Zen Community of Oregon Dharma Talks

In this talk, we explore the meaning of vow and how it shapes the direction of our lives. From the Buddhist teaching of bodhichitta—the awakened heart-mind of compassion and wisdom—to personal stories of exemplars and inherited vows, we reflect on how intention becomes the fuel for practice. Through poetry, lived experience, and the reminder that even life itself carries a vow to endure and transform, we discover that vows are not rigid goals but guiding stars. This conversation invites us to discern our own vows and orient our lives with clarity, humility, and openness. This talk was given during the Tuesday night meeting of the Vancouver Zen group on July 29th, 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://zendust.org/donate/]

In this talk, Jogen explores the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh on signlessness and interbeing, reminding us that calmness alone is not true liberation. Through vivid examples and guided contemplations, he invites us to look beyond labels like life and death, self and other, to experience reality more directly. Weaving together insights from zazen, koans, and daily life, Jogen emphasizes the importance of inquiry and wonder in practice. Ultimately, he shows how these explorations open us to a deeper flow with existence and a more boundless sense of being. This talk was given during the Sunday Night Program at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple on July 27th 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://zendust.org/donate/]

This talk explores how boredom and fear of missing out often derail meditation practice and how facing them directly can deepen our path. Jogen emphasizes the unique value of sustained practice in bringing clarity of mind, calming the nervous system, and reshaping our habitual patterns. Through stories, reflections, and humor, he shows how boredom may actually signal progress rather than failure. We are invited to stay steady, embrace stillness, and rediscover the diamond-like clarity hidden beneath busyness and distraction. This talk was given by Jogen during the Wednesday night program at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple in Portland, OR on July 30th, 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://zendust.org/donate/]

In this talk Bansho discusses many different aspects of the famous poem Affirming Faith in Mind. This talk was given by Bansho as the 3rd talk of 2025 July Sesshin.  ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://zendust.org/donate/]

In this talk, we explore how disappointment, though often unwelcome, can be a profound teacher. By meeting life’s letdowns with openness, we discover the tender ground of vulnerability that reveals our interconnectedness. The stories and reflections point to a shift from resisting what is to receiving it as part of the path. In the space where expectations dissolve, something truer and more spacious can quietly emerge. This talk was given on the Wednesday night program at HoW Zen Temple on July 23rd 2025. ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://zendust.org/donate/]