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: Belonging as the Realization of Emptiness

Seido talks about the five themes the return over and over in the Prajna Paramita sutras including the vow to have one’s life serve life,...

May 5, 2023

Diamond Sutra: Translucent Mind

Guest Teacher Mushin Terris of Sangha Jewel Zen Center talks about an intuitive approach to the study of the Diamond Sutra. Mushin delves...

Apr 28, 2023

Diamond Sutra: Tears, Patience, and Ripening

Seido talks about a variety of themes that emerge in the middle of the sutra that begins to repeat its earlier teaching. She relates our...

Apr 21, 2023

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