Welcome to the

Zen Studies Podcast!

Study Buddhism Online for Free

  • Three new episodes every month
  • Listen to episodes in order in specific categories:

 

Buddhism Today
Buddhist History
Buddhist Practice
Buddhist Teachings
Buddhist Texts
Dharma Talks
Meditation
Zen Teachings

 

  • Start at the beginning: Listen to all the episodes in order – or read the content instead!
  • Subscribe via email to be notified of new weekly episodes (see sidebar to sign up)
  • Subscribe via a podcatcher (like iTunes) to have the audio delivered to your podcast app (see sidebar)
  • Browse and see what interests you! See CategoriesRecent Posts, Series, look through the Glossaryor type a topic of interest in the search box.

Support the Podcast

I offer all of the content on the Zen Studies Podcast for free, because I want the Dharma (Buddhist teachings) to be available to everyone. Plus, I enjoy creating episodes – audio and text – about this ancient, incredibly rich spiritual tradition.

However, we all need to make a living, and I spend 10-12 hours a week on the podcast. Members support the podcast with a small monthly pledge. If you want to help me keep generating great content, consider becoming a member!

Recent Episodes

 

303 – Supporting the Zen Practice of People with Physical Challenges (1 of 2)

People with extra physical challenges - disabilities, chronic illnesses, or advanced age - often find it impossible to participate fully in Zen practice without special accommodations. Seated meditation (zazen) can be painful, and the demands of silent meditation retreats (sesshin) can be prohibitive. However, an important part of Zen practice - especially sesshin - is how everyone follows the forms together, doing the same things at the same times. The whole idea is to minimize the need to exercise personal choice, and to use a certain amount of physical discomfort to bring us up against the existential matter of our lives. How can Sanghas support the Zen practice of people with physical challenges while preserving what is supportive to those without them?

302 – Q&A: Standing Up for What’s Right, and Zazen Versus Dissociation and Trance

In this extemporaneous Q&A episode, I address these questions: What is the responsibility of Buddhists to stand for what is right? What is the difference between the Buddhist goal of "detaching from clinging and aversion" and the pathological states of detachment from reality called "dissociation?" How would you describe the desirable level of overlap between shikantaza (the zazen of just sitting) and trance?

OR

Subscribe on your favorite podcatcher:

Apple PodcastsGoogle PlaySpotifyStitcherTuneInAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsCastBoxiHeartRadioListen NotesPlayer.fmPodcast RepublicPodcast Addict

Subscribe via email to receive notifications of new posts:

Join 950 other subscribers
Share