Below is a selection of the Sydney Zen Centre podcasts published on Soundcloud.
If you are interested in listening to more, click here for access to all of SZC podcasts.
Subhana explores what sprinkling Holy Water on the Dragon's Tail might mean. The Christian legend of Martha and the Dragon reveals a beautiful teaching of cultivating compassion to those parts that we don’t like; pain, jealousy, judgemental reactivity and old unworthy beliefs the “dragon” parts of ourselves. Instead of slaying the dragon or hating ourselves,...
Read MorePeter introduces us to the first paragraph of Master Hongzhi’s “Practice Instructions”. In these opening lines, Hongzhi's gives us a sense of the infinite potential that we each possess, a wonderful field of boundlessness within our own experience. "With thoughts clear, sitting silently, wander into the centre of the circle of wonder..." This talk was given by Peter Bursky...
Read MoreMaggie explores and valorises the role of ceremony in Zen practice. Ritual objects and actions help us to forget the self and be fully present. They bring sangha into a harmonious one. Beyond formal practice in the dojo, any action in life can be taken with loving care and presence, in the interest of all...
Read MoreMaggie examines a koan which explores the nature of fear as well as the imperative to walk straight into the heart of fear. Finally, it lands on the matter of taking full responsibility, for everything…..with a bow to the Precepts, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and your own unique self. This teisho was given by Maggie...
Read MoreYu Men said, " Within heaven and earth, there is one treasure hidden in a body." This talk by Jane investigates who or what this one treasure may be, and how realising that treasure can bring a transformation to our lives. This talk was given by Jane Andino, roshi at the January zazenkai, 2023
Read MoreWho is the one working hard? Busy, busy, busy! Take out your broom and sweep the path clean. But beware being driven by a need to get things done or by the desire to get somewhere. In a playful exchange with his dharma buddy, Yunyan challenges us to remember that there is someone who does...
Read More“Let it go” is almost a mantra in the dojo, where we are encouraged to abandon discursive thinking and return to our single point of practice. It’s instructive to consider the mental and emotional baggage you bring to zazen and thus discover that it is unnecessary. But what if you see the emptiness of phenomena?...
Read MoreNot a few of us come to practice to find peace of mind. Just so Huike, the protagonist of this story. Let’s see how determination, faith and surrender help him in his quest and how Bodhidharma turns him upside down. It’s a dramatic tale and one that is foundational to the Zen tradition. This teisho...
Read MoreThis teisho, given at Jane’s Transmission ceremony, explores the origins and evolving nature of Sangha. With the help of some home-made koans, the talk also develops the theme that Sangha is not merely a means to get things done as a unit of organisation, but also presents the essential. This teisho was given by Jane...
Read More‘Dropping Ashes on the Buddha’ is a koan that is not normally investigated as part of our tradition. It is a koan by the Korean Zen Master Seung Shan. This teisho was given by apprentice teacher Will Moon at Spring sesshin in 2022
Read MoreIn this teisho Gilly explores death - three months had passed since my life partner, Tony, died. I was grieving deeply and Thich Nhat Hanh’s ocean metaphor helped ease the burden. He begins: ‘When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can be compared with other waves...
Read MoreWill explores the koan about Pai-chang's Fox, focussing on one aspect in particular - the old man's 'no falling under the law of cause and effect'. This teisho, Case 2 of the Wumenkuan, was given at Spring sesshin 2022
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