Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks

10/22/26- "One Mind, Two Aspects" (Sandokai)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk working with the opening lines of Shitou's Sandokai, the merging of difference and unity. Dean discusses the origins conveyed in the Sand

10/17/26- "No Mind"

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the term "no mind", which in Zen teachings is used as a skillful means to convey the boundlessness and non-duality of all things rathe

10/15/26- "All is One, One is All" (Sandokai)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk introduces Shitou's Sandokai, the merging of difference and unity. This is the first lecture in a series of talks that will continue look

10/3/26- "Open Q&A" (Emptiness v. Pantheism etc.)

Sensei Dean Williams hosts the regular Open Q&A for the group. Sangha members raised questions for Dean on the parallels between the Buddhist concept of emptiness and pan

10/1/26- "Great Bright Mantra" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra explains that prajna (wisdom) is the direct, unmediated insight into the impermanence and interdependence of all thing

9/24/26- "No Hindrance" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra lines "with nothing to attain, the mind has no hindrance." Dean talks about Emptiness and Interdependence explaining t

9/12/26- Meditation in Buddhism

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on meditation in Zen. Zazen (meditation) and solitude, what is considered the "prerequisite" to Zen meditation? Begin with recogn

9/19/26- "Zen & Excitement" (Zen Mind, Beginners Mind)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on 'Zen & Excitement'. Dean discusses being fully engaged with our usual environment through focused awareness and mindfulness. Drawing f

9/17/26- "No Attainment" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra lines "with no cognition, no attainment" and "with nothing to attain, the mind has no hindrance." Recognizing that "no

9/10/26- "No Buddhism" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on how we we can get attached to Buddhism itself. While early Buddhist teachings viewed cause and effect as flowing in a single direction

9/3/26- "No Form" (Heart Sutra)

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on emptiness. What the section about "having no form, no feelings, no perceptions, no impulses, no consciousness, no eyes, no ear

8/29/26- "True Naturalness" (Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on 'Naturalness' in Buddhism. Dean discusses how True Naturalness, which is an activity based on nothingness and independence from condit

8/27/26- "Emptiness in Practice" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on how we practically work with the core concept of Emptiness in Buddhism. Dean discusses relying on mental formations and thought constr

8/22/26- "Humility"

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on humility in Buddhism. Dean describes "humility" as an appropriate term to characterize the wisdom teaching of the emptiness of all thi

8/20/26- "Understanding Emptiness" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the core concept of Emptiness in Buddhism. Bowing in Buddhism is Emptiness bowing to Emptiness. Emptiness does not mean that nothing i

8/13/26- "The Two Truths- Relative & Absolute" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on reconciling the Two Truths in Buddhism - the Relative & the Absolute. Dean explains that form represents the conventional realm, while

8/8/26- "Open Q&A" (Mu, Metaphors, Letting Go etc.)

Sensei Dean Williams hosts the regular Open Q&A for the group. Sangha members raised questions for Dean on the idea taking the boat to the other shore; the mechanics of l

8/1/26- "Solitude & Meditation" (Way of the Bodhisattva Chap 8)

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on Chapter 8 of The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, focusing primarily on the juxtaposition of solitude and meditation, vs

8/6/25- "Emptiness of All Things" (Heart Sutra)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Emptiness of All Things continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working

8/15/26 - "Mu" Koan (Case 1 of Gateless Barrier)

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the "Mu" (neither yes or no) Koan - Case 1 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in