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Description: Dosho Port teaches with the Vine of Obstacles: Online Support for Zen Training and at the Nebraska Zen Center in Omaha, and he has been practicing Zen since 1977.

“We are always looking for the lack, like Eka (Huike) searching for his mind – this lack is so convincing and so untrue. It blinds us to who we really

Description: Newly appointed assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Will Brennan offers reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, (Recommending Zazen for all People) about how to practice, why practice, a beginner’s primer and much more.

Description: Natalie speaks about her new book Three Simple Lines: A Writer’s Pilgrimage into the Heart and Homeland of Haiku. The final section includes a short exchange with Sanbo Zen

“May each and everybody whether staying still or standing up have ten thousand blessings….Today I have advantage after advantage, now, please practice.” ~ Dogen Description: Valerie explores the dharma hall discourse

“When you sit, the whole world is sitting… We really don’t have to do anything, just show up”. Description: The invitation of Zen practice is to sit with the world,

Description:  Valerie and Henry explore Unmon’s Bright Light, Case 84 from the Blue Cliff Record in this final talk from our 2020 winter solstice retreat. Valerie opens with the Great

“… The knot of self has become untied …” Description:  Henry returns to the basics of practice in this third talk from the 2022 winter solstice retreat picking up on

“… the awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha and the simultaneous awakening of all existence, past, present and future …” Description: To explore the origin point of practice in this second talk

“… This moment – just as it is – is our reality. …” Description: Henry describes how meditation practice exclusively focused on awakening (kensho) can bypass the enormous gains practice

Description: Valerie Forstman explores the silence when Vimalakirti is asked, what is the bodhisattva entering the dharma-gate of non-duality (or the gate of not two)? Vimalakirti opens a portal to

Description: Henry reminds us that training is our own work, effort, commitment and investment of time and energy. Yet the context of practice pulls us outside of ourselves, out of

The unadjusted step is a way of naming this moment.   Valerie Forstman Description: Valerie Forstman offers this post-election talk and acknowledges our deeply divided nation. She introduces the taoist

“… samadhi … bringing together or unification …” Description: Our Sanbo Zen lineage has traditionally focused on kensho (sudden awakening) experiences which offer a complete, though often brief, shift in how we see reality. To attain this shift, practitioners sit on a cushion and meditate with little instruction. This changed in the 1940s when Zen opened to western seekers and laity. An early introductory document written during this time period listed three aims for Zen, the first of which is samadhi (translated as bringing together or unification). Henry introduces the concept of samadhi and describes how it fits into the scheme of practice. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening Event: Meditation and Dharma Talk with Teshin Matt Sweger. Original Love 2022 – SIX-WEEK COURSE AND RETREAT: MINDFULNESS, SELF-LOVE AND AWAKENING.. Post & Featured Image (edited): 3d split arrows merging together by cteconsulting, purchased from 123rtf, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… This very moment is awakening ...” Description: Valerie Forstman’s dharma talk probes Case 23 from the Blue Cliff Record, Hofuku and Chokei on an Outing. Hofuku says “This very moment is awakening. Exactly,” responds Chokei, “but it’s regrettable.” And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Original Love 2022 – SIX-WEEK COURSE AND RETREAT: MINDFULNESS, SELF-LOVE AND AWAKENING. Post & Featured Image (edited): Small river flows through the rocks in the green forest by diew, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… ultimate meaning of the holy truth … Vast and void, no holiness ...” Description: Guest speaker and Sanbo Zen teacher Hannelore Mueller opens this beautiful talk recognizing the seriousness and major impact of Covid 19 world wide. We are asked to learn the intimacy of life, sickness and death, and to pay attention to the personal responsibility of our common fate. Hannelore next speaks on the koan, Bodhidharma’s Vast and Void. When Bodhidharma arrived in China, Emperor Bu asks him, What is the ultimate meaning of the holy truth? Bodhidharma answers, Vast and void, no holiness. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Original Love 2022 – Mindfulness and Self-love, February 13 – March 20. Post & Featured Image (edited): Starry night sky over sea and beach with man silhouette by Milosz_, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… has a strange power to remove and delete delusions, concepts and unnecessary attachments ...” Description: Listen to this personal and powerful talk from Carmen Afable, Sanbo Zen teacher from Manilla. Carmen presents Case 37 from the Mumonkan cannon (The Gateless Gate), The Oak Tree in the Garden. Ryoun Roshi says this koan “has a strange power to remove and delete delusions, concepts and unnecessary attachments.” And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Exploring the Wild World of Koans: February 3-6 Virtual Retreat. Original Love 2022 – Mindfulness and Self-love, February 13 – March 20. Post & Featured Image (edited): Young man portrait with splash effect by tommasolizzul, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… The beauty of Zen is its simplicity. The challenge of Zen also is its simplicity ...” Description: This Sunday morning talk by Henry Shukman starts with a guided meditation on beginner’s mind. No matter how far along we may be in our practice, we may maintain a beginner’s mind by welcoming every moment as fresh and new, here and then gone, like a wave rolling onto the shore. This is followed by a discussion about the four levels of practice and a Q&A session in which we consider how Zen is about more than just progressing toward the goal of awakening. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Exploring the Wild World of Koans: February 3-6 Virtual Retreat. Original Love 2022 – Mindfulness and Self-love, February 13 – March 20. Post & Featured Image (edited): Zen Rock Garden in Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Japan by siraanamwong, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… When we find a path and follow it …  we will be able to say, this was a precious path ...” Description: Henry describes the heart break and love that goes along with completely letting go. He further talks about finding a spiritual path and begins with a short reading from Dostoevsky’s The Brother’s Karamazov which includes: “Every one of us has sinned against all people…. everyone is really responsible to all people, for all people and for everything…how is it we didn’t realize this?” When we find a path and follow it, we will get to the end of our lives we will be able to say, this was a precious path. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Zazenkai – January 15, 2022. Post & Featured Image (edited): Beautiful Scene Misty Old Forest with Sun Rays, Shadows, and Fog by Subbotina, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

Description: Dr Maria Reis Habito describes her experiences and work with dharma Master Hsin Tao. Maria Reis Habito is the International Program Director of the Museum of World Religions, the Director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute USA, and a Zen Teacher authorized in the Sanbo Zen lineage. And, here is a link to the YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Zazenkai – January 15, 2022. Post & Featured Image (edited): Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s image from his website.