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.”

Liturgy: Instructions for Zazen

Seido reflects on the previous week's Shuso Hossen ceremony using Dogen's line that "zazen is not meditation practice." She talks about...

Jan 30

Zazen Series: Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Plus One

Seido talks about the four foundations of mindfulness as essential preparation for the realization of shikantaza. Included are samplings...

May 3, 2024

Zazen Series: 12 Zazen Questions Answered

Seido takes up questions posed by those who took Ango vows this spring. Questions grouped into three essential domains of zazen practice:...

Apr 19, 2024

Zazen Series: Insights from Sesshin

Seido reflects about group insights from a recent Spring Sesshin, investigating the question, “What is zazen?” Talk comments on sesshin’s...

Apr 14, 2024

Zazen Series: Samadhi

Seido talks about the nature of mind and samadhi (absorption, concentration) using a contemporary example of a pinball machine. The talk...

Apr 2, 2024

Dhyana Paramita: Calm Stable Presence

Seido explores the aspect of calm stability in dhyana paramita, or the perfection of meditation, and how to skillfully meet agitation or...

Nov 17, 2023

Zazen: The Koan Realized

As the sangha transitions into fall Ango from “koan summer,” Seido returns to zazen ,the “koan realized,” as Dogen Zenji calls it in...

Sep 15, 2023

Tenzo Kyokun: Equanimity with Heart

Seido continues with Uchiyama Roshi’s commentary on the Tenzo Kyokun where he says that Big Mind, or Daishin, this attitude of...

Oct 21, 2022

Tenzo Kyokun: Big Mind

Seido introduces Kosho Uchiyama’s commentary on Dogen’s Tenzo Kyokun calling attention to the “relentless devotion to zazen” that...

Oct 7, 2022

Zen Essentials: The Mind of Zazen

Seido talks about the “Four Wheels of the Chariot” – a teaching on the balance of attention given to relaxation, befriending oneself,...

Jan 17, 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

Zazen: The Edge of Effort and Non-Effort

Put aside all involvements and suspend all affairs. ~ Dogen Zenji in Fukanzazengi At first, taking the upright posture is a...

Oct 25, 2021