AZC Weekly talks

Roshi Amala Wrightson gives the first in her series of talks on the Sutra called "Knowing the better way to live alone". Roshi will be drawing on the translation and commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh in…

Roshi Amala Wrightson gives the third in her series of talks on the Sutra called "Knowing the better way to live alone". Roshi will be drawing on the translation and commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh in…

Roshi Amala Wrightson gives the second in her series of talks on the Sutra called "Knowing the better way to live alone". Roshi will be drawing on the translation and commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh i…

The third in a series of three dharma talks by Richard von Sturmer. In this talk The Richard takes up Dōgen’s writings on nature as well as exploring the wilderness poetry of Tang Dynasty China.

Texts…

"Zazen is not sensory deprivation — anything but. Birds and geckos and bullfrogs guide us. Be open to these natural teachers, wherever you may be practicing." -Aitken Roshi

This is the second of thre…

In this talk Richard explores interconnection on both vast and intimate scales. This is the first of three talks on 'Zen and Nature' given by Richard at the Auckland Zen Centre.

Texts used: A (Very) …

In this talk Roshi Amala Wrightson continues to explore false views. The Diamond Sutra lists four mistaken notions we hold onto which distort our experience of the world; the views of "self", "human …

In this talk Roshi Amala Wrightson explores false views.

The Diamond Sutra lists four mistaken notions we hold onto which distort our experience of the world; the views of "self", "human beings", "sen…

In this talk Roshi Amala Wrightson explores the concept and practice of frugality from a Zen perspective. Frugality is shaped by the motives behind it, such as prudent management of our finances, or …

In this talk Roshi Amala Wightson takes up the koan "Vimalakirti's Silence" from The Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku #84).

The thundering silence of the layman bodhisattva, Vimalakirti -- can you hear…

Roshi Amala Wrightson on how to work with common hindrances to practice.

In this episode Roshi explores ghost caves, and identifying different types of their opposite, wandering thoughts.

Sources: Sil…

Roshi Amala Wrightson on how to work with common hindrances to practice.

In this episode she looks at working with physical pain, and various kinds of "ghost caves" to watch out for.

Sources: Silent I…

Roshi Amala Wrightson on how to work with common hindrances that arise in our zazen.

Sources: Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist path to natural awakening by Guo Gu Shambhala 2021

Automated transcrip…

Roshi Amala Wrightson on how to work with suffering.

In this talk Roshi explores some highs and lows: Getting stuck in pleasant, "heavenly" states, and mistaking them for awakening -- and the pain of…

Roshi Amala Wrightson on how to work with suffering.

In this talk Roshi explores delusive strategies for getting off the wheel that just make things worse.

Sources: Turning Suffering Inside Out -- a Z…

Roshi Amala Wrightson on how to work with suffering.

In this talk Roshi explores the ever-turning wheel of grasping and aversion, and the nature of dukkha (unsatisfactoriness) in the ups and downs of…

An exploration of happiness by Roshi Amala Wrightson, touching on some aspects of the psychology of Alfred Adler, who is considered one of the three fathers of depth psychology, along with Sigmund Fr…

An exploration of happiness by Roshi Amala Wrightson, touching on some aspects of the psychology of Alfred Adler, who is considered one of the three fathers of depth psychology, along with Sigmund Fr…

A teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.

When people hear of the 9th precept, "Not to indulge in anger but to practice forbearance" they often ask, "But what about injustice? There is so much to be angry a…

A teisho by Roshi Amala Wrightson.

Comments on an introductory lecture to a group of lay practitioners by Rindo Fujimoto (1894-1974), a Sōtō Zen teacher who trained under Sogaku Harada (Rōshi Kapleau…