We may not even realize the extent to which a subtle sense of fear and self-protection dominate our lives. In this talk, Daido Roshi speaks about the unskillful ways we try to deal with fear and speaks about how, when we cultivate generosity and compassion toward ourselves and all beings, we travel the path of true fearlessness.

The koan in this talk is “The Stone Lion,” Case 103 in Koans of the Way of Reality. It was given at Zen Mountain Monastery on June 21, 2007.

In dharma encounter students work one-on-one with the teacher very much like in dokusan, except that it’s done with the whole sangha present. Here, Shugen Sensei invites the sangha to explore sickness from the perspective of the Zen teachings–not just physical illness, but the deeply important truth of psychological, emotional, and spiritual dis-ease as well.

This dharma encounter was held at the Zen Center of New York City on April 8, 2012.

How many times have we searched for happiness and ended up disappointed or, even worse, regretful?  In our delusion, we continually search for temporary happiness in the fleeting, shifting things of this world. Yet to truly resolve our suffering,  we need to stop looking outside and discover the true joy of fully experiencing our life as it is.

The koan in this talk is “Chin Niu’s Rice Pail,” Case 74 from the Blue Cliff Record. It was given at Zen Mountain Monastery on March 11, 2012.

Zen masters teach that the ultimate truth of the universe is contained within a single fleeting moment of reality. How do we discover this truth for ourselves? Not denying, not getting lost, our practice is to meet each moment in complete intimacy.

The koan in this talk is “Zuigan Calls Master,” Case 12 from the Gateless Gate. It was given at the Zen Center of New York City on September 11, 2010.

Taking up this well-known koan of a master who, each day, calls out to himself, “Master, are you awake?” Daido Roshi encourages us to make the vow to wake up real in our own lives, and to plumb the depths of this mystery.

The koan in this talk is “Zuigan Calls Master,” Case 12 from the Gateless Gate. The talk was given at Zen Mountain Monastery.

Does enlightenment come suddenly or gradually? How do we resolve the tension between Buddhist concepts and our own direct experience? In this discourse, Ryushin Sensei concludes a weekend retreat on this theme, moving from technical explanation to direct pointing.

The koan in this talk is “Ma Tsu’s Permutations of Assertion and Denial,” Case 73 from the Blue Cliff Record. It was given at Zen Mountain Monastery on February 12th, 2012.

What is the role of gender in spiritual practice? In this discourse, Shugen Sensei looks at the profound interdependence of male and female, and at Buddhism’s painful history of marginalizing women. Exploring the karma of this past, he emphasizes that each one of us must learn who we are for ourselves, and let the truth of our being radiate in the ten directions.

The koan in this talk is “Manjusri and the Young Woman in Samadhi,” Case 42 from the Gateless Gate. It was given at the Zen Center of New York City on November 12, 2011.

Religion arises from the deepest questions of our being–the mind that inquires into who we are and where we came from. What is the Source of Mind? Or, in the language of other traditions, What is God? Who is it that can discover such a thing?

The koan in this talk is “Jinching’s ‘What Source is That?’” from Koans of the Way of Reality. It was given at Zen Mountain Monastery on November 28, 2004.

At 85, Mary Kaijun Mold is the eldest member of the MRO monastic community. In this intimate conversation with sangha member Bethany Senkyu Saltman, Kaijun reflects back on her life, sharing stories from her wartime childhood in England, her experiences as a young nurse in New Zealand, and her discovery of the dharma many, many years ago. Drawing on experiences that took her around the world and deeply within herself, Kaijun offers a perspective on spiritual practice steeped in years of training and full of insight, wit and encouragement.

Many of us living with great freedom and opportunity encounter what feels like the shadow side of choice: with so many possibilities available, how do we choose? Ryushin Sensei takes up the teachings of the ancient masters, who teach that the peace of the Way lies beyond picking and choosing.

The koan in this talk is “Chaochou’s Stupid Oaf,” Case 57 from the Blue Cliff Record. It was given at Zen Mountain Monastery on October 21, 2011.