The Zen Studies Podcast
Dharma Talks (a bit more personal take on Dharma topics)
248 – Are the Buddha’s Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 1
The Buddha was pretty clear. If you wanted to experience complete liberation, it was best to leave all worldly things behind: Family, sex, alcohol, fancy food, music, entertainment, frivolity, etc. Why did the Buddha recommend this? Why do fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns still live this way? Are the Buddha’s teachings on renunciation relevant for householders?
read more247 – Desafíos de la Sangha: Cómo y Por Qué Abrirse al Tesoro de la Sangha – Parte 3
Category: Práctica Budista ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 247 En la Parte 3 de mi discusión sobre “Desafíos de la Sangha”, termino mi lista de...
read more247 – Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 3
In Part 3 of my “Sangha Challenges” discussion, I finish my list of reasons you may resist joining a Buddhist community or find it challenging to maintain your relationship with one over time. I present each challenge as an opportunity for growth and learning.
read moreTwo Episodes Recommended by Listeners
This is my third and final post during my 2023 sabbatical month. I'll be back soon with a full episode, but in the meantime I wanted to share two past episodes with you that multiple listeners have said were important to them.
read moreRecommended Episodes on Zazen
Your chosen form of meditation may be what I call "Directed Effort" meditation, or "Letting Go" meditation (I discuss Directed Effort versus letting go in Episodes 83 and 84: Two Paths to Meditative Concentration: Directed Effort Versus Letting Go – Part 1 and Part 2). In either case, you may find some useful tips in Episodes 184 and 185: 14 Ways to Enliven Your Zazen. When my zazen gets dull, lazy, restless, or distracted, these are the ways I try to engage my meditation more wholeheartedly.
read moreAnnouncement and Recommended Episode on Mindfulness
I take a sabbatical from my Zen teaching one month a year, and this year it’s in August. In this announcement I explain (and thank you for your patience), and recommend a past episode to listen to (published six years ago!).
read more246 – Desafíos de la Sangha: Cómo y por qué abrirse al tesoro de la Sangha – Parte 2
Category: Práctica Budista ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 246 En la Parte 2 de mi discusión sobre los “Desafíos de la sangha”,...
read more246 – Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 2
In Part 2 of my “Sangha Challenges” discussion, I talk about various reasons you may resist joining a Buddhist community or find it challenging to maintain your relationship with one over time. I present each challenge as an opportunity for growth and learning. I will finish up my list of challenges in the next episode, Part 3.
read more245 – Desafíos de la Sangha: Cómo y por qué abrirse al tesoro de la Sangha – Parte 1
Category: Práctica Budista ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 245 ¿Deberías unirte a una Sangha? La Sangha, o comunidad, es uno de los “Tres tesoros” del...
read more245 – Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 1
Should you join a Sangha? Sangha, or community, is one of the “Three Treasures” of Buddhism, but is it really necessary? How important is it? There are many "Sangha Challenges" - reasons you might feel resistance to joining a community, or difficulties you might face as you practice with one. I discuss ways to relate to various Sangha challenges as opportunities for practice and growth.
read more244 – Zazen Como Acto Religioso
Category: Meditación ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 244 La meditación Zen sentada (zazen) se parece menos a las prácticas meditativas de...
read more244 – Zazen as a Religious Act
Seated Zen meditation – zazen – is less like the meditative practices of many other spiritual traditions, and more like prayer in theistic traditions. This is not because we believe in God (although we might), but because zazen can be seen as a “religious” act – if we define religion in one of the ways philosopher William James offered, as “our total response to life.”
read more243 – La Historia de la Vida de Buda Como Arquetipo y Enseñanza
Category: Enseñanzas Budistas ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 243 La comprensión de las enseñanzas del Budismo, comienza con familiarizarse con...
read more243 – The Buddha’s Life Story as Archetype and Teaching
Understanding the teachings of Buddhism starts with becoming familiar with the Buddha's life story. This isn't because he is believed to have been divine, or even a prophet. Instead, his story is important because it serves as an archetype for the Buddhist vision of spiritual seeking and development. There are many teachings embedded in the story of the Buddha, who is regarded as having been a remarkable human being – but just a human being, like you or me.
read more242 – Reflexiones sobre Sansuikyo, Sutra de las Montañas y las Aguas de Dogen
Category: Textos Budistas ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 242 Uno de los escritos más queridos del maestro Zen Dogen es un ensayo relativamente corto...
read more242 – Reflections on Sansuikyo, Dogen’s Mountains and Waters Sutra
One of Zen master Dogen’s most beloved writings is a relatively short essay called “Sansuikyo,” or the Mountains and Waters Sutra. In this episode, I reflect on two aspects this work: The statement that mountains and waters are, in of themselves, words of the Buddha, and the fantastic imagery of “mountains walking.” I only cover a few paragraphs of the Sansuikyo, but it is enough to open up a profound spiritual inquiry.
read more241 – ¿Qué significa perder el tiempo?
Category: Práctica Budista ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 241 Los maestros Budistas y Zen a lo largo de los siglos nos han suplicado que no “perdamos...
read more241 – What Does It Mean to Waste Time?
Buddhist and Zen masters through the ages have begged us not to “waste time.” What does this really mean? How do we know if we’re wasting time, and does it really matter?
read more240 – Una Realidad, Muchas Descripciones Parte 4: Naturaleza de Buda 2
Category: Enseñanzas Budistas ~ Translator: Claudio Sabogal Click here for audio + English version of Episode 240 Esta es la cuarta parte de mi serie llamada “Una realidad, muchas...
read more240 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 3: Buddha-Nature 2
This is part four of my series called “One Reality, Many Descriptions,” Buddha-Nature Part 2. I first talk about Buddha-Nature as trust. Then I offer the requisite discussions of what Buddha-Nature is not, and how it is necessary for us to awaken to our own Buddha-Nature in order to fully partake of the associated joy, redemption, and faith.
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