))
Learn about traditional Zen and Buddhist teachings, practices, and history through episodes recorded specifically for podcast listeners. Host Domyo Burk is a Soto Zen priest and teacher.
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
158 – Social Strife and the Forgotten Virtue of Decorum
41:50
41:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:50
Recent events show how deep a divide has developed within the United States. Those guilty of crimes need to be held accountable, but how do we repair the social fabric of our nation? It may help to renew cultural respect for the value of decorum: Dignified behavior according to social standards for what demonstrates a basic respect for one another’…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
157 – Bodhicitta: The Critical Importance of Dissatisfaction
28:51
28:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:51
Dissatisfaction can lead to Bodhicitta. Bodhicitta is a Buddhist term literally meaning “awakened mind” that can translated as “the mind that seeks the way.” It’s the part of us which aspires to free ourselves and others from suffering – arising, ironically, from dissatisfaction. We think, “There must be a better way,” or, “There must be more to li…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
156 – Ebb and Flow in Buddhist Practice: Cycles of Energy, Inspiration, and Focus
35:36
35:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:36
You can expect your Buddhist practice to go through a cycle of ebb and flow in terms of energy, inspiration, and focus. At times, hopefully, you feel motivated and determined, and experience a period of learning and growth. Then there will inevitably be periods where your practice loses momentum. It may feel dull or aimless, or you may fall back in…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
155 - Avatamsaka Sutra - Each One of Us Has Unique Bodhisattva Gifts to Offer - 2
25:28
25:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:28
Part of our bodhisattva path is embracing our uniqueness and finding our own particular, special bodhisattva capacity, talent, and calling. Each of us has our own unique way, or ways, of serving in this world. It just takes some imagination to discover them. Teachings from Avatamsaka Sutra can help stimulate our imaginations in this regard. In this…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
154 - Avatamsaka Sutra - Each One of Us Has Unique Bodhisattva Gifts to Offer – Part 1
39:47
39:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:47
Part of our bodhisattva path is embracing our uniqueness and finding our own particular, special bodhisattva capacity, talents, and calling. Each of us has our own unique gifts to offer the world which will determine what kind of service we should devote ourselves to, it just takes some imagination to discover them. A teaching from Avatamsaka Sutra…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
153 - Kshanti, The Perfection of Endurance: Life's Not Always a Bed of Roses
24:54
24:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:54
Kshanti is the Buddhist perfection (paramita) of endurance. Practice can relieve suffering, but it takes work; it isn’t a magic pill that brings instant peace and bliss. An essential part of our practice is learning how to endure - but not in a passive way, but in a determined refusal to be beaten down, defeated, deflated, or stopped in our efforts…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
152 - Lotus Sutra 3: This Means YOU - The Parable of the Lost Son
22:33
22:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:33
The Lotus Sutra parable of the Lost Son perfectly conveys the difference between hinayana and Mahayana practice. Despite what we may think of ourselves, we already have everything we need - including the capacity for great liberation and service. At the same time, we need to practice in order to grow into our inheritance.…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
151 - The Emptiness of Self and Why It Matters
31:41
31:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:41
The emptiness of self is a Zen teaching that may seem rather abstract and philosophical, or even kind of nihilistic, depressing, or disorienting. Why does this matter? In brief, knowing the true nature of our self is what liberates us from fear and suffering.By Domyo Burk
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
150 - Zazen as the Dharma Gate of Joyful Ease
30:14
30:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:14
In this episode I focus on how zazen is the dharma gate of joyful ease, because experiencing it as such is so profoundly restorative at a time when our lives tend to be stressful in many ways. I also think it’s necessary to explore the way in which zazen is the dharma gate of joyful ease because that dharma gate is subtle and can be elusive because…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
149 - Understanding People's Actions Through the Six Realms Teaching
42:55
42:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:55
Understanding people's actions can be difficult. Sometimes we can't help but feel disbelief, judgment, or disgust toward people based on how they respond to the suffering of others. The Buddhist teaching about the Six Realms of existence can help us understand people's mind states and motivations, hopefully leading us to greater patience, less judg…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
148 – Three Ingredients for a Generous Life in a Crazy World
32:22
32:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:22
Bearing Witness, Taking Care, and Taking Action: A skillful balance of these ingredients helps you sustain energy, motivation, positivity, and equanimity even when so many things are falling apart, corrupt, unjust, discouraging, even frightening. It helps you maintain compassion and take responsibility as a citizen of the world without being overwh…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
147 - Loving-Kindness (Metta) Practice as an Antidote to Fear and Anxiety
32:46
32:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:46
When we call suffering beings to mind and extend metta - or loving-kindness - it might seem like we'd be opening up to more suffering and thereby increase our own fear and anxiety, but this is not the case. In fact, metta helps us face reality while aligned with our deeper nature. This alignment results in a sense of sufficiency and strength as we …
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
146 - Respect Even for Terrible People: What Does It Mean?
28:07
28:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:07
Buddhism, like other religions, teaches we should treat each and every human being with respect, regardless of their behavior or off-putting manifestation. What does this really mean? Sometimes people are hateful, manipulative, cruel, selfish, irresponsible, or downright violent and destructive. Surely, in being asked to respect such people, we’re …
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
145 - No Matter What Happens to You, You Have Choice in the Matter
31:52
31:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:52
Buddhism teaches that no matter what happens to us, we always have some degree of choice about how we respond, and what we do next. At those critical, precious moments when your perspective widens and you become more aware of yourself, you can act in accordance with your aspiration to relieve suffering for self and other. This is what practice is: …
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
144 - Lotus Sutra 2: Wake Up! The Parable of the Burning House
34:41
34:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:41
The Parable of the Burning House is one of five main parables of the Lotus Sutra, a classic Mahayana Buddhist text. I go through the parable paragraph by paragraph, stopping to reflect on each part of the story along the way and encouraging you to imagine yourself within the story as if it were a dream. I finish up by discussing the relevance of th…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
143 - The Experience of Enlightenment and Why It’s for All of Us
34:16
34:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:16
Whether you are personally intrigued by the concept of enlightenment or not, it is absolutely central to Buddhism. However, enlightenment – to use a kind of corny phrase – is not what you think. I discuss sudden and gradual experiences of enlightenment, the changes such experiences bring about in us, and why it’s important for all of us to seek enl…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
142 - Direct Experience Is Liberation: When There Are No Stories, There Is No "You"
31:19
31:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:19
Humans evolved to make sense of their experience by explaining with a story, or narrative. Although our stories help us communicate and navigate our lives, they also can preoccupy and burden us. Sometimes they are distressing, depressing, or exhausting to maintain. This is why the Buddha said to train ourselves such that “in the sensed, there is on…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
141 - The Practice of Vow 2: Choosing the Direction We Want Our Lives to Take
28:43
28:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:43
The practice of vow is central in Buddhism, as I’ve discussed before. Vows – alternatively aspirations, intentions, or commitments, formal or informal – are a conscious choice we make about the kind of life we want to live, and the kind of person we want to be. Clarifying the vows we are already living, and the vows we still want to take on, can he…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
140 – Sustainable Buddhist Practice: Creating Form But Keeping It Flexible
39:53
39:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:53
How do we create a strong and sustainable Buddhist practice outside of a monastery? We create structure for ourselves and build good habits, but then the circumstances of our lives change. There are many competing demands on our attention and time. We have to mostly rely on our own self-discipline instead of social support. The key is giving our pr…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
139 - Suchness: Awakening to the Preciousness of Things-As-It-Is
45:22
45:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:22
All religions and spiritual practices have one purpose: To relieve our suffering and give us hope. As Buddhists we sometimes emphasize “relieving suffering” and leave it unsaid that, after being freed from your suffering, you will perceive things in a way that gives you hope, inspiration, and solace. The Buddhist teaching of suchness arose a couple…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
138 - Buddhist Images of Fierceness and Compassionate Anger
36:58
36:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:58
Despite the placid appearance of most Buddha statues and the Buddhist precept against indulging anger, there is a place for fierceness and compassionate anger in Buddhism. Especially when we're faced with injustice or need to protect others, we may need the energy of anger or fierceness to make ourselves heard. I discuss how respect for appropriate…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
137 - Sustainable Bodhisattva Practice when the World is (Literally) on Fire
44:18
44:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:18
Many American cities are on fire - literally - as tensions over systemic racism erupt. How do we enact our bodhisattva vows in the face of all of this suffering - caused by racism, the global pandemic, the breakdown of earth's natural life support systems, and global heating? Our vow is to "save all beings" but - at least in terms of an individual'…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
136 - Grief in Buddhism 2: Some Buddhist Practices Helpful for Facing and Integrating Grief
29:56
29:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:56
Grief is love in the face of loss; do you want to stop loving in order to stop feeling grief? Of course not. But we also don't want to be controlled or overwhelmed by it. There are a number of Buddhist practices that can help us as we practice with grief – trying to face it, and making sure we don’t impede our own grief process. What I’ll share in …
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
Mini Episode - A Four "S" Approach to Shikantaza: Sit Upright, Still, Silent, Simply Be
10:33
10:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:33
Shikantaza, or the practice of "just sitting," can be challenging. We're asked not to try to control our meditative experience, but are we just supposed to sit there like a sack of potatoes and let habit energy have its way? I present a simple approach to returning to your intention whenever you have a moment of awareness in your sitting, and makin…
T
The Zen Studies Podcast
1
135 - Grief in Buddhism 1: Buddhist Teachings on Grief and the Danger of Spiritual Bypassing
25:47
25:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:47
Grief in Buddhism: What are the teachings about it, and how are we supposed to practice with it? It's often easy to suppress or bypass our grief, leaving us stuck in one of the early stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, or depression), or unable to face reality or live with a fully open heart. Unfortunately, some Buddhist teachings may seem …
