San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

06/16/2024, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Laura talks about how we can practice with grief, loss, and ordinary everyday suffering, She weaves in stories from her recent book from Shambhala, The Zen Way of Recovery, and shares practices that can help us--no matter what we may be recovering from.

06/15/2024, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple, by Sozan Michael McCord. The Zen Buddhist path can seem like one that is spare, determined and somewhat serious; addressing the primary root of suffering as its main purpose. Yet, the practice is full of examples and instructions about liberation, joy and the connection to the beating heart of NOW. How do these seemingly disparate views reconcile?

06/09/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Jiryu reflects on the practice of shikantaza, just sitting, as a Way that is fundamentally different than technique-based meditation.

06/08/2024, Mushim Patricia Ikeda, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, San Francisco Zen Center, Muslim Ikeda examines the question, How can Zen practice be of benefit to more people during what many are calling "unprecedented times"? In mid-2024 the news is filled with political divisiveness, threats of fascism, ongoing genocides, and, as the polar ice caps continue to melt, Mexico City is facing a possible "Day Zero" when millions of people will have no running water. Weaving threads from Chinese Chan, Korean Seon, Japanese Zen, and Vietnamese Thien, Mushim Ikeda asked how possible it might be, on one hand, for her to live up to Korean Zen Master Naong's ‘Great Resolutions;’ and, on the other hand, to possibly chicken out and take back her Bodhisattva Vows. Mushim shared from her wide-ranging recent explorations into a Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhist modern version of Chöd and other experiences, suggesting that the vital inquiry for each of us might be to engage in heartfelt discernment each day, asking, "What is the most important thing for me to be doing, here, now, with all that I am?"

06/05/2024, Kim Kōgen Dai-Hō Hart, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, San Francisco Zen Center, Kim considers how we are often hindered by our habitual responses, conditioning and fundamental misunderstanding of the substantiality of the phenomenal world. Here, she reflects on how, through Zen practice, we can access freedom through exploring the two aspects of non-dual reality, which can broaden our understanding, but more importantly set us free to meet the moment and engage more fully with our own lives.

05/29/2024, Kazuaki Tanahashi, Mitsue Nagase, dharma talk at City Center. In this discussion, held in the conference center at Beginner's Mind Temple, Mitsue Nagase and Kaz Tanahashi discuss their new book “Gardens of Awakening: A Guide to the Aesthetics, History, and Spirituality of Kyoto's Zen Landscapes.” Selected photographs were exhibited on site to share the experience of "meeting" a Zen garden in its fleeting moments.

05/18/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Kokyo celebrates the spirit of non-sectarianism within Buddha-Dharma, and explores the similarities and differences between Zen and Vajrayana practices, through the teaching of the nine vehicles of the Tibetan Nyingma School.

05/15/2024, Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Dōshin Dan Gudgel investigates how using the word and idea of ‘enemy’ affects our every day experience. Dan examines our national, military idea of ‘enemies,’ as well as how modern culture in the U.S. is increasingly using the word and concept of ‘enemy’ more broadly, and harmfully. With linguistic, dharma and personal examples, Dan points to how we are limiting our responses and closing our hearts to people and ideas by accepting these artificial categories of ‘enemy’ and ‘friend.’

05/12/2024, Thiemo Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk was presented by Thiemo on Mothers Day at the end of an introductory Sesshin (meditation retreat) at Green Dragon Temple. The Investigation of - “the true dragon” (Reality / Thusness) - in Sesshin is likened to the ancient story of the blind men investigating an Elephant. The speaker suggests that Forms and Ceremonies offer a path to wholeheartedly and intimately connect to the “dragon”. As babies we were in accord with the flow of Reality but as adults we lost connection by our focus on conceptual thinking. Returning to our original intimacy we need to learn the “backward step” that Dogen is teaching.

05/11/2024, Gengyoko Tim Wicks, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple’s monthly one-day sitting, (this time held at Haight Street Art Center) Gengyoko Tim Wicks discusses reincarnation and rebirth, and the relationship that karma has on both of these ancient concepts. In the talk, Tim emphasizes the primacy of rebirth in Mahayana Buddhism.