Zen Community of Oregon Dharma Talks

Poetry has a way of cutting to the heart of our lives, and expressing the inexpressible. In this talk Kisei explores the styles of poetry used in the Zen tradition, from poems of enlightenment, to death poems, to capping phrases and poems of deep intimacy--poetry invites us into this living moment, and graces our lives with the mystery. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this talk, Jogen frames the entire practice — regardless of specific method — as the conscious, intentional use of attention. The core of the talk breaks meditation down into two complementary skills: staying, which is the ability to keep attention where you want it and non-clinging, which is recognizing that body, mind, and experience are largely just happening on their own without needing to be controlled or possessed. The talk closes by noting that love, devotion, and curiosity can all be brought into practice, but staying and non-clinging remain the fundamental nuts and bolts. ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk on the Mangala Sutta includes the importance of responding to life's circumstances with a calm, clear mind; the idea that each person has a unique set of skills and talents worth developing with intention and integrity; and the value of staying open to learning rather than assuming you already know. It closes with a distinction between speech that flatters people's existing beliefs (what algorithms do) versus speech that is genuinely inclusive and connects people to something larger than their own perspective. ★ Support this podcast ★