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.”

Heart Sutra: The Meandering Nature of Practice

In this talk, Seido shares her own meander through the sixty days of the spring Ango period studying the Heart Sutra. Rather than a...

May 20, 2022

Zen Essentials: What Does It Mean to Have a Practice?

In this talk, Seido offers ways to allow practice to seamlessly enter one’s life. It can be particularly challenging to keep the thread...

Apr 13, 2022

Heart Sutra: Ways of Knowing

In preparation for the opening of Spring Ango, Seido introduces the Heart Sutra encouraging a whole body and mind study for participants....

Mar 18, 2022

Zen Essentials: On Chanting

Seido talks about the importance of chanting in the Zen tradition. She demonstrates the practice of humming and “toning” to help those...

Mar 15, 2022

Zen Essentials: Kinhin – Walking Awake

Seido talks about bringing one’s full attention to the traditional practice of kinhin, or walking meditation, that is done between seated...

Feb 18, 2022

Zen Essentials: Samu – Sacred Work

Seido talks about the importance of samu (work practice) for lay people expressing the three paramitas (virtues) of meditation,...

Jan 30, 2022

Zen Essentials: The Body in Zazen

In a beginning series on Zen practice, Seido talks about the importance of setting up the posture of zazen, exercises for the breath, and...

Jan 13, 2022