Talks in Audio Format
Sunday Dharma Talks and Student Talks are usually put online on Sunday afternoon. Talks are by guest teachers or by students in formal Zen training.
"Your Life as Monastery" by Shoken Winecoff
October 31, 2004 Dharma Talk
Your practice is taking care of life day to day, standing up where you are. We sometimes get swamped by situations, but bringing ourselves to each moment is the practice; the whole world is monastery.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Embracing and Sustaining All Beings: Bearing Witness Retreat at Auschwitz"
by Sosan Theresa Flynn
October 24, 2004 Dharma Talk
Following the 3rd Pure Precept--Vowing to embrace and sustain all living beings--requires facing difficult things in our lives. But when the heart is closed, we suffer. Open, joy and love arise.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"May We Realize This True Meaning" by Michael O'Neal
October 17, 2004 Dharma Talk
The Great Vows, which are a restatement of the Four Noble Truths, move from understanding to action. They are an invitation to step forward. This sense of energy is within Buddhist teachings through and through.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Baizhang's Fox" by Reverend Nonin Chowaney
October 10, 2004 Dharma Talk
A question posed in a koan - Is an enlightened person still subject to cause and effect? - reveals the relationship between absolute and relative truth. We live in both. Avoid getting stuck in either.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Patience is Enlightenment" by Byakuren Judith Ragir
October 3, 2004 Dharma Talk
Meditation practice helps you learn how to stay with the energy of the present moment. Cultivating patience, which is accepting what is and relaxing in it, is difficult, but it's not as hard to do when you're doing it moment by moment.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Sound of Emptiness" by Shohaku Okumura-sensei
September 26, 2004 Dharma Talk
Dogen uses a poem about a windbell in his commentary on the Heart Sutra to talk about prajna (wisdom) in our practice. Our zazen is like a windbell. In any conditions we try to make the sound of emptiness, the sound of prajna.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Practice as Refuge" by Mark Nunberg
September 12, 2004 Dharma Talk
We don't need anything other than our lives to do our practice. This moment is the practice. Take refuge in openness, not being afraid, even of failing.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage" by Marc Dokan Anderson
September 5, 2004 Dharma Talk
An 8th Century text by Chinese monk Shitou Xiquan describes the path of the spiritual seeker. We are all capable of seeing our Buddha nature. If we accept who we are, we are completely free and can open our hearts and trust the truth.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"Preparing For Your Life" by Sosan Theresa Flynn
August 29, 2004 Dharma Talk
Dogen's "Instructions to the Cook" offers specific advice on giving your whole attention to your work, keeping in mind both the truth of impermanence and the truth of cause and effect. When you prepare for tomorrow's meal with today's work you have a direction for the future while you are fully present in this moment.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
"The Lotus: Splendor in Dharma" by Kaz Tanahashi
August 22, 2004 Dharma Talk
Lotus symbolism is deeply rooted in spiritual practice, from ancient Egypt, to India, to Asia. It represents the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, the Buddha, enlightenment, and, in one sutra, a womb which envelops the whole world.
Listen to the .mp3 audio of this talk
On Switching to MP3 For Talks
I realize this may cause some initial difficulties for those of you who have become accustomed to RealAudio. The reasons for this change are as follows:
1) We can produce an MP3 version of the talk in half the time of a RealAudio version (and current staff for doing this is one volunteer, plus one volunteer-in-training). 2) MP3 is supported "out-of-the-box" on many recent computers, no setup required. RealAudio always requires a separate download and install. Also, Real tries to trick people into paying money instead of using their free player. 3) MP3 is the standard for computer audio, and, amongst many other things, is a much better choice for us to archive talks.
I believe this change will benefit everybody, once you are set up. If you have problems with the switch, please contact me at webmaster@cloudsinwater.org.
Audios of Practice Period Classes
If you are in the Fall 2004 Mindful Speech and Deep Listening class and are looking for the audios of the dharma talks, contact webmaster@cloudsinwater.org for instructions.
