Thousand Harbours Zen

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Episode 290: THZ 290 - How We Make Something Real

A talk on ceremony, and form, and how we make something real. (October 15, 2024; Koun Franz) You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by v

Sep 16
23 min

Episode 289: THZ 289 - What Cannot Be Defiled

A talk on Case 101 of Dōgen's Mana Shōbōgenzō (October 1, 2024; Koun Franz): The Sixth Ancestor said, “What is it that has come like this?” Nanyue could not answer... —f

Sep 9
19 min

Episode 288: THZ 288 - Butsudō-Don the Kasaya and Engage in Seated Meditation

This talk concludes our look at Dōgen's Butsudō (Dōshin), with his fifth practice: "always don the kasaya and engage in seated meditation." (September 17, 2024; Koun Fran

Sep 2
20 min

Episode 287: THZ 287 - Butsudō-Produce a Lotus Sutra

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. The fourth is "produce a Lotus Sutra." (Koun Franz; September 3, 2024) You can support

Aug 27
16 min

Episode 286: THZ 286 - Mindfulness and Pain

On how pain can bring us into the present. (Koun Franz; August 20, 2024) You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharb

Aug 19
16 min

Episode 285: THZ 285 - Butsudō- Produce a Buddha

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. The third is "to work to produce a buddha during this life." (Koun Franz; August 6, 202

Aug 12
16 min

Episode 284: THZ 284 - Butsudō- Cultivate the Mind of Awakening

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. In this talk, a look at the first: cultivating the mind of awakening. (Koun Franz; July

Aug 5
20 min

Episode 283: THZ 283 - Butsudō: Revere the Three Treasures

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. The second: "Next, we should deeply revere the three treasures of buddha, dharma, and s

Jul 30
22 min

Episode 282: THZ 282 - We Hold the Aggressor with Compassion

On retreat, a talk about how we hold someone we see as an enemy versus how we hold a baby. (Koun Franz; June 22, 2024) You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn mo

Jul 24
19 min

Episode 281: THZ - 281 Hands and Eyes

Case #105 of Dōgen’s Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; June 18, 2024): Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion [Avalokiteśvara] use so many hands and

Jul 13
18 min

Episode 280: THZ 280 - What We Are A Part Of

Our temple, Sensouji, has received official recognition as a temple by the Soto Zen School in Japan. Here, a talk about what it means for us to belong to something else:

Jun 16
14 min

Episode 279: THZ 279 - Waiting For The Bell

When we sit in zazen, we’re waiting for the bell; when we notice that feeling, we notice we’re always waiting for something. What if we weren’t? (Koun Franz; May 21, 202

Jun 16
15 min

Episode 278: THZ 278 - Each Stitch Like the Earth Exploding

Case 93 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; May 7, 2024): Shenshan was sewing when Dongshan said, “What are you doing?” Shenshan said, “I am sewing.” Dongshan s

Jun 16
17 min

Episode 277: THZ 277 - You Are Not Anyone Else

Case 76 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; April 16, 2024): Dagui was once asked by a monastic, “What is the Way?” Dagui said, “No-mind is the Way.” The monasti

Jun 16
18 min

Episode 276: THZ 276 - How Do We Measure A Life

Following the death of a member of our community, a talk on how we measure, and what that might mean in terms of the middle way (Koun Franz; April 6, 2024). You can s

Jun 16
20 min

Episode 275: THZ 275 - What Kind of Demon

Case 73 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; April 2, 2024): You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.c

Jun 14
21 min

Episode 274: THZ 274 - Not Inferior or Superior

Kosho Uchiyama-roshi instructed, “Sit immovably in the place where being superior or inferior to others doesn’t matter." (Koun Franz; March 19, 2024) You can support Th

Jun 14
15 min

Episode 273: THZ 273 - Practice What Cannot Be Spoken

Case 77 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; March 5, 2024): You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.c

Jun 14
18 min

Episode 272: THZ 272 - The Practice of a Sramana

Case 70 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; February 20, 2024): You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharboursz

Jun 14
19 min

Episode 271: THZ 271 - Wash Your Bowls

Case 67 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; January 31, 2024): You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen

Jun 12
18 min

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Position in the Buddhism chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#98#194JunJulAugSep

#40

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Thousand Harbours Zen ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 24, 2026).

#167 ▼ 33 Buddhism US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I consider Koun my teacher. His teachings have changed how I relate to and act in my world.

Techcellent · Feb 2019

My #1 criteria for Zen podcasts is the voice of the speaker (all content are kind of the same, to be honest). Koun's voice is calming with a musical quality to it, and the quality of recording is also top-notch. On top of that he also does a great job of not watering down the material (as much as he can, for the Western audience, within the 20 min limit of the talks), and I really enjoy his anecdotes from Japan.

Gabbled · Sep 2017

Koun has experience in Soto Zen that few westerners have and you can hear it in these podcasts.

TheMangleA.K.A.Foxy2.0 · May 2018

I listen to variety of Zen podcasts....oh, since 2005 and eventually, thanks to that exposure got interested in Zen beyond the listening and began to dip my toes into the water of actual practice, sitting zahzen, TEN years later in 2015. That said, this one after listening to a few as it is relatively new, is well worth supplementing ones practice with. The podcast titled Questions Not To Ask, was when its appeal really clicked with me.

SimsCamp · Jul 2017

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.