AZC Weekly talks

2026-09-29 Giving 1

Beginning to explore the Dāna Pāramitā. Main Source: The Practice of Perfection by Robert Aitken.

2026-09-10 Bodhidharma's Wake Up Sermon

Description: Non-Attachment. Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma by Red Pine.

2026-09-09 Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon 3

Description: Buddhas and cause and effect. Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma by Red Pine.

2026-09-08 Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon 2

Description: Mind is Buddha. Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma by Red Pine.

2026-09-07 Master Dōgens Extensive Record 2

Description: A selection ōf Dōgen's encouragement talks to inspire our practice. Main sources: Dogen's Extensive Record: Eihei Kōroku, translated by Taigen Dan Leighton

2026-09-06 Master Dōgens Extensive Record 1

Description: A selection ōf Dōgen's encouragement talks to inspire our practice. Main sources: Dogen's Extensive Record: Eihei Kōroku, translated by Taigen Dan Leighton

2026-09-05 Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon 1

Description: Mind is Buddha. Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma by Red Pine.

2026-08-25 How Long Will It Take?

To think of practice as having a goal takes us away from the present moment. We can become impatient when we don't see the desired results of our zazen, and this impatien

2026-08-11 Patience

The Kshanti Paramita. Active patience or forbearance as an antidote to anger.

2026-07-21 Nature Koans 5: Mumonkan Case 6, 'The Buddha Holds Up a Flower'

The Sangha assembled on Vulture Peak to hear a discourse by the Buddha. The Buddha simply held up a flower. Only Mahakashyapa smiled. Texts: The Gateless Barrier, Robert

2026-07-07 The Bodhisattva Precepts 3

Some reflections of the 10 cardinal precepts and some questions to discuss. Source: The World Could Be Otherwise, Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path by Norman Fischer.

2026-06-23 The Bodhisattva Precepts 2

A look at the three pure precepts and the first five cardinal precepts. Source: The World Could be Otherwise by Norman Fischer.

2026-06-09 The Bodhisattva Precepts 1

Exploring the 16 precepts in preparation for Matariki Jukai. Source: The World Could be Otherwise by Norman Fischer.

2026-05-26 Nature Koans 4: Mumonkan Case 2, 'Hyakujo and the Fox'

This koan takes the form of a folktale. An ancient teacher gives the wrong answer regarding cause and effect and must live 500 lives as a fox. Text: Shaping Text: Philos

2026-04-21 Ahimsa

Ahimsa, not-harming, is a fundamental principle of both Hinduism and Buddhism, and is embodied in the first of our Ten Cardinal Precepts, "Not to kill but to cherish all

2026-04-07 Term Intensive Tips

Some thoughts on making the most of a Term Intensive. Sources: Silent Illumination by Guo Gu, Self-help for your Nerves by Claire Weekes, and Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg.

2026-03-24 Peace and War

Peace must always be given precedence, in particular making peace with ourselves. But war is always present; there has never been a time in human history when a war has n

2026-02-10 Nature Koans 3: Wu-tsu's Buffalo Passes Through the Window

This is the third in a series of koans centred on the natural world. The koan is Case 38 in the Mumonkan Books used in the teisho: Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Fergus

2026-01-27 The Three Fruits of Zen Practice

The three fruits of Zen practice are, 1. joriki or concentration, 2. kensho, or seeing your True Nature and 3. mujo do no taigen, or embodiment of the peerless way. Sour

2026-01-10 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 6

More from the Shobogenzo Zuimonki on effort. Source: A Primer of Soto Zen translated by Reiho Masunaga.