Best Jundo Cohen Podcasts (2025)

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Master Bodhidharma’s Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices 35:04

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2M ago35:04

35:04

In this month's episode, we look into what is probably the earliest Ch'an writing, attributed with a certain amount of confidence, directly to master Bodhidharma. This is the "Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices". For more information on these talks and how to attend them live, please visit here »…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - The Eight Realizations of a Great Person (Part 2) 39:31

3M ago39:31

39:31

This month, we continue with more of Master Dogen's advice on living wisely and well in this day-to-day life, from Hachi Dainin Gaku 八大人覺 'The Eight Realizations of the Great Person Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: October Monthly Zazenkai »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - The Eight Realizations of a Great Person (Part 1) 38:01

4M ago38:01

38:01

We commence our Jukai (Undertaking the Precepts) preparations and Ango (Peaceful Abiding) season, with a writing by Master Dogen on living wisely and well in this day-to-day life, contained in the "Hachi Dainin Gaku" fascicle of the "Shobogenzo". These are the Eight Realizations of a Great Person. Further reading and discussion for this talk are av…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Master Menzan's Kinhinki 40:36

5M ago40:36

40:36

Today we Walk with Master Menzan's Kinhinki ( 經行軌 ) The Way of Walking Zen. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: August 2025 Monthly Zazenkai»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Ocean Mudra Samadhi, The Living Sea 44:46

6M ago44:46

44:46

We return to port one last time, after a long sail with Master Dogen's “Ocean Mudra Samādhi” 海印三昧... but these waters of life flow on forever Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July Monthly Zazenkai »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Diving the Ocean Mudra Samadhi 50:36

7M ago50:36

50:36

This month, we will do the backstroke through Master Dogen's Ocean Mudra Samādhi (Kai’in Zanmai 海印三昧). His wild wordplay is a powerful expression of who we are in the universe, time, being and bringing to life our swimming through life by swimming gracefully. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Treeleaf…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Swimming the Ocean Mudra Samadhi 43:40

8M ago43:40

43:40

We will do the backstroke through Master Dogen's Ocean Mudra Samādhi (Kai’in Zanmai 海印三昧). His wild wordplay is a powerful expression of who we are in the universe, time, being and bringing to life our swimming through life by swimming gracefully. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: May Monthly Zazenkai…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Other Fukanzazengi (The Lost Tracks) 46:12

10M ago46:12

46:12

In today's episode, we look at an earlier and less popular version of master Dogen's Fukanzazengi, which has quite some differences from the popular version we all know. So, what exactly did Dogen Zenji change in the rewrites to his manual for zazen? Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March Monthly Zaz…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Dogen, Fullness and Sacred Ordinary Life 49:01

11M ago49:01

49:01

Today we dance with an insightful scholar's paper on Dogen Zenji's unique and profound ideas regarding fullness, universal liberation, the sacred as "immanent in space and time", Buddhahood in the "fundamental activity of the world," practice-realization as "liberating activity", Zen practice as the "practice of Buddhahood," and the fullness and sa…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Koans from the Blue Cliff Record (III) 42:16

12M ago42:16

42:16

Happy New Year to you all! We continue our study of the koans from the Blue Cliff Record, with a new batch of them today, beginning with case 13. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: JANUARY 2025 MONTHLY ZAZENKAI »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Winter Work, Spring Planting, Summer Harvest 17:21

1y ago17:21

17:21

However you feel about the results of the American election, and wherever you live in the world, we do not stop working for good. This is Master Dogen's lesson of "Ongoing Practice Enlightenment". We accept where we are, work for a good direction from right here ... and right here ... and right here. Winter is Winter, Spring is just Spring, Summer …

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Koans from the Blue Cliff Record (II) 42:38

1y ago42:38

42:38

In this episode, we continue to look at koans from the Blue Cliff Record, specifically cases 7 to 12. We do that through the Soto Zen lens, extracting the practical essence from these famous ancient exchanges. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: November 2024, monthly Zazenkai »…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Koans from the Blue Cliff Record (I) 39:57

1y ago39:57

39:57

This month, accompanying our sangha's book study, we take a look at the first five koans from the famous Blue Cliff Record. We do that through the Soto Zen lens, extracting the practical essence from these famous ancient exchanges. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: October 2024 Monthly Zazenkai»…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - September 2024: Dogen Zenji´s ¨Shoaku Makusa¨ 42:26

1+ y ago42:26

42:26

This month, as we begin our sangha's Ango, we dive into a few sections of master Dogen's ¨Shoaku Makusa¨ (Not Doing Wrongs) Further reading and discussion are available on the Treeleaf forum: September 2024 Monthly Zazenkai»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (6) 45:40

1+ y ago45:40

45:40

We continue our study of master Keizan's Zazen-Yojinki, this time diving into the physicality of zazen and some useful techniques to keep ourselves awake and alert when sitting. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: August 2024, monthly Zazenkai»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (5) 34:29

1+ y ago34:29

34:29

We continue with the fifth instalment of this series of talks based on master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yojinki'. In this episode, we are looking at what zazen is by understanding what zazen isn't. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July Monthly Zazenkai»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (4) 41:55

1+ y ago41:55

41:55

This week, Master Keizan tells us what Zazen is, and is not (and also to have clean feet). Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: June 2024, Monthly Zazenkai »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's 'Zazen-Yojinki' (3) 43:56

1+ y ago43:56

43:56

This week, Master Keizan offers practical advice, relevant even today, although some bits maybe more suited to the 13th Century, on one's life surrounding Zazen Practice. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Treeleaf Sangha's May Monthly Zazenkai »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's Zazen-Yojinki (2) 44:30

1+ y ago44:30

44:30

We continue our series on Master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yōjinki'or 'Notes to Keep in Heart for Zazen' Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: HERE»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Keizan Zenji's Zazen-Yojinki (1) 45:38

2y ago45:38

45:38

Master Keizan, considered with Master Dogen one of the two "Founders" of Soto Zen in Japan, lived from 1264 to 1325. His essay “Zazen-Yōjinki” might be considered an expansion and further exploration of Dogen's explanation of Zazen, the 'Fukanzazengi'. The advice is often very practical, covering such topics as how to sit, breathe, what to wear, ea…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Dedication of Merit 35:33

2y ago35:33

35:33

Today's Talk will reflect on our "Dedication of Merit", which we recite each time, but maybe without looking closely Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dedication of Merit»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Genjokoan Series (6) 33:08

2y ago33:08

33:08

This is the sixth (and last) in our monthly series based on the modernized translation of the Genjo Koan, from Jundo's book "The Zen Master's Dance" A Guide to Understanding Dōgen and Who You Are in the Universe. Today a message very appropriate for a good life in this New Year and every day ... Further reading and discussion for this talk are avai…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Genjo Koan Series (5) 35:03

2y ago35:03

35:03

Today, we find enlightenment in EVERY aspect of this world, even the hard parts we do not welcome. And we find enlightenment in how we live in this world, finding our own role Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI»By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Genjo Koan Series (4) 37:02

2y ago37:02

37:02

We continue our series on Genjo Koan, 'Realizing the Truth Right Here,' and the way of Bodhidharma found there. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Remember Bodhidharma Day!By Treeleaf Zendo

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Genjo Koan Series (3) 38:45

2+ y ago38:45

38:45

This time, we will be looking at passages of Genjokoan based on the modernized translation from 'THE ZEN MASTER’S DANCE A Guide to Understanding Dōgen and Who You Are in the Universe' in light of our Jukai (Undertaking the Precepts) and Ango (Peaceful Abiding) Season ... Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf for…

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Episode 108: A Look Back 33:27

2+ y ago33:27

33:27

How did we get here? Jundo and Kirk discuss how they got involved in Buddhism and Zen. Treeleaf 108 What are the 108 Defilements (Bonno) Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind Zen Flesh, Zen Bones Meditation in Action Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation John Cage: Indeterminacy If you want to get in touch, send an email to podcast@zen-of…

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Episode 107: Bad Buddhists 24:01

2+ y ago24:01

24:01

Aren't buddhists supposed to maintain equanimity all the time, not have bad thoughts, not be jealous or angry? Treeleaf Vinaya rules about sex James Austin: Zen and the Brain If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please …

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Genjo Koan Series (2) 32:09

2+ y ago32:09

32:09

Practitioners sometimes think that enlightenment is the endpoint of practice rather than an ongoing series of daily actions that are each an opportunity to manifest either ignorant or enlightened behavior. They think that they must get to a perpetually blissful place called “enlightenment,” removed from the pain and complexity of this world, and al…

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Episode 106: Was Buddha a Revolutionary or a Conservative? 26:44

2+ y ago26:44

26:44

Was the Buddha a proto-communist, or did he go with the flow and the status quo? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance - Karl Marx: Capital If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.…

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Episode 105: The Monk with a Mortgage 25:34

2+ y ago25:34

25:34

Some zen practitioners get ordained, becoming unsui, or "clouds in water," which means they are trainee zen monks or priest. We discuss ordination and what it means. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Renpo Niwa Zenji If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in App…

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Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Genjo Koan Series (1) 43:31

2+ y ago43:31

43:31

We Start of New Series on Genjo Koan, 'Realizing the Truth Right Here," the Key to Master Dogen's Zen. The text for the talk today, the first in a monthly series, is based on Jundo Cohen´s modernized translation of the Genjo Koan, from his book ¨THE ZEN MASTER’S DANCE¨ A Guide to Understanding Dōgen and Who You Are in the Universe Further reading a…

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Episode 104: The Best Zen Books 27:33

2+ y ago27:33

27:33

Zen is the transmission outside of words. But there sure are a lot of books about Zen. We look at some of the best books on Zen. Soto Zen, that is. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Kosho Uchiyama Roshi: Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice Kosho Uchiyama Roshi: How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to …

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Shikantaza Ipso Facto 8:46

2+ y ago8:46

8:46

The following is an audio version of the essay with the same title by Treeleaf Sangha founder and guiding teacher, Roshi Jundo Cohen ¨One must sit Shikantaza with profound trust that sitting is whole, complete, nothing lacking, the sitting of the Buddhas and Ancestors sitting as this sitting right here and now, no other place to be, nothing more in…

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Episode 103: Jundo's Decluttering Tips 26:16

2+ y ago26:16

26:16

We have too much stuff. We discuss the CohenJundo method of decluttering. Treeleaf - Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.…

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The Elephant In The Zazen Room 12:13

2+ y ago12:13

12:13

The following is an audio recording of an essay by Treeleaf founder and guiding teacher, Jundo Cohen. Here's the "elephant in the room" of Shikantaza Zazen: What does it mean to "think-non-thinking?" In ordinary life, our daily minds resemble a mad circus, maybe a chaotic jungle. We react to the elephants passing through our awareness, jumping on, …

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Episode 102: Buddha Basics 15: The Heart Sutra Explained in 25 Minutes 30:25

2+ y ago30:25

30:25

Jundo attempts to explain the Heart Sutra in 25 minutes. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance The Heart Sutra Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) Buddha Basics 02: Dukkha Sucks If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please ra…

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June 2023 Zazenkai Talk - Nyorai Zenshin (A Mini-Lesson in Dogen Jazz) 38:32

2+ y ago38:32

38:32

Today we'll scat with Dogen's jazz in Shobogenzo Nyorai Zenshin (The Buddha Whole Body). Some 700 or so years before modern jazz folks, Dōgen had the equivalent jazzy approach, taking “standard” Mahayana Buddhist teachings, fanciful but traditional Buddhist images, and “samples” of quotes from well-known stories related to his intended topics, tear…

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Episode 101: Big and Small 23:19

2+ y ago23:19

23:19

Big and small, two extremes, but, in zen, there's no difference. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Ushiku Daibutsu If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.…

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The ’Inner Switch’ Of Zazen 13:44

2+ y ago13:44

13:44

The following is an audio recording of an article by Treeleaf founder and guiding teacher, Jundo Cohen. "So much of all life is like a neutral canvas to which we add our judgments and reactions, coloring it with our feelings. It is like an empty container or some bland ingredient, like Tofu for example, that can be decorated or flavored as our hear…

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Episode 100: Two Guys in a Zen Pub 27:30

2+ y ago27:30

27:30

For our 100th episode, we have a freewheeling chat about what we've learned from making this podcast. Like two guys chatting in a pub... The universe is a cosmic joke, and we are the punchline. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Kirk's podcasts Nishijima Roshi: The Dish Rack Teachings If you want to get in touch, send an email to podcast@…

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May 2023 Monthly Zazenkai Talk (Shinjinmei Series Part 5) 39:42

2+ y ago39:42

39:42

In Today's Talk, will close our dance with the 信心銘, the Xinxinming, or Shinjinmei. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: May 5th-6th, 2023 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAIBy Treeleaf Zendo

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Episode 99: Buddha Basics 14: The Five Hindrances 21:41

2+ y ago21:41

21:41

The five hindrances are sensual desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, anxiousness and worry, and doubt. But if there's nothing to obtain in Zen, do they even matter? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your…

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Episode 98: Flying Rabbits on the Moon 25:37

2+ y ago25:37

25:37

Do we know anything? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.By Jundo Cohen & Kirk McElhearn

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April 2023 Monthly Zazenkai Talk (Shinjinmei Series Part 4) 42:22

2+ y ago42:22

42:22

Our Zazenkai today is in celebration of the Buddha´s birthday, traditionally April 8th in Japan! We will look at the Buddha's birthday and the Shinjinmei Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: April 7-8, 2023 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Episode 97: Prayer 23:55

2+ y ago23:55

23:55

Is there prayer in zen? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podc…

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Episode 96: Thinking about Thoughts 26:03

3y ago26:03

26:03

We think thoughts all the time. Why do we have these thoughts, and how do we deal with them? Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Episode 95: Buddha Basics 13: Practice, Practice, Practice If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite po…

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March 2023 Monthly Zazenkai Talk (Shinjinmei Series Part 3) 38:10

3y ago38:10

38:10

Today's Talk will be the third in a series reflecting on: THE SONG OF TRUST MIND (信心銘 Shinjinmei), A Key to Zazen Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 3rd-4th, 2023 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Shinjinmei (III) »By Treeleaf Zendo

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Episode 95: Buddha Basics 13: Practice, Practice, Practice 24:25

3y ago24:25

24:25

What does it mean to practice zen? "Every tick of the clock holds all of time in the universe." Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Nishijima Roshi: The Dish Rack Teachings Steve Howe: Clap If you want to get in touch, send an email to [email protected]. If you like the podcast, please follow in Apple Podcasts or your favorite …

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Episode 94: Zen and Creativity 24:30

3y ago24:30

24:30

The Zen arts have very strict rules, which you can break when you've mastered them. Treeleaf Jundo Cohen: The Zen Master's Dance Chiku Za (Kodama Hiroyuki): Koku (shakuhachi music) Takemitsu: From me flows what you call Time Photo: Tea Tray Enso John Daido Loori: The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life Audrey Yoshiko Seo: Enso: Zen Ci…

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February 2023 Monthly Zazenkai Talk (Shinjinmei Series, part 2) 37:41

3y ago37:41

37:41

In Today's Talk, we continue our dance with the 信心銘, called the Xinxinming in Chinese and the Shinjinmei in Japanese, and by a variety of names in English Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: February 3rd-4th, 2023 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Shinjinmei (II) »…