Bright Way Zen

What Characterizes Our Dharma Cloud Lineage? - Our Bright Way Lineage - Week 6

What Characterizes Our Dharma Cloud Lineage? An overview of twelve things that characterize our lineage. These are things we emphasize, value, or offer; we employ the "Dh

Shining the Light Inward - Domyo

In Fukanzazengi, Dogen says "Learn to take the backward step that turns the light and shines it inward." In this, he indicates the essential point of our practice: studyi

The Trail Markers On Our Personal Zen Path - Tyler

In this Tuesday talk, Sangha member Tyler leads a Sangha discussion around our personal Zen path and our relationship to it over time. Using prompts from Dogen's Uji, as

What Does Zen Mean By Not Picking and Choosing? - Domyo

The Zen Buddhist instructions to let go of ideas of right and wrong, true or false, good and evil, love and hate, and deluded or enlightened, might sound familiar to you

Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 4

In this episode Domyo talks about the establishment of Westside Zen Circle in 2009, incorporation as Bright Way Zen, the evolution and mission of our Sangha. This talk in

Appropriate Longing For Buddhists - Domyo

The Buddha's basic teaching is that life is marked by Dukkha, often translated as "suffering", and the cause of that is Tanha, sometimes translated as "craving" or "thirs

Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 3 - Domyo's Training

In this episode, using journal enteries and poetry from her early life, Domyo guides the Sangha through her path of Soto Zen

The Koan of Effort in Practice - Domyo

Why are we intensifying our practice during Ango?  In Zen, the question of effort vs. non-effort in practice is, in itself, a Koan. Should we aim for vow, intention, moti

Fall Ango Opening Ceremony

Bright Way Zen's Sangha opens a new season of practice with acknowledging all who have practice roles, chanting the Heart Sutra, and singing "Shantideva's Way of the Bodh

Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 2

In the second week of our study series on our Bright Way Zen Linieage we look at the Dharma Cloud lineage including Sanghas established by Kyogen and Gyokuko Carlson and

Making Vows and Living By Vow - Jomon Laura Martin

Our guest speaker leads Plum Blossom Zendo in Vancouver, Washington, and is a teacher and resident of Great Vow Monastery. Here, she shares a little bit about vows and ho

Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 1

In this episode, Domyo has returned from her sabbatical and begins our series on The Bright Way Zen Lineage.  Starting with the Bodhi Dharma, Domyo begins tracing our lin

Sangha Voices - Katie - Is Zen Buddhism a Natural Religion?

Before Katie joined Bright Way and accepted Jukai, she made a list of religious elements that mattered to her. She called the list "natural religion" because it came from

Sangha Voices - Carson - We Are the River

Carson brings us into the field of his vocation: river restoration, which is to return river systems to their natural conditions. Inspired by Zen teachings, his work has

Sangha Voices - Hokaku - You are ______. The Talk with No Name

Hokaku introduces us to Koans, and relates how Case 7 of the Blue Cliff Record has knocked him off-kilter and destroyed his life, exactly as it is supposed to. He also ta

Sangha Voices - Jeff - Was The Buddha A Scientist?

In the latest talk in our Sangha Voices series, Jeff, a physician specializing in psychiatry and addiction medicine,  compares and contrasts the tenants of science and Bu

Sangha Voices - Soki - Four Retreats and a Funeral

Soki describes her life, practice, and priest training so far in 2026 - including her time spent at Green Gulch of San Francisco Zen Center, Dharma Rain Zen Center, and G

Sangha Voices - Kyosen - Zen and Growth in our Buddhist Practice

In this session Sangha member Kyosen leads the Sangha in a discussion around the tension that exists around the themes of change, transformation and growth in our Zen pra

Sangha Voices - Guzan - Playing the Fool: Following Ryōkan's Example

Ryōkan was a well-known 18th century Zen monk, poet, calligrapher, and hermit. In his Dharma name, Guzan shares the "gu" (which translates to "fool") with the "gu" in Tai

Sangha Voices - Shoketsu - Five Remembrances

In this Sangha Voices talk,  Shoketsu speaks about the Five Remembrances found in the Upajjhatthana Sutta ("Subjects for Contemplation") while weaving in her experiences,