PZI Teacher Archives

opening night

Video October 24, 2023

Fall Retreat: Enter Here – Into the Bath Together

John Tarrant, PZI Cantor & Musicians, PZI HOPs, PZI Teachers

How does it feel to be here? The bath is that which contains us. We go in together—enter here. There is something marvelous about letting it all go and letting the imperfections of life appear. Feeling that subtle touch. The universe is at play: let’s see it playing, and let’s let it see us play.

39' 32"
Audio October 24, 2023

Fall Retreat: Enter Here – Into the Bath Together

John Tarrant, PZI Cantor & Musicians, PZI HOPs, PZI Teachers

How does it feel to be here? The bath is that which contains us. We go in together—enter here. There is something marvelous about letting it all go and letting the imperfections of life appear. Feeling that subtle touch. The universe is at play: let’s see it playing, and let’s let it see us play.

39' 34"
Audio July 7, 2023

Summer Sesshin: Stepping Into the Transformation of Sesshin

John Tarrant

John Tarrant opens the Great Summer Sesshin – Creatures of the Summer Dawn. If you just don’t try to work things out, the universe will take over. Whatever appears, don’t believe it! Enjoy yourself. 

26' 3"
Audio February 21, 2023

We Are Carried in the Dark – On Lostness & the Spiral Path of Practice

John Tarrant

The Dharma is a spiral path of lostness. What will happen next? It’s dark. We’re here no matter what. When you think okay, I’m lost, what’s next? Trusting in the dark is the Way—it is not our business how we awaken.

36' 15"
Audio February 14, 2023

Taking Part in the Gathering: Opening Talk

John Tarrant

John Tarrant’s opening dharma talk in Summer Sesshin at Santa Sabina. Recorded June 13, 2022.

33' 34"
Video August 25, 2022

Summer Sesshin: We Are Interwoven – Welcome to Sesshin

John Tarrant

John Tarrant welcomes Summer Sesshin participants and introduces a stanza of Shitou’s long poem: Taking Part in the Gathering, as an opening koan. The poem comes from the inception of Chan and is described as a Daoist current on the nature of reality – how emptiness pervades form. Koans, Art, Meditation & Conversation are part of waking up together in PZI Culture. June 13, 2022.

26' 48"
Audio August 25, 2022

Summer Sesshin: We Are Interwoven – Welcome to Sesshin

John Tarrant

John Tarrant welcomes Summer Sesshin participants and introduces a stanza from Shitou’s song-poem, Taking Part in the Gathering, as an opening koan. The poem comes from the inception of Chan as a Daoist current on the nature of reality. Koans, art, meditation & conversation are part of waking up together in PZI culture. June 13, 2022.

26' 48"
Audio February 24, 2022

Winter Sesshin: Winter Silence Opening Night

John Tarrant, PZI Cantor & Musicians, PZI Teachers

John Tarrant and PZI Teachers welcome us and speak the koan into the vessel of sesshin. Heads of Practice Chris Gaffney and Jan Brogan say welcoming words. John speaks about the power of silence, and tending the mystery together in the Winter Temple. Closing words from Jon Joseph. Music from Michael Wilding, Cantor Amaryllis Fletcher, and Jordan McConnell. As recorded on February 1, 2022.

41' 57"