Rochester Zen Center Teisho (zen Talks)

What is a Zen teacher? What can a Zen teacher give you? This commentary was given on the day after her Zen teacher sanctioning ceremony. Teisho by Sensei Jissai Prince-Cherry.  Automated Transcript The post Blue Cliff Record #11: “Obaku’s ‘Mash Eaters'” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Three encouragement talks given by Roshi Philip Kapleau during a 1975 sesshin, accompanied by comments from his successor, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede. Presented in honor of Founder’s Day—Roshi Kapleau’s birthday. Talk by Roshi Philip Kapleau.  Automated Transcript The post Sesshin Encouragement appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Forgetting the self and awakening to the “world of ten thousand things.” Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Unselfing appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2025 Sesshin, Day 6 Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript The post Shoyoroku #20: Dizang’s “Most Intimate” appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2025 Sesshin, Day 5 Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript The post Mumonkan #15: Tozan and Sixty Blows appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2025 Sesshin, Day 4 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Master Daikaku, Part 2. Source: The Original Face: An Anthology of Rinzai Zen by Thomas F. Cleary (Editor). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Master Daikaku #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2025 Sesshin, Day 3 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Master Daikaku, Part 1. Source: The Original Face: An Anthology of Rinzai Zen by Thomas F. Cleary (Editor). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Master Daikaku #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Masters Foyan and Daikaku. Sources: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present by Thomas Cleary (Translator) and The Original Face: An Anthology of Rinzai Zen by Thomas F. Cleary (Editor). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Masters Foyan and Daikaku appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

July 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 A commentary on the teachings of Zen Master Foyan. Source: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present by Thomas Cleary (Translator). Teisho by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.  Automated Transcript The post Teachings of Zen Master Foyan appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Opening up to life as it is requires us to let go of the desire to be in control of conditions and to get intimate with suffering — not just our own, but the suffering of others and the planet. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript The post Turning to “No Hope” in Difficult Times appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2025 Sesshin, Day 6 Commentary on “Everyday Zen: Love & Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck, Part 2 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Everyday Zen #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2025 Sesshin, Day 5 Commentary on “Everyday Zen: Love & Work” by Charlotte Joko Beck, Part 1 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Everyday Zen #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2025 Sesshin, Day 4 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 4 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #4 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2025 Sesshin, Day 3 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 3 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #3 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 2 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #2 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

June 2025 Sesshin, Day 1 Commentary on “Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings” by Ajahn Chah, Part 1 Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Being Dharma #1 appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Finding the Silence that doesn’t depend on conditions. Dharma Talk by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post Beyond Words and No Words appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Moshan Liaoran (c. mid-late 800s) was the first female ancestor to be recognized in the official record of Dharma transmission. Teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal.  Automated Transcript The post Moshan Liaoran and the Way of Women appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

Our evolutionary heritage instills and reinforces the dream of self and other and blinds us to how little is actually within our control. Everything begins to open up when we drop our demands and learn to work with things as they are. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn.  Automated Transcript The post The Delusion of a Separate Self appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.

April 2025 Sesshin, Day 2 A commentary on Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away (Ajahn Chah). High ideals and daily frustrations- a story; Comments on Ajahn Chah’s meditation instructions; and Keep at it. Dharma Talk by Ven. Trueman Taylor.  Automated Transcript The post Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away appeared first on Rochester Zen Center.