AZC Weekly talks
In this podcast you can find almost all the talks given at the Auckland Zen Centre, back to 2016. Most talks are by Roshi Amala Wrightson, but there are also talks from Sensei Richard von Sturmer and senior students too.
Auckland Zen Centre
Show overview
AZC Weekly talks has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 230 episodes. That works out to roughly 190 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 44 min and 53 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Religion & Spirituality show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 weeks ago, with 11 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2020, with 44 episodes published. Published by Auckland Zen Centre.
From the publisher
In this podcast you can find almost all the talks given at the Auckland Zen Centre, back to 2016. Most talks are by Roshi Amala Wrightson, but there are also talks from Sensei Richard von Sturmer and senior students too.
Latest Episodes
View all 230 episodes2026-04-21 Ahimsa
07-04-2026 Term Intensive Tips
Some thoughts on making the most of a Term Intensive.Sources: Silent Illumination by Guo Gu, Self-help for your Nerves by Claire Weekes, and Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg.
2026-03-24 Peace and War
Peace must always be given precedence, in particular making peace with ourselves. But war is always present; there has never been a time in human history when a war has not been waged on some part of our planet. So, in this teisho we take a clear-eyed look at war as well.Text: Essay by James Hillman, "Wars, Arms, Rams, Mars: On the Love of War".
2026-02-10 Nature Koans 3: Wu-tsu's Buffalo Passes Through the Window
This is the third in a series of koans centred on the natural world. The koan is Case 38 in the MumonkanBooks used in the teisho:Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson and The Gateless Barrier by Robert Aitken.
2026-01-27 The Three Fruits of Zen Practice
The three fruits of Zen practice are, 1. joriki or concentration, 2. kensho, or seeing your True Nature and 3. mujo do no taigen, or embodiment of the peerless way.Source: Ruben Habito's Foreword to The Flowing Bridge by Elaine MacInnes, Wisdom 2007.
2026-01-10 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 6
More from the Shobogenzo Zuimonki on effort.Source: A Primer of Soto Zen translated by Reiho Masunaga.
2026-01-09 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 5
Sources: How to Train an Ox and Primer of Soto Zen.
2026-01-08 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 4
Dōgen's Fukan Zazengi, "General Recommendations for Doing Zazen"Source: How to Raise an Ox by Francis Dojun Cook.
2026-01-07 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 3
Dōgen's talks from the Eihei Kōruku, Part Two.Sources: Dōgen's Extensive Record: Eihei Kōroku translated by Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura, and The Art of Just Sitting edited by John Daido Loori.
2026-01-06 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 2
Dōgen's talks from the Eihei Kōruku, Part One.Source: Dōgen's Extensive Record: Eihei Kōroku translated by Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura.
2026-01-05 Master Dōgen's Life and Teaching 1
Dōgen's early life.Source: Zen Master Dōgen - An Introduction with Selected Writings by Yūhō Yokoi with Daizen Victoria.
2025-12-16 The Ten Precepts as Expressions of our "Inconceivably Wondrous" True Nature
Looking at all ten cardinal precepts from the angle of Bodhidharma's One Mind teachings.Source(s): Invoking Reality by John Daido Loori.
2025-11-04 Nature Koans 2: The Cypress Tree in the Courtyard
This is the second in a series of koans centred on the natural world. The koan is Case 37 in the Mumonkan, Zhaozhou's Cypress Tree in the Courtyard.Sources: Pilgrim at Tinker's Creek by Annie Dillard and Two Zen Classics by Katsuki Sekida.
2025-10-21 Not-self
Not-self is the third of the Three Marks of Existence, and is also referred to as emptiness of self, or just Emptiness. It can be understood intellectually when examined through the lenses of impermanence and dependent co-arising. It can also be directly experienced when we forget ourself.Sources: There is No Suffering by Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Drum 2001, and What makes you not a Buddhist, by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, Shambhala 2008.
2025-09-23 Dharma Ancestors: Soen Nakagawa Roshi
This is the third in a series on teachers in the Auckland Zen Centre's lineage.Sources: Endless Vow: the Path of Soen Nakagawa Roshi by Roko Sherry ChayatOriginal Dwelling Place by Robert AitkenRemembering Nakagawa Soen Roshi by Estelle Gerard.
2025-09-11 Teisho beads from Tangen-roshi
Description: Teachings on determination, generosity and gratitude.Source: Ichi Tantei One Doing -- Tangen-roshi of Bukkokuji Teisho, translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa, Edited by Ron Klein.
2025-09-10 Sangha stories about Tangen-roshi 2
Description: Anecdotes and teachings.Source: Ichi Tantei - One doing, Tangen-roshi of Bukkokuji, teisho translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa, edited by Ron Klein.
2025-09-09 Sangha stories about Tangen-roshi 1
Description: Anecdotes and teachings.Source: Ichi Tantei - One doing, Tangen-roshi of Bukkokuji, teisho translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa, edited by Ron Klein.
2025-09-08 H 80 Zhaozhou's "Newborn baby" Part Two
Description: Constant flow.Source: Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Fergusson.
2025-09-07 H 80 Zhaozhou's "Newborn baby" Part One
Description: Constant flow.