Crooked River Zen Center

We have one more sitting in 2022 happening this Thurs. at 7:00pm. In the dharma talk this evening we will take our leave of "The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings" and move onto the Lotus Sutra itself, looking at the first chapter which is titled "Introductory." 

As I mentioned last week, one of the main themes of the Lotus is that of the One Vehicle which can be seen as embracing and reconciling all Buddhist teachings and practices. Taken more broadly, it seems to point to the universalism of non-Buddhist teachings as well. Following this line, I thought for the talk on Sat. I might speak about a book I read earlier this year from 2019, authored by an anthropologist, entitled "Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being" which is an attempt to look at and account for the propensity of our species, going back many millennia and covering the entire expanse of this planet, to engage in spiritual/religious practices. Edit the date of this talk was 12/17/22 not 12/22/22 as the file name calls out.

This week we have our usual Thurs. sitting at 7pm. For the dharma talk we will continue our look into the short sutra that serves as a prologue to the Lotus Sutra, the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings (not to be confused with the frequently used text at business schools - the Sutra of Innumerable Meetings). 

 As I mentioned last week, one of the main themes of the Lotus is that of the One Vehicle which can be seen as embracing and reconciling all Buddhist teachings and practices. Taken more broadly, it seems to point to the universalism of non-Buddhist teachings as well. Following this line, I thought for the talk on Sat. I might speak about a book I read earlier this year from 2019, authored by an anthropologist, entitled "Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being" which is an attempt to look at and account for the propensity of our species, going back many millennia and covering the entire expanse of this planet, to engage in spiritual/religious practices.  

Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. He also provides secular mindfulness training in a variety of contexts including police training, half-way houses, and correctional facilities, and is a professional musician.

Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. He also provides secular mindfulness training in a variety of contexts including police training, half-way houses, and correctional facilities, and is a professional musician.

Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. He also provides secular mindfulness training in a variety of contexts including police training, half-way houses, and correctional facilities, and is a professional musician.

Thurs. we'll be doing the full moon ceremony followed by the talk where I will have some final introductory comments for our study of the Lotus Sutra that we are commencing and then moving into the short sutra that precedes the Lotus, "The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings." As I mentioned last week, one of the main themes of the Lotus is that of the One Vehicle which can be seen as embracing and reconciling all Buddhist teachings and practices. Taken more broadly, it seems to point to the universalism of non-Buddhist teachings as well.

Sat., Dec. 3, we have our next Jukai class where we will be continuing our study of the eightfold path with a discussion of right effort. Everyone is welcome to join us for these classes. 

Dec. 1, we will begin our study of the Lotus Sutra. My talk that evening will be a general introduction. Within Mahayana Buddhism this is considered by many to be the most important sutra. For those of you who have been considering getting started with a more formal practice, I believe this would be a very good place to begin. All of these talks will be livestreamed over Zoom (ID 344 244 317 and passcode 301533) if you cannot attend in-person. 

This week Dean opened up the dharma talk to an open discussion that included discussions around beginning practice (forms), Dogen's Zuimonki, and Dogen's Uji. Enjoy!

Talk six on The Ox Herding pictures and commentaries.

Continuing our study of the Ten Ox Herding photos and commentaries.

Our first Jukai class covering the Nobel Eight Fold Path

Talk 4 on the Ox Herding Pictures. Dean Williams

Initial talk utilizing the new text by Shohaku Okumura.

Talk 3 on the Ox Herding Pictures. Dean Williams

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

Talk 2 on the Ox Herding Pictures. Dean Williams

Talk 1 on the Ox Herding Pictures. Dean Williams

Talk 1 To Be Animal, Dean Williams

Saturday Dharma talk by Dean Williams

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

Sunday dharma talk by Dean Williams on the third noble truth

A Thursday talk on one of Dean's favorite topics Zen and Jazz.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

This week Dean continues to discuss Karma this topic continues on from our previous talks on Karma during our Thursday study of Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra.

This week Dean continues to discuss Karma this topic continues on from our previous talk on Karma during our Thursday study of Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

This week Dean continues to discuss Karma this topic continues on from our previous talk on Karma during our Thursday study of Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra.

This week Dean continues to discuss Karma this topic continues on from our previous talk on Karma during our Thursday study of Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this talk Dean discusses Dogen and Shakespeare. We hope you enjoy this talk from CRZC Cleveland OH.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. Our primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

Talk #15 of the monthly Jukai class taught by Dean Williams. The Jukai class will be using the text Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, By Bhikkhu Anālayo. The class is open to anyone who wishes to deepen their practice.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. In this second talk he draws from multiple texts from authors such as: Red Pine, The Dalai Lama, Kaz Tanahashi and others. Going forward our Primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

In this series of talks Dean discusses the Heart Sutra. In this first talk he draws from multiple texts from authors such as: Red Pine, The Dalai Lama, Kaz Tanahashi and others. Going forward our Primary study text will be Kobun's talks on the Heart Sutra. A pdf file for this 73 page text is available for free at KOBUN'S TALKS ON THE HEART SUTRA (squarespace.com). Please join us in the study of this foundational text by the founder of our Phoenix Cloud Lineage.

This dharma talk is in response to those who have expressed an interest in learning more about the practice of zazen. This is one of what I anticipate will be a series of talks concerning Dogen's seminal teaching on this subject, "Fukanzazengi". This talk concludes this teaching on Fukanzazengi.

This week Dean concludes our Thursday study text Radical Dharma, Talking Race, Love, and Liberation. We hope you enjoyed the study of this timely and poignant text.

This dharma talk is in response to those who have expressed an interest in learning more about the practice of zazen. This is one of what I anticipate will be a series of talks concerning Dogen's seminal teaching on this subject, "Fukanzazengi".

This week Dean continues our Thursday study text Radical Dharma, Talking Race, Love, and Liberation. We hope you join our Sangha in the study of this timely and poignant text.

This week Dean continues our Thursday study text Radical Dharma, Talking Race, Love, and Liberation. We hope you join our Sangha in the study of this timely and poignant text.

This dharma talk is in response to those who have expressed an interest in learning more about the practice of zazen. This is one of what I anticipate will be a series of talks concerning Dogen's seminal teaching on this subject, "Fukanzazengi".

This week Dean continues our Thursday study text Radical Dharma, Talking Race, Love, and Liberation. We hope you join our Sangha in the study of this timely and poignant text.