316 – Buddhist Communities and Public Political Stands: A Moral Quandary
When should Buddhist communities take public stands on issues that could be seen as political? If politics is about how we make decisions in groups (local communities, towns, cities, states, nations), are Sanghas really be free from politics when they are embedded in these larger groups? Silence can function as tacit approval, so is maintaining neutrality in keeping with our Buddhist values? On the other hand, there are many good reasons for Sanghas to avoid bringing discussions of politics in their places of practice, and I discuss them.
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28:27
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28:27
315 - Bad Zazen: Not Just an Oxymoron
The form of meditation we do in Zen, unless we’re working on a koan, is called shikantaza – nothing but sitting – or silent illumination. It’s been called a “method of no method,” in which we let go of any striving whatsoever – even to control our meditative experience. So can we do “bad zazen?” Theoretically, there’s no such thing, and yet it sure feels like there is! What is this about?
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32:45
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32:45
314 – Q&A: Comfort in the Precepts, Anger at Injustice, and Accidental Kensho
How do you find comfort in the precepts? What is the relationship between anger, forgiveness and justice? What about anxiety due to abrupt insight into emptiness? This is one of my unscripted Q&A episodes, where I answer questions submitted by listeners.
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38:59
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38:59
313 – Ten Fields of Zen, Field 7 – Learning the Self: This Very Body Is Buddha (3 of 3)
This is the third part of three of my episodes on “Learning the Self,” one of my Ten Fields of Zen. In the first episode I discussed why we “study the self” in Zen, and what “self” we’re talking about if – according to the teachings – the self is empty of any inherent nature! In the second episode I talked about what is meant by “studying” or “learning” the self. I also explained the idea of Karma and discussed why it’s valuable to work on it. In this episode, I cover how we do Karma Work.
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34:38
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312 – Ten Fields of Zen, Field 7 – Learning the Self: This Very Body Is Buddha (2 of 3)
Part two of three of my series on “Learning the Self,” one of my Ten Fields of Zen. Last episode I discussed why we “study the self” in Zen, and what “self” we’re talking about if the self is empty of any inherent nature! Now I move on to what is meant by “Learning the Self." This part of our practice has two essential aspects. Karma Work is taking care of your Phenomenal Self - becoming intimately familiar with your own body and mind and learning to live in accord with the Dharma. Realization of your True Nature involves seeking out, questioning, and seeing through your belief in an inherent self-nature, thereby awakening to your True Nature. In this episodes I begin my explanation of Karma Work.
Learn about traditional Zen and Buddhist teachings, practices, and history through episodes recorded specifically for podcast listeners. Host Domyo Burk is a Soto Zen priest and teacher.
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