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A Year of Zen - Podcast

A Year of Zen

 Bonnie Myotai Treace

Daily (well, almost!) writing prompts, exercises, inspiration and commentary by Zen teacher Bonnie Myotai Treace. Author of A Year of Zen (pub October 2020), as well as many other books and articles, Sensei offers brief daily encouragement to practice one’s life with wisdom, compassion and creativity.

Buddhism Religion & Spirituality
Update frequency
every day
Average duration
6 minutes
Episodes
46
Years Active
2020
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The Unknowable

The Unknowable

A practice for the days when we are drenched, (perhaps drowning!) in the unknowable. Bonnie Myotai reflects on the heartbreak of recognizing many around us have given the okay to suffering and cruelt…
00:08:32  |   Fri 06 Nov 2020
The True Person

The True Person

A Halloween episode...with Mater Rinzai!
00:05:18  |   Sat 31 Oct 2020
Die While You Live: Freedom from Self and Utter Responsibility

Die While You Live: Freedom from Self and Utter Responsibility

What is it to let the ego’s predominance recede, and practice a life in which “all is good”? With a nod to 16th C Zen master Shido Munan, we explore the humility and balance of an awakening life.
00:06:03  |   Fri 30 Oct 2020
Fear in Practice

Fear in Practice

Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on fear, the absolute self, and facing the lions around us. Reading from Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman, teaching from Daido Roshi, and a writing/contemplation insp…
00:11:35  |   Wed 28 Oct 2020
Cool Loneliness: Alone at the Bottom of Too Many Stairs

Cool Loneliness: Alone at the Bottom of Too Many Stairs

October 24th’s episode considers loneliness and spiritual practice. A bit of teaching from Pema Chodron, a memory of a hard night in NYC, and a writing/contemplation exercise.
00:14:40  |   Sat 24 Oct 2020
Rustling Leaves

Rustling Leaves

The evening rooster calls out as Bonnie Myotai gives an autumn writing/contemplation prompt.
00:01:58  |   Thu 22 Oct 2020
Epitaph for Today: Say a Word of Zen

Epitaph for Today: Say a Word of Zen

Bonnie Myotai takes us back to the cemetery to write our epitaph, and explore what message our life may leave .
00:02:58  |   Thu 15 Oct 2020
A Little Knife: The Evening Gatha in Autumn

A Little Knife: The Evening Gatha in Autumn

Bonnie Myotai invites a contemplation of the “drying, wrinkling, falling” autumn of our lives. She remembers the first night she heard the Evening Gatha, and Maezumi Roshi teaching her about “the lit…
00:07:41  |   Tue 13 Oct 2020
People Will Talk

People Will Talk

In Episode 38 Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on how the shift happens from always looking to be loved to looking for how we can be loving. A bit of Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Broken-heart…
00:10:16  |   Sat 10 Oct 2020
Vast Ocean and Crashing Waves

Vast Ocean and Crashing Waves

Episode 37 finds us contemplating both ocean and waves, absolute and relative. Bonnie Myotai offers a poem of Thich Nhat Hanh’s and a writing prompt.
00:10:28  |   Fri 09 Oct 2020
The Bear in Your Kitchen: Practicing the Unexpected

The Bear in Your Kitchen: Practicing the Unexpected

In Episode 36, Bonnie Myotai asks that we consider how we practice when something unexpected, perhaps frightening, suddenly shows up.
00:03:42  |   Sun 04 Oct 2020
Calm The Crying Child

Calm The Crying Child

A quick Saturday writing prompt, where we’re asked to remember how to cheer up a child, or anyone... including ourselves.

00:01:26  |   Sat 03 Oct 2020
Stop the Fighting: An Intimate Zen Koan

Stop the Fighting: An Intimate Zen Koan

In episode 34 Bonnie Myotai introduces an old Zen koan that we face again and again in our lives. How do we realize that we are not apart from others? How do we “stop the fight” taking place “over th…

00:06:39  |   Thu 01 Oct 2020
Nothing But Change: Being at Home in Impermanence

Nothing But Change: Being at Home in Impermanence

Zen teaches that understanding impermanence is the deepest work. In today’s episode, join Bonnie Myotai for a reflection, a little e.e. cummings, and an autumn writing and/or contemplation prompt.
00:08:02  |   Mon 28 Sep 2020
Chomei's Tears: Masked and Bare

Chomei's Tears: Masked and Bare

In Episode 32 of A Year of Zen, Bonnie Myotai reflects on the Zen hermit Kamo No Chomei's poem about autumn, tears, bareness, the limits of words. The wearing of masks, the challenges of compassion, …

00:08:16  |   Fri 25 Sep 2020
Letting Go of Our Old Nonsense

Letting Go of Our Old Nonsense

Episode 31 outlines how to work with the new book “A Year of Zen”...and create a sacred, solid year of practice. Bonnie Myotai reflects on when rules, methods, prompts are helpful, and when it’s time…

00:17:38  |   Thu 24 Sep 2020
Equinox: Tilting the Heart

Equinox: Tilting the Heart

Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on the autumn equinox, and the 6 principles of "Higen" (generosity, moral reflection, perseverance, diligence, meditation, wisdom), and gives writing /contemplation …

00:11:10  |   Tue 22 Sep 2020
Fading Smoke: Honor, Love, and Grief

Fading Smoke: Honor, Love, and Grief

In Episode 29, Bonnie Myotai remembers Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and the importance of giving ourselves time to grieve.
00:07:14  |   Sat 19 Sep 2020
Staying True to One Another: Kyosei’s Raindrops

Staying True to One Another: Kyosei’s Raindrops

Bonnie Myotai asks that we explore the ways we distance ourselves from what is real, and how to show up for one another. A zen koan called “The Voice of the Raindrops,” and a writing/contemplation ex…
00:09:16  |   Thu 17 Sep 2020
Green Zen

Green Zen

Episode 27, September 16,  has us exploring “shinrin yoku” or forest bathing, appreciating green life, especially as climate catastrophes increase. Kilmer’s poem “Trees” and a writing/contemplation.

00:06:49  |   Wed 16 Sep 2020
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