Dharma Talks

Debra Seido Martin is Zen West's Guiding Teacher. She was transmitted in 2009 by Kyogen Carlson, late Abbott of Dharma Rain Zen Center. Seido is an organic farmer and psychotherapist devoted to the wild and giving space of practice and grace of the land. She carries forward her teacher’s directive to “ordain into your life.”

Diamond Sutra: Entering the Stream

Seido talks about the early Buddhist teachings that described stages on the path of practice and how the bodhisattva vow that relies upon...

Apr 14, 2023

Diamond Sutra: How to Recognize a Buddha

Seido comments on the chapter where the Buddha asks Subhuti if he can recognize the Buddha by his appearance, or “32 marks.” The talk...

Apr 7, 2023

Diamond Sutra: What Can We Rely Upon?

Seido calls attention to the important scene in Jetta Grove that connects us to the koan the Buddha puts forth to Subhuti on how a...

Mar 24, 2023

Online Practice: How to Ride the Sky Zendo

Ten In-flight Suggestions from Zen West/ Empty Field The way of riding the clouds comes freely from the mountains. ~ Dogen Zenji One:...

Mar 17, 2023

Openings Large and Small

Seido talks about the transition from winter’s “studying the self” through precepts to the spring mystery of “forgetting the self”...

Mar 17, 2023

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