Dharma Talks

Seido meditates on the beginning lines of the Genjo Koan. When we begin practice, it is important to recognize concepts such as buddhas and sentient beings, wisdom and delusion. However, these concepts point beyond concepts—when we see that the thing we have made with our mind has no “thingness,” no fixed boundary. When we grasp form and emptiness, we still must practice in this human life where flowers fall, weeds sprout, and the elk raid the crops in the fields.

Traces of birds. Hearts of fish. Footsteps of Buddhas. The strains of Dogen's Yuibutsu Yobutsu softly played throughout the recent Cultivating the Way Sesshin at the Empty Field Zendo.

Seido walks with us into the last case in the Mumonkan, Qianfang’s One Way . What does it mean to trust Mumon’s words, “before you have...

“Twining Vines” aptly describes Zen practice. Teacher, student and Sangha braid together in mutual learning and support. Our tendrils...

If we sincerely walk the path, eventually the practice becomes who we are. We see when we are caught with the old mind—the poisons of...