stephanie Blank

10/05/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center.This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Shosan Victoria Austin. When we are challenged by anger, it's easy to react and difficult to respond. How might Zen practices of giving, tolerance and enthusiasm help us let go of relational barriers, transforming them into gateway…

10/02/2024, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Our narratives and our histories shape our conditioned being. Acknowledging this conditioning, we take Refuge in Buddha, the innate capacity to awaken. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Ryushin investigates how our stories and narratives influence our experience of the world.…