Greater Boston Zen Center Podcast

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk, referring to Wumen's warnings. (August 12, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks on the topic of spiritual authority. (August 9, 2022). (This talk was also given at the at the GBZC Summer 2022 sesshin.)

Jill Gaulding speaks about how her Zen practice is reflected in her chaplaincy work. (July 23, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk about where radiance appears in our daily lives. (July 15, 2022)

Following the lively discussion on Saturday July 8 (see previous podcast) Julie Nelson gives a modified talk regarding the cultivated or deliberate side of our practice, the wild or liberating side, and the dangers that arise when either side is neglected. Dharma Discussion begins at 22:00. (July 12, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about the cultivated or deliberate side of our practice, the wild or liberating side and the dangers that arise when either side is neglected. This talk was given on a Saturday, and Dharma Discussion begins at 18:00. (July 8, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk, addressing how we care for each other in the sangha. The book mentioned is A Thousand Hands edited by N.J. Michon and D. C. Fisher. (July 8, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, discussing how we can hold people accountable in a compassionate way. (July 6, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about how great determination is an essential part of waking up to our heart of compassion. (June 29, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about how being fully present to what we're already doing in our daily lives is fundamental to living a life of compassion. (June 22, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk about the cultivation of mudita, sympathetic joy. (June 17, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, speaking about how our longing leads us to our true selves and the source of compassion. (June 15, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about how rather than fighting our demons, offering them acceptance and love can diminish their power over us. (June 8, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk during the week of the Uvalde, TX school shooting. (May 26, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, reflecting on how we can hold confusion and difficulty in vast Awareness. (May 25, 2022)

Fran Ludwig speaks about how, by more fully meeting our own pain and suffering, we can bring more genuine compassion to the pain and suffering of others. (May 21, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer speaks about the Zen Precept of not speaking falsely. (May 18, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about how cultivating gratitude is part of cultivating compassion. (May 16, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about how identifying our own tendencies in regard to the Three Poisons (greed, anger, and ignorance), and treating them tenderly, can unlock our strengths. (May 14, 2022)

Jeff Seul continues speaking about Sengcan's "Affirming Faith in Mind." (May 7, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk addressing how turning toward the difficulty in our life can open us to a life of compassion. (May 2, 2022)

Jeff Seul speaks about Sengcan's "Affirming Faith in Mind" (on p. 28 of the GBZC Sutra Book, 2019 Edition). (April 30, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about the practice of "tonglen," which receives pain and suffering and transforms it into healing and compassion. (April 25, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk, reflecting on Koun Yamada's "3 Types of Zen." (April 21, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, about how our bodies can transform pain and suffering into love and compassion. (April 18, 2022)

Julie Nelson reflects on Ehei Dogen's distinction between fish and birds (in Genjokoan). (April 14, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about the commonalities between Zen practice and humor. (April 12, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, asking "Where do we find the source of compassion that connects us to all things?"(April 11, 2022)

Jill Gaulding gives a Buddha talk and Sangha talk dedicated to Aaron Lee, with special thanks to Chenxing Han, Funie Hsu, and Duncan Ryūken Williams. (April 9, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about exploring the nature of awareness. (April 4, 2022)

Fran Ludwig speaks about how "cleaning up" and "growing up" help us live our practice. (April 2, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer speaks about this distinction we make between things that are alive and those that are dead. (March 16, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk. How do we set an intention to live with more compassion? (March 28, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about finding energy in nature. (March 21, 2022)

Jeff Seul speaks about the Zen Peacemakers' Three Tenets, and reflects on the war in Ukraine. (March 19, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk. We are told that Kanzeon "receives only compassion." Does this mean she blocks everything else out? (March 17, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about "Great Doubt." The texts mentioned are on pp. 18 and 57 of the GBZC Sutra Book (2019 Edition). (March 12, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk about the value of curiosity, and the harm that can be caused by a lack of it. (March 3, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer gives a Dharma Talk. (February 26, 2022)

Fran Ludwig speaks about the openings that arise with doubt, disappointment, and disillusionment. (February 19, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk, describing a personal experience of the koan "When I walk across the bridge the bridge flows." (February 14, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about zazen and shikantaza (the practice of "just sitting"). The readings are from pp. 45, 67, and 73 of the GBZC Sutra Book (2019 Edition). (February 12, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about recognizing our mistakes as opportunities for growth. (February 7, 2022)

Fran Ludwig presents, as an encouragement talk, "a thought experiment exploring who I am." (January 31, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer gives an encouragement talk. (January 25, 2022)

Julie Nelson speaks about how distinguishing between "entity" and "process" thinking can help us understand both ancient Zen texts and current zendo relationships. (See her podcast on January 13 for a shorter version, and the "Non-Duality" blog post series on julieanelson.com for a longer discussion.) (January 11, 2021)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk about Zen practice versus "Zen-y" practice (i.e., practice driven by odd beliefs about what a Zen student should look like). (January 20, 2022)

Fran Ludwig gives an encouragement talk about how attending to our own pain allows us to attend to the pain of others. (January 17, 2022)

Ed Oberholtzer speaks about walking in and with mountains. (Does not include Dharma Discussion.) (January 15, 2022)

Julie Nelson gives an encouragement talk about the uses and abuses of power. (January 13, 2022)