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. For access to the entire collection, and for downloadable audio of meditations and talks, join us as a PZI Member.
Visit the KALPA Guide for more info. To get you started, check out curated topics in the dropdown from the menu bar. Explore the PZI koan universe by searching for teachers, topics, koans, or file type—audio, video or text file. Consider the adventure of searching by using a tag.
Enjoy browsing the stacks in the KALPA!
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Zen Koan Meditation Practice
Koan practice is at heart a practice of intimacy with life itself. For over twelve centuries, koans have drawn people bearing urgent inquiries of life, death, beauty, and becoming. The tradition began as a way of carrying the discoveries of those willing to enter these questions together, and evolved into a vivid lineage of awakening encounters, still echoing centuries and continents away.
Quickly—without thinking good or evil,
What was your original face
Before your parents were born?—Zen Ancestor Huineng’s Original Face Koan
Introduction to Koan Practice: John Tarrant on Working with Koans
A koan is a piece of old wisdom in a very concise form. I think of it as a vial of ancient light that has been passed down to us. It’s the same light that was in the heart of the teacher who invented the koan. Read on
Image above – Tang dynasty scholar, Xuangzhong carrying scrolls on his back.
Image below: John Tarrant Roshi December 2020.
PZI Teacher Archives
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Allison Atwill -
David Parks -
David Weinstein -
Jesse Cardin -
John Tarrant -
Jon Joseph -
Michelle Riddle -
Sarah Bender -
Tess Beasley
New to the Library
SUTRA: Torei Zenji’s Bodhisattvas’ Vow
When I regard the true nature of all things and all living creatures, I find them to be the sacred forms of the Tathagatha’s never-failing essence
VIDEO: Refuge vs Creating the Self with Tess Beasley
Tess Beasley tells a story reflecting on the creation of the self vs the vast field that the precepts live in. April 27, 2021. 3 minutes.
VIDEO: Refuge – Creating the Self vs Refuge – Jesse Cardin Comments
Jess Cardin tells a story about making rock candy. Reflecting on the creation of the self vs the vast field that the precepts live in. April 27, 2021. 3 minutes.
VIDEO: Refuge – How the Precepts Arrive in Your Life
Allison Atwill talks about the way your awakening arrives – in the specific form for you among all other possibilities. The creation of the self blocks the vast field that the precepts live in. April 27, 2021. 3 minutes.