“Zazen is not meditation”, the Rev. Fujita proclaims, distinguishing zazen, in which one should sit without effort and without a goal, from “meditation” which is characterized by exerting purposeful effort in pursuit of a goal. The Reverend walked us through ways of thinking about posture, breath, and mental attitude to help us have a new perspective on zazen.
On July 13, 2025, after meditation, we watched an interview with Brother Phap Luu of Plum Village on the practice of Mindful Eating, titled “Rewire Your Relationship to Food.” The teacher shares how the practice of mindful eating helps us reconnect with the deeper nature of what we consume, and can radically transform our relationships with food, the body, the community, other beings, and the planet.
On March 30, 2025, Ven. Thubten Lamsel joined us via Zoom to lead meditation and offer a Dharma talk on the topic of bodhicitta—the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. She spoke on how this motivation, without the attachment to "self," lies at the heart of the Buddhist path, and how it can guide our actions, speech, and thoughts throughout daily life. Drawing on examples from monastic training and simple practices like mindful eating, she shared how even ordinary activities become powerful causes for awakening when rooted in compassion. The talk emphasized bodhicitta as both the source and expression of our deepest wisdom and connection to others.
On February 9th, 2025, after meditation, we listened to a Dharma talk by Ven. Ajahn Kalyano, explaining what a peaceful mind is, and how to cultivate it using mindfulness practice that focus on the recollection of impermanence.
On Sunday, July 14, 2024, after meditation, we listened to three short Dharma talks given by Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) — a teacher in the Chinese Chan Buddhism lineage…
On Sunday, June 9, 2024, after meditation, we listened to the Dharma talk "Practicing Restraint to Make Room for the World" from Myoshin Kate McCandless about the word “tzimtzum”. The…
On Sunday, November 11, 2023, after meditation, we listened to segments of a public Dharma talk from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche titled "Meditation and Going Beyond Mindfulness - A Secular Perspective".…
On Sunday, September 10th, 2023, after meditation we shared a talk by meditation teacher, Tara Brach, where she explored the topic of "Awakening through Difficult Emotions: The Poison is the…
On July 9, 2023, after meditation, we met online for a Teachers’ Corner session about “The Practice of Six Transcendence.” We listened to a collection of excerpts from a Dharma…
On Sunday, February 12, 2023, after meditation, we listened to a Dharma talk by Soto Zen teacher, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, on "Boundlessness." Zenju first clarified that boundlessness could not be…
On Sunday, November 13, 2022, after meditation, we listened to the talk "Gratitude as a Dharma Gate" by Dharma teacher Domyo Burk. In her talk, Domyo explained how gratitude could…
On July 10, 2022, after meditation, the group watched three short Dharma teachings by Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, all of which were given in response to practitioners' questions,…
On May 8, 2022, after meditation, we shared a collection of short talks by Chozen Bays Roshi with practical advice on the most basic practice how-tos: "From Sitting Postures to…
On October 9, 2021, after meditation we watched a Dharma talk by Ayya Santussika titled: "Giving It All You've Got." The teacher quoted Ajahn Chah who said that in everything…
On September 11, 2021, after meditation we watched a Dharma talk by Roshi Konjin Gaelyn Godwin about Edges and Boundlessness. The talk was originally delivered to the Tallahassee Chan Center…
On December 12, 2020, after meditation we heard a dharma talk about the concept of vow, which figures prominently in Mahayana Buddhism. At Teachers' Corner last Saturday, we heard a…
On November 14, 2020, after meditation, we discussed one of the fundamental causes of our suffering -- Attachment / Clinging / Grasping, and how to work with it in our…
On June 13, 2020, after meditation, we learned from two different teachers on the topic of Transforming Suffering. At Teachers' Corner last Saturday, we listened to two Dharma talks, one…
On Jan. 11, 2020 after meditation, we learned about the importance and the challenges of Listening from Dharma teachers Ajahn Brahm and Toni Packer. During our "Teachers' Corner" session, we…