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Val Szymanski, The True Man, of no Titles, June 7 2015
Toku Ho Cliff Isberg, Hope, May 24 2015
Peter Szydlowski, Nature, May 17 2015
Hans Vanja Palmers, Fatal, but not serious, May 10 2015
Yingzao Liu, Fear, May 3 2015
Shoho Michael Newhall, Love, April 26 2015. Mike. Guiding and Resident Teacher for Jikoji, talks about love and practice.
Jana Drakka, Suffering, April 19 2015. Jana, a zen teacher, street minister, and resident at Jikoji, exemplifies Buddha's teachings on an end to suffering.
Tersar Tulku Yingrik Drubpa Rinpoche, Compassion, and Tonglen Practice, March 22 2015. Rinpoche Tersar, a visiting Tibetan teacher, discusses compassion and introduces the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Tonglen, (to be continued next week).
Doug Jacobson, Dharma and Radiance, March 15 2015. Doug, Jikoji's Maintenance Manager, discusses objects, what is, what we are, our history, and our effects, all in relation to the dharma.
Jana Drakka, Precepts, and "I", March 8 2015. Jana, a zen teacher, street minister, and resident at Jikoji, searches for the basis of precepts, and morality.
Shoho Michael Newhall, What Is the World?, January 25 2015. Mike. Guiding and Resident Teacher for Jikoji, uses ancient koans to illuminate our darkness and light, within and without, and beyond.
Cliff Isberg, Kobun's One Great Precept, February 22 2015. What great precept was at the center of Kobun's Being? How does it relate to health and practice at JIkoji, and to Zazen?
Joe Hall, Ango, Precepts, and Practice, February 15 2015. Joe, a resident monk and webmaster for Jikoji, outlines the Ango practice period, and how to practice within Ango.
Nehan-e sesshin recognizes and honors the anniversary of Buddha's Death.
Doug Jacobson, Consciousness and Gravity, February 1 2015. Doug, Jikoji's Maintenance Manager and ex-Shuso (Winter 2013), investigates being as is, discernment, consciousness, gravity and our relationships.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Equanimity, and Perfection, January 25 2015. Mike. Guiding and Resident Teacher for Jikoji, responds to questions about perfection, and talks about equanimity and the Jhanas.
Jana Drakka, Just This, January 18 2015. Jana, a zen teacher, street minister, and resident at Jikoji, questions how we Buddhas could be "just this".
Kokyo Henkel, The Heart Sutra, January 4, 2015. Kokyo, guiding teacher of Santa Cruz Zen Center, interprets the heart sutra's meanings and affects, considering also viewpoints of recent translations and interpretations.
Satya Vayu, Practice, and Renunciation, January 4, 2015. Satya, a monk, group leader and renunciate, describes his practice of simplicity and renunciation, affirming Buddha's way even in this modern world.
Andy Acker, Way Seeking Mind, and Posture, December 28, 2014. Andy, a Resident at Jikoji and student of Chinese Medicine and Meditation, describes how and why he came to Jikoji, and postures that support practice.
Jill Kaplan, Intension, and Vow, December 21, 2014. Jill, a psychotherapist and teacher of zen, describes the role of intention and vow in our daily lives.
Thomas-Joshin Sochtig, Open-Hearted Dharma, December 14, 2014. Students read an open-hearted dharma history by Joshin, a visiting teacher from Switzerland, who introduced and then led the dharma discussion.
Michael Newhall, Rohatsu Sesshin's Conclusion, December 7, 2014. Shoho Michael Newhall, Jikoji’s Resident Teacher, concludes with poetic dharma metaphors: going upstream, then dissolving practice into life.
Misha Merrill, Principles of Zen, and Tea, November 30, 2014. Misha, Primary Teacher for Zen Heart Sangha in Menlo Park, teaches practice in Zen, and tea ceremonies.
Marco Quarta, Way Seeking Mind, November 23, 2014. Marco, a researcher exploring the frontiers of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, describes his growth through martial arts, science and zen practice.
Doug Jacobson, Karma, and Boddhisatvas, November 16, 2014. Doug, a Jikoji Resident and ordained monk, describes ways for taking care of our karma, and supporting our practice.
Val Szymanski, Secrets of the Boddhisatvas, November 9, 2014. Val Szymanski, guiding teacher for Bamboo in the Wind, discusses aspects of mind, considering Yangshan's koan: "Mind and Environment".
Shinshu Roberts, I Won't Say, November 2 2014. Shinshu, co-founder/teacher of Ocean Gate Zen Center in Capitola CA., relates this famous koan to momentary experience, and knowing.
Greg Campbell, Death, October 26, 2014. Greg, Staff Resident and Business Manager for Jikoji, discusses Buddhist perspectives on Death, focusing on what one should do first.
Toku Ho Cliff Isberg, Dogen's "The Point of Zazen, October 19, 2014. Continuing the sesshin's study of Hongzhi's "Silent Illumination", Dogen's poem clarifies the functions of the zen ancestors who taught Zazen, and how to practice Zazen.
Denko-e sesshin was Jikoji's annual "gathering of light sesshin", this year studying and applying the teachings of the 11th century Chinese teacher Hongzhi, on Silent Illumination, a foundational practice for Zazen.
Yingzhao Liu, Way Seeking Mind, October 5, 2014. Ying, a designer, linguist and cultural facilitator, and a resident of Jikoji, describes her transitions from a remote village in China to Silicon Valley and to Jikoji, focusing on her experience with challenges and with grace.
Gengetsu Junsei Jana Drakka, Truth, and the Dharma, September 28, 2014. Jana, a resident of Jikoji, founder of Zenkei Sangha and teacher of Q-Sangha, seeks Truth despite competing character influences, and practices warm reconciliations.
Michael Sudduth, Journey, from the Present, September 14, 2014. Michael Sudduth, a professor of philosophy and religion and a resident of Jikoji, reflects on how his relationships, experiences and practices in Christianity, psychology, and Hinduism led to sitting zazen.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Shamatha, September 7, 2014. Mike, guiding teacher of Jikoji, completing the talk begun July 27 2014, encourages settling, stabilizing and strengthening our practice of zazen.
Cliff Isberg, This Present Presence, August 31, 2014. Cliff, a monk and administrator for Jikoji, on sitting "alone" early mornings.
Val Szymanski, Mindfulness, and Koans, August 24, 2014. Val Szymanski, guiding teacher for Bamboo in the Wind, discusses the Surangama Sutra, Not Seeing, koan #88.
Dan Zigmond, Teachings and Talks, August 17, 2014. Dan, a priest and ex-Shuso at Jikoji, uses Kobun's and Buddha's lives and examples to illuminate practice, and balance.
Vincent Horn, Heart Hacking, August 10, 2014. Vincent, founder of Buddhist Geeks, prefaces his workshop on Heart Hacking with principles and practice suggestions.
Angie Boissevain, Nihan-e Sesshin, August 1-8, 2014. The link above is to Floating Zendo's audio dharma talks, including Angie's seven talks during Jikoji's 2014 Nihan-e Sesshin, led by Angie, founding director of Jikoji and founder of Floating Zendo.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Shamatha's Initial Levels, July 27, 2014. Mike, guiding teacher of Jikoji, encourages settling, stabilizing and strengthening our focus during zazen.
Shoho Kerstin Kuebast, This Present, July 13, 2014. Shoho, ex-Jikoji Resident now at the Santa Cruz Zen Center, talks about backgrounds, attention, intentions, and relationships within this present.
Genzo-e sesshin was a "study sesshin" based on the teaching of Dogen Zenji, Shobogenzo chapter 33, called Kannon or Avalokitesvara, an essay by Dogen on the nature and practice of compassion.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Continuous Practice, June 29, 2014. Shoho Michael Newhall, Jikoji's Resident Guiding Teacher and Chief Priest, reads from Dogen's Shobogenzo, contrasts Shamatha and Vipassana meditations, and leads discussion of continuous practice.
Gengetsu Junsei Jana Drakka, The Joy of Things, June 22, 2014. Jana, founder of Zenkei Sangha and teacher of Q-Sangha, describes her practices in recovery and support centers, hostels, and the Tenderloin in San Francisco.
Lance Hilt, Discovering Value, June 15, 2014. Lance, an accountant, ex-professional gambler, and long-term student of Kobun's teachings, cites many sources within Buddhism and Western philosophy to arrive at perfection within this present moment.
Bryan Gaynor, Enlightenment?, June 8, 2014. Bryan, Jikoji's Projects Manager and Treasurer, leads discussions of enlightenment and of its consequences, what one should do about the dharma.
Cliff Isberg, Stories, Singularities, and Zen, May 25, 2014. Cliff, Jikoji's recent Shuso, honors the singularity of death on Memorial Day, and relates it to our practice.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Something Subtle Shifts, May 18, 2014. Shoho Michael Newhall, Jikoji's Resident Guiding Teacher and Chief Priest, reflects on our practice in view of his recent illness.
Brie Mathers, Way Seeking Mind, May 11, 2014. Brie Mathers, Founder of "Love the Skin You're In", on Mothers Day describes how and why she developed her practice, now within her business and Jikoji.
Joe Hall, Wonder, and Curiosity, May 4, 2014. Joe Hall, Jikoji Resident and Priest, introduces a workshop, starting from viewpoints from science, religion, and participants.
Peter Szydlowski, Knowing Who We Are, April 27, 2014. Peter Szydlowski, teacher/leader for Jikoji's Rohatsu sesshins, opens discussions, including some precedents from Kobun for adapting practice for Americans.
John Flood, True Dharma, April 20, 2014. John Flood, Staff Resident at Jikoji, talks about what brings us to Jikoji, our stories, and our practice.
Doug Jacobson, Prison Dharma, April 6, 2014. Doug, prison chaplain and tunnel engineer, shares his experience with the inspiring practice of prisoners.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Meditation -- The Work, March 30, 2014. Michael, Guiding Teacher at Jikoji, uses the koan "Ordinary Mind is the Way" to clarify practice of Zazen and Shikantaza.
Greg Campbell, Hotoi, and other Masters, March 23, 2014. Greg, a resident at and business manager for Jikoji, shows and tells about Hotoi, a gregarious Buddha, and other masters.
Jill Kaplan, Gratitude, March 16, 2014. Jill, a psychotherapist and zen teacher in the Suzuki Roshi lineage, recalls the late Myogen Steve Stucky as an inspiration to her exploration and practice of gratitude.
Shinshu Roberts, Everyday Practice, March 9 2014. Shinshu, co-founder/teacher of Ocean Gate Zen Center in Capitola CA., discusses everyday problems, and each moment's practice.
Peter Szydlowski, Fitting Zen Practices, March 2 2014. Peter, teacher/leader for Rohatsu Sesshins at Jikoji, leads a discussion of traditional Zen practices and our American needs.
Dan Zigmond, Belief and Effort, February 23 2014. Dan, a software engineer, writer, and contributing editor, clarifies essential understanding and faith in practice, as evidenced by founders.
February 10-16 2014, Nehan-e Sesshin, led by Angie Boissevain Roshi, with donnalynn chase as Ino and Paula Jones as Shuso
Gerow Reece, Calligraphy, and Hakkuin's Poem, February 9 2014. Gerow, an ex-resident who teaches calligraphy and ceremonial tea, beautifully translates and comments on several poems, expressed within Japanese calligraphy.
Keith Wiley, Intimacy and the Dharma, February 2 2014. Keith, a priest with Crystal Springs Zen Sangha, draws from his experience, and Buddhist myths, to exemplify true intimacy within the Dharma.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Discussion, January 26 2014. Michael, Jikoji's resident teacher, leads an open discussion that touches on selfing, posture, alertness, calm and equanimity.
Dr. James Hutt, Stress, January 19 2014. A Discussion about Stress, in Daily Life and in Practice" with Dr. James Hutt, psychologist, and Shoho Michael Newhall .
Doug Jacobson, Privilege, January 2014. Doug, a Jikoji Resident and civil/tunnel engineer, discusses Buddhist practices in the light of our many privileges and our responsibilities.
Joe Hall, On Practice at Jikoji, January 5 2014. Joe, a priest, biker, recent Ino, design specialist, and Resident, talks about why he came to Jikoji, and how to practice.
Shoho Michael Newhall, Brief Meditation Instruction, January 5 2014 (16 minutes). Mike, Jikoji's Guiding Teacher for over a decade, describes basic practices for participating in Jikoji's zendo, including posture and meditation.
Thomas-JoShin, Learning and Attitudes in Practice, Dec. 31, 2013 (New Year's Eve.) Joshin, a Swiss priest visiting Jikoji, describes his experience letting go of problems, the O-Kesa, proper focus and attention, and practicing together.
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