Audio Library

PZI Zen Online- Audio as recorded August 2 2020.

PZI Zen Online: An Invitation to Life – Deshan with his bowls coming in at the wrong bell without distress, his complete integration. The universe is always inviting us and it is in that subtle moment ‘before’ the invitation. Koan practice helps us – we are grabbed by a piece of the koan – the universe talking. Play is key, and a willingness to accept that invitation to embrace life. As recorded Aug 3 2020.

Audio PZi Zen Online: our lives right now are an exercise in not knowing. Surprising intimacy in new forms of communication and meditation. But really there is nothing to hold onto. And that c=vastness is filled with light. These three koans reflect that in th etime before we know or name. As recorded July 16 2020.

Audio PZI Zen Online: Whatever mind you have right now in the middle of covid and civil unrest is it! Is Buddha. A great gift. We soak into koan practice and thoughts are part of the mix. They come and go and small mind perceives the vast mind. Who are we and what is this? As recorded July 13 2020.

Audio PZI Zen Online: Sarah Bender Roshi unfolds a beautiful guided koan meditation from GGcase 42. Who is this mysterious girl who keeps company with Shakyamuni? She who can not be wakened except by ‘Delusive Wisdom’ or Momiyo from the underworld? When did she arrive? In moments of separation what wakes us? What is this insistence that wakes us? Waking or not waking it is all ‘an elegant performance!’ As recorded July 8 2020

Audio PZI Zen Online: The strange and convenient mystery of our sight – our vision. A sensory foundation for exploring in our meditation practice. What does seeing clearly entail? Soetie we overlay with our preoccupations and stories of what is happening – these can obscure and also point the way to new findings. Just for you honored one. Tess introduces this sutra and the story of ‘Great Wisdom’ inquiring about enlightenment.

Audio: PZI Zen Online – In the dream we count things – counting stars or credit card fees, there are infinite opportunities to see familiar things cosmically. As recorded July 15 2020

Audio: PZI Zen Online: Our culture needs to renew its old dreams. And it is good when the bottom falls out. We are still held by vastness – our job is to work in harmony with the universe. Take the role of host for everything that appears. Allow not knowing – if you know who you are, you can not take a step! Nothing before us and only a wake behind. The empathic nature of emptiness. Blessings of the Goddess. As recorded July 26th 2020.

Audio: PZI Zen online – A framework in our practice for relying on emptiness & freedom. Not holding preset views. Blessing things beyond approval and disapproval. I am you = emptiness. In Zen we shift to ‘before’ the demons grabbed our ankles. You can’t rely on what you believe. We ‘accord’ with the Dao. We can’t fall out of the dream. As recorded July 19 2020

Blue Dragon’s Cave Sesshin, Sunday: Small things, small moments of rest peace awakening, like ‘Thank you’. Appreciating the treasures discarded. The very things that imprison me hold the freedom, if we can ‘host’ them. Being home with them. The Storehouse ONLY opens by itself – no prying or forcing. ‘Returning’ in meditation. Leonard Cohen sings – How the Light gets in. Sunday July 28.

Audio excerpt: Tess Beasley invites a final sharing of discoveries in the Blue Dragon’s Cave from all participants.

Audio: Tess & John open the final session of sesshin. Remarkable magic of incense in the ether!

Audio: Sesshin Sunday – Tess Beasley on her maiden teaching voyage. Hoping to do the beautiful practice justice. What terrified her and excited her were the same thing. Discovering sangha – the importance of meeting each other. We have no idea where we are going these days but doing it together.

Audio session: Blue Dragon’s Cave Sesshin – Saturday eve – John’s dream of Orion. We accord with the Dao. What part of your life does not have value? Buddha nature is expressing itself through you. Voles 🙂 or vials of light: original light we call koans, which kindle lightin us. Always there even in a dark tangled place. Everything showing up is the koan! Memory in the cave – how they are whole and vivid.

Audio session: Blue Dragon’s Cave closing session – The grand beast of sesshin! Old dragon & tygher teachers meeting new teachers. A text on powers of dragons. Machado poem – ‘Only a wake behind us.’ Intimacy of Mazu’s dharma – ‘How are you?’ Sesshin is a work of art like rakusu. We are ‘always temporarily assembling ourselves’. All faults included in the cave. Mazu – as practice deepens make yourself a raft to transport others. Carrying the Dao is what you are! Music – Flute Michael Wilding, guitar singing Jordan MCConnell Cantor Amy Fletcher, Jan Brogan, HOP.

Audio Excerpt: David’s Sunday morning talk on the Storehouse of Treasures, the flipside of the Blue Dragon’s Cave. It can’t be forced open. And the very things I fear most, that imprison me are actually the treasure. how many times have I missed the door opening on its own? June 28 2020

Audio excerpt: John Tarrant Roshi recounts a Sesshin dream – insight on meditation practice. Saturday June 27th.

Audio: Sutra Service Saturday June 27th. Amaryllis Fletcher Cantor, Ryan McCoy: All Buddhas, Cross on Over and Jordan McConnell singsus out with the Four Boundless Vows.

Audio excerpt: Saturday Morning session with Allison Atwill.

Audio session – Opening the Cave of the Blue Dragon retreat with John Tarrant & Michelle Riddle. John talks about meditation at sesshin. Stories: District Mistress Fan & Yuan Wu -‘so near at hand’. Tabor’s poem. So easy to think I am not enough. Xing Quin ‘One drop just ink – 2 drops a dragon is born’. We are each in community and discovering together. Yunmen’s ‘Talking to a rock’. Alan Watts – Letting go – ‘Dont prevent the world from falling apart’. Be a tiger at home in the mountains. Closing prayer: Cantor Amaryllis Fletcher, Jordan McConnell – the four vows. Jon Joseph, Roshi evening words. Thursday June 25, 2020

Audio excerpt: Koans are much more than ‘tools’ – they do you! Your very heart mind is it, so have the intimacy of your life even into death. Friday eve. Summer Sesshin 2020.

Audio excerpt: John Tarrant Roshi on moments regret or the worst things becoming beautiful. Friday session Summer Sesshin.

Audio excerpt: David Weinstein on noticing small moments – the crack gardens in the sidewalks. Friday morning Summer Sesshin 202.

Audio excerpt: Evening words from Allison Atwill, Roshi on Friday June 26th. The call of the Blue Dragon – what will it be?

Audio excerpt: John Tarrant, Roshi on meeting our difficult time, quoting Master Ma and Yuanwu. Friday evening at Summer Sesshin

Audio: Summer Sesshin. The complete Friday afternoon into evening session with John Tarrant, Roshi. Music by Ryan McCoy. Cantor Amaryllis Fletcher.

Audio- Excerpt from longer Friday morning talk on master Ma, sickness and health at Summer Sesshin.

Audio: Ryan McCoy sings and plays guitar for the Blue Dragon’s Cave Summer Sesshin – Friday eve, closing June 26th, 2020.