Introductory Day of Zen: Beginner’s Mind with Valerie Forstman
Basic Buddhism
Valerie examines beginner’s mind and explores the question”what is Zen?” during our March 2021 one-day Introduction to Meditation retreat. Suzuki Roshi – a Japanese Zen master who brought Zen teaching
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Message from Valerie: Choiceless Awareness
When you practice just sitting and continuously give up all thoughts and views, the way becomes more and more intimate. ~ Eihei Dogen The earliest known Ch’an or Zen
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Eight-Fold Path, Part 2: Bill Bruce (Video)
Senior Zen Student Bill Bruce gives the second part of his talk on the Eightfold Path. He begins with Right Livelihood which he calls a life of service. Then, the
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Four Motivations for Taking up the Path of Zen
Traveling and traveling, I arrived at the mountain of treasures, Only to realize it was none other than My own temporary dwelling. ~ Ryokan Once, two monks were traveling together
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Mindfulness and Suffering
The dharma is beautiful at the beginning, beautiful in the middle, and beautiful at the end. The Buddha Mindfulness – present moment awareness, bare attention, or nonjudgmental awareness – is
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The Eightfold Path: Dharma Talk with Bill Bruce (video)
A more beautiful world our heart knows is possible. Bill Bruce is a long term Zen practitioner and sangha member. Bill opens his dharma talks with a simple story from
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Practice as Pilgrimage
The Way is never apart from you, right where you are. Why should we wander here and there to practice? Eihei Dogen Zen has deep roots in the practice of
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Substance of Practice
Under the shadowless tree all people are in one boat. from Case 18, Blue Cliff Record; case 85, Book of Serenity When National Teacher Nanyang is about to die, his
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Thoughts in Meditation
Thought by thought arising . . . Never separate from the Heart. Kanzeon Sutra The Kanzeon Sutra, a short form of the Heart Sutra, celebrates the boundless compassion of the
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Methods of Practice,Valerie Forstman
A single meditation cushion has no cover or fence. Qiyuan Xinggang Sitting in silence and becoming at home in our own breath is an ancient practice that is as contemporary
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The Heart’s Wide Clarity, Valerie Forstman
In the heart’s wide clarity, all things gather, but the heart is never overcrowded. ~ Ross Bolleter, composer and Zen teacher Zen practice is an invitation to sit in silence
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Awakening the Heart Retreat, Talk Three: Person of No Rank, Henry Shukman
Koan: There is a true person of no rank who is constantly coming and going from the portals of your face. Who is that true person of no rank? Rinzai
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