Welcome to the PZI KALPA Library

KALPA—Koans And Liberation Project Archive—the online Zen koan library of Pacific Zen Institute, was conceived as a way of providing a wider circle for today’s far-flung seekers to sit together, to enter the same timeless questions, and to receive the teachings. 

Browse selected posts as a guest, or access the entire collection as a PZI Member.

MEMBERS—
Your search experience will be seamless
if you 

Special Links

Intro to Practice

Learn More

Sunday Talks

Search

KALPA Guide

Learn More

Koans at PZI

Browse

Zen Luminaries

All Guests

Dharma Themes

Explore

Our Podcasts

Listen

PZI in the Media

Interviews

Uncertainty Club

Writings

Instagram Page

Connect

PZI YouTube

Enjoy!

Need Help?

Librarian

Explore the KALPA Stacks!

Get search tips in our KALPA Guide
Questions and feedback to [email protected] 

Search Filters

keyword search

date search

or, show content

…from this teacher

…from this event

…on this topic

Search Results

|
What Is This Light That Everyone Has?
April 26, 2026 Audios

What Is This Light That Everyone Has?

Life after life you have been doing this and it’s not a surprise that you come eventually to the Buddha,…
having nothing meditation
What Is This Light That Everyone Has?
April 26, 2026 Audios
having nothing meditation

What Is This Light That Everyone Has?

Life after life you have been doing this and it’s not a surprise that you come eventually to the Buddha, who is sitting on an ordinary zafu smiling, and Buddha…
What Is This Light That Everyone Has?
April 26, 2026 Videos

What Is This Light That Everyone Has?

You go through one archway, and then you go through a second, and then a third archway, and eventually your…
having nothing meditation
What Is This Light That Everyone Has?
April 26, 2026 Videos
having nothing meditation

What Is This Light That Everyone Has?

You go through one archway, and then you go through a second, and then a third archway, and eventually your worries fall away, though you didn’t ask them to; all…
A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day
April 12, 2026 Videos

A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day

The universe notices us – we’re included, too. The grass, the trees, the animals notice us. We’re all caught up…
awakening blessings
A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day
April 12, 2026 Videos
awakening blessings

A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day

The universe notices us – we’re included, too. The grass, the trees, the animals notice us. We’re all caught up in this beautiful dream.
A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day
April 12, 2026 Audios

A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day

The universe notices us – we’re included, too. The grass, the trees, the animals notice us. We’re all caught up…
awakening blessings
A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day
April 12, 2026 Audios
awakening blessings

A Blessing on Your Head – Every Day Is a Good Day

The universe notices us – we’re included, too. The grass, the trees, the animals notice us. We’re all caught up in this beautiful dream.
The Hazy Moon of Spring
March 29, 2026 Videos 22′ 56″

The Hazy Moon of Spring

Enlightenment happens inside this life that we have. It’s not some other more satisfactory life with special conditions. So you…
awakening enlightenment
The Hazy Moon of Spring
March 29, 2026 Videos 22′ 56″
awakening enlightenment

The Hazy Moon of Spring

Enlightenment happens inside this life that we have. It’s not some other more satisfactory life with special conditions. So you set off!
The Hazy Moon of Spring
March 29, 2026 Audios

The Hazy Moon of Spring

Enlightenment happens inside this life that we have. It’s not some other more satisfactory life with special conditions. So you…
awakening enlightenment
The Hazy Moon of Spring
March 29, 2026 Audios
awakening enlightenment

The Hazy Moon of Spring

Enlightenment happens inside this life that we have. It’s not some other more satisfactory life with special conditions. So you set off!
Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise
March 22, 2026 Videos

Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise

You’re supposed to be happy but you feel sick, or you laugh when you’re sad. It’s why buying gizmos does…
empty nature Lankavatara Sutra
Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise
March 22, 2026 Videos
empty nature Lankavatara Sutra

Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise

You’re supposed to be happy but you feel sick, or you laugh when you’re sad. It’s why buying gizmos does not console us, because the big lumbering aurochs doesn’t care…
Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise
March 22, 2026 Audios

Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise

In any given moment we think we know what’s what, but then there’s this other thing happening; the big lumbering…
empty nature Lankavatara Sutra
Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise
March 22, 2026 Audios
empty nature Lankavatara Sutra

Things Are Not As They Seem, Nor Are They Otherwise

In any given moment we think we know what’s what, but then there’s this other thing happening; the big lumbering aurochs that runs the universe is just ambling along beneath…