335 – Six Useful Lessons from the Buddhist Teachings on Rebirth (2 of 2)

335 – Six Useful Lessons from the Buddhist Teachings on Rebirth (2 of 2)

by | Jul 9, 2026 | Buddhist Teachings

This is second episode of two on this topic. In the first episode (334), I identified existing episodes of the Zen Studies Podcast on – or related to – rebirth that you might want to listen to for context and background. Then I discussed the way you are free to believe in rebirth, disbelieve, or remain agnostic about it. Finally, I talked about the first useful lesson we can take from the teachings of rebirth: The basic laws of karma, or behavioral cause-and-effect, as portrayed in the cosmology of the Six Realms. In this episode I cover five more useful lessons from the Buddhist teachings on rebirth.

335 – Six Useful Lessons from the Buddhist Teachings on Rebirth (2 of 2)

334 – Six Useful Lessons from the Buddhist Teachings on Rebirth (1 of 2)

by | Jun 29, 2026 | Buddhist Teachings

Zen practice is not dependent on rebirth being true or untrue, and I suspect most Dharma teachers would say the same of their lineage traditions. As long as you practice, it doesn’t matter whether you believe in rebirth, disbelieve, or maintain an agnostic attitude. Nevertheless, the traditional narratives and imagery of rebirth teachings contain many valuable lessons for us.

333 – Buddha Is Like an Old-Growth Tree: Practice as Human Maturation

333 – Buddha Is Like an Old-Growth Tree: Practice as Human Maturation

by | Jun 16, 2026 | Buddhist Practice

Sometimes it’s difficult to relate to the goal of “awakening” or “enlightenment.” Especially if we’ve gained a hard-won sense of peace with ourselves and our lives, it can seem counterproductive to dwell on some experience or understanding we don’t yet have and then drive ourselves to achieve it. I want to share an alternative way to frame your practice that might kindle your Bodhicitta in a different way.

332 – Mis Pautas Para Profundizar en Tu Práctica Zen

332 – My Guidelines for Deepening Your Zen Practice

by | May 31, 2026 | Buddhist Practice, Ten Fields of Zen

For many years now, people have been asking me how to deepen their Zen practice. They wonder, “What’s next?” Some lay people are perfectly content guiding their own practice, but others long for more structure – some kind of program to which they can apply themselves. I have long desired to meet such requests, but I wasn’t clear how. After teaching Zen for over 15 years, I have developed a clearer sense of what to require of my students if they are asking me to personally guide their practice. I share my practice agreement for formal students here.

331 – Ante las Grandes Dificultades: El “Justo a la Medida” de Zhaozhou

331 – When Confronted with Great Difficulties: Zhaozhou’s “Just Right”

by | May 15, 2026 | Zen Teachings

How can we practice without ignoring the world, but also without being overwhelmed by it? We can learn something from a koan involving the 9th century Chan master Zhaozhou (Joshu): A monk asked, “When a great difficulties come, how should I avoid them?” Zhaozhou said, “Just right.” We can include great difficulties in our perception of this life without being destroyed by them, letting our hearts break without rejecting this world or becoming consumed by anger or grief.

330 – Teisho: Awakening Bodhicitta, Seeking Your Heart’s Inmost Desire

330 – Teisho: Awakening Bodhicitta, Seeking Your Heart’s Inmost Desire

by | Apr 30, 2026 | Teisho / Dharma Talk

Teisho are sometimes called “encouragement talks,” and they are meant to help listeners connect with the Dharma in the spaciousness and silence of zazen. Teisho are not about explanations or the imparting of information, and they generally are not recorded. They are offered spontaneously, just for the moment, just for those listening. Although you may not be sitting zazen while you listen to this episode, I thought I would offer you a teisho as if you are.

327 & 328 – Un Lugar Donde Todos Conocen Tu Nombre: La Sangha como Comunidad

327 & 328 – A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Sangha as Community

by | Mar 31, 2026 | Buddhist Practice

In Buddhism, we have three treasures: Buddha, teachers or our own awakened nature; Dharma, the teachings or the truth itself, and Sangha, the community of people who practice and maintain the tradition together. From the beginning of Buddhism, then, community has been considered essential – but in what sense? We may think of Sangha primarily as an impersonal institution providing access to Buddhist teachings and practice. It certainly fulfills that function, but I believe it’s equally important that our Sanghas be welcoming, loving, joyful, mature communities: A place where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.

329 – Sin Biblia Budista: Breve Panorama de 2500 Años de Textos Budistas (2 de 2)

326 – No Buddhist Bible: A Brief Overview of 2500 Years’ Worth of Buddhist Texts (1 of 2)

by | Mar 17, 2026 | Buddhist Texts

You may have discovered there are lots of Buddhist texts and teachings. Jews have their Torah, Christians their Bible, Muslims their Quran, and Hindus their Vedas, but Buddhists have no divinely-inspired central text, or even collection of texts, to serve as a definitive source of orthodox teachings. The texts considered authoritative in at least one sect of Buddhism would fill a decent-sized library. This episode (along with Part 2) is meant to be a brief and broad overview of 2500 years’-worth of Buddhist texts in the Zen lineage. Hopefully, it can give you some context for whatever text you might find yourself reading.

325 – Imagínate Como un Buda y Desbloquea tu Generosidad Natural

325 – Imagine Yourself as a Buddha and Unblock Your Natural Generosity

by | Feb 28, 2026 | Buddhist Practice

In Buddhism, we are guided by the ideal of a Buddha, or awakened being. One of the characteristics of a Buddha is unconditional and selfless generosity, and when your generosity is blocked, you can be sure that some part of you still needs understanding, healing or liberation. On the other hand, when you’re able to set aside your self-doubt and imagine yourself as a Buddha, when you look on other beings as if they were your children, you may find your generosity flows more naturally.

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