Zen Talks From The Windhorse Zen Community

In this teisho offered on the fourth day of our 2024 Summer Sesshin, Sunya-roshi talks about waking up and giving ourselves fully to the practice. She tells the story of one of the Buddha’s disciples who, while not very smart, awakened to his original nature by sweeping. And she speaks of Shitou Xiqian (Sekitō Kisen) and his first meeting with his teacher. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhosezen.org  

In this teisho from the second day of the Summer 2024 sesshin, Sunya-roshi talks about how we ultimately cannot talk about Zen. Zen Practice needs to be embodied. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and the dharma work here in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org

In this teisho from June of 2024, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the Vimalakirti Sutra. She talks about how we work with suffering, illness and death. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhosezen.org

In all the mystical traditions of various religions, love is oft discussed, but it is seldom mentioned in Zen Buddhism. In this recent teisho from early March of 2025, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses how love can be a tricky word to define or experience—but also how wholehearted Zen practice helps dig up the concrete of views and judgements to rediscover the "living greeness" of our own depths right here. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org

In this recent and timely dharma talk from the end of February 2025, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the anxieties of our time and how despair is not an option. It's only through deep practice with a radical love that we can open to the chaos and tumult around us. 

In this Dharma talk from May 2024, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede uses the Eight Worldly Winds teaching of the Buddha to show that Zen practice is a radical departure from the whirlwind of our buy/sell society. She also discusses Case #26 of the Mumonkan, Two Monks Roll Up The Blinds. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org

In this talk given on April 28, 2024 at the Windhorse Zen Community outside of Asheville, NC, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses tips on how to take Zen home. She focuses on body practices such as the use of the eyes, centering your attention on your hara (lower belly), and chanting—among many others. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and the dharma work here in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org

Using Case #84 of the Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku), Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the power and necessity of silence in our lives. This talk was given on January 14th, 2024 at Windhorse Zen Community near Asheville, NC. To donate or learn more about us and our dharma work, visit windhorsezen.org Case #84: Vimalakirti's Gate of Non-Duality Vimalakirti asked Manjusri, "What is the Bodhisattva's Dharma gate of non-duality?" Manjusri answered, "To my mind, in all dharmas there are no words, no preaching, no  demonstration, and no recognition. It is beyond all questions and answers. That is entering the Dharma gate of non-duality." Then Manjusri asked Vimalakirti, "Each of us has had his say. Now tell us, good man, what is the bodhisattva's entry into the Dharma gate of non-duality?" [Setcho commented, saying, "What did Vimalakirti say?" And again he says, "I have seen through him."]        

This talk was given by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede at Windhorse Zen Community near Asheville, NC on Sunday, November 26, 2023.  To donate or learn more about us and our dharma work, visit windhorsezen.org

This teisho was given by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede at Windhorse Zen Community in 2016.  For more information visit windhorsezen.org, and consider donating to sustain our dharma work while you're there.

Part three in Sunya Roshi's series on Zen Master Hakuin, given in August of 2020.  Windhorsezen.org

Part two in Sunya Roshi's series on Zen Master Hakuin, given in August 2020.  Windhorsezen.org

This talk was given by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede at Windhorse Zen Community on July 12, 2020.

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at one of our regular Sunday programs on May 2, 2021. To find out more about all the things the Windhorse Zen Center has to offer, please visit:  windhorsezen.org Sunya is a sanctioned Dharma heir of the late, Philip Kapleau Roshi (author of the Three Pillars of Zen and former abbot of the Rochester Zen center). She has been practicing in the Zen tradition for over 40 years and is co-abbot (along with her husband, Lawson Sachter Roshi) of the Windhorse Zen center, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. These teachings are offered free of charge. If you would like to help support the center, please click the “Donate” button on our website. windhorsezen.org

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at one of our regular Sunday program’s. To find out more about all the things the Windhorse Zen Center has to offer, please visit:  windhorsezen.org Sunya is a sanctioned Dharma heir of the late, Philip Kapleau Roshi (author of the Three Pillars of Zen and former abbot of the Rochester Zen center). She has been practicing in the Zen tradition for over 40 years and is currently the co-abbot (along with her husband, Lawson Sachter Roshi) of the Windhorse Zen center, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. These teachings are offered free of charge. If you would like to help support the center, please click the “Donate” button on our website. windhorsezen.org

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at the Windhorse Zen Community, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Sunya is a sanctioned Dharma heir of the late, Philip Kapleau Roshi (author of the Three Pillars of Zen and former abbot of the Rochester Zen center). She has been practicing in the Zen tradition for over 40 years and is currently the co-abbot (along with her husband, Lawson Sachter Roshi) of the Windhorse Zen center, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. These teachings are offered free of charge. If you would like to help support the center, please click the “Donate” button on our website. windhorsezen.org

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at the Windhorse Zen Community, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Sunya is a sanctioned Dharma heir of the late, Philip Kapleau Roshi (author of the Three Pillars of Zen and former abbot of the Rochester Zen center). She has been practicing in the Zen tradition for over 40 years and is currently the co-abbot (along with her husband, Lawson Sachter Roshi) of the Windhorse Zen center, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. These teachings are offered free of charge. If you would like to help support the center, please click the “Donate” button on our website. windhorsezen.org

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at the Windhorse Zen Community, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Sunya is a sanctioned Dharma heir of the late, Philip Kapleau Roshi (author of the Three Pillars of Zen and former abbot of the Rochester Zen center). She has been practicing in the Zen tradition for over 40 years and is currently the co-abbot (along with her husband, Lawson Sachter Roshi) of the Windhorse Zen center, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. These teachings are offered free of charge. If you would like to help support the center, please click the “Donate” button on our website. windhorsezen.org

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at the Windhorse Zen Community, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at the Windhorse Zen Community, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina.