Reflections on the Pilgrims' Path 2/4

Shinmon Michael Newton begins his talk with an exploration of what the word pilgrimage means, then takes the listener on a meandering path of depth and discovery.

Reflections on the Pilgrims' Path 1/4

Myoshin Kate McCandless offers a sense of how the five week pilgrimage in Japan was like an intensive zen retreat.

In the Mango Grove

Enryu Anusha Fernando gives a talk on the Meghiya Sutta and its focus on the importance of friendship.

We don’t live in a neutral experience and our practice is to pay attention to the offerings of community, of sangha.

Admirable Friendship - Begin Again

Myosen River Shannon asks in what way we can encourage each other in our practice. If spiritual friendship is an antidote to isolation and fragmentation, how do we achieve wise relationships, creating, through dharma, a space in which it is safe to fail.

On Crooked Cucumbers

Shinmon Michael Newton offers a talk about David Chadwick, a Soto Zen priest, author, archivist, and one of the earliest disciples of Shunryu Suzuki (February 9, 1945 - February 23, 2026).

“I don't know anything about consciousness. I just try to teach my students how to hear the birds sing.”

Natural Healing

Myoshin Kate McCandless acknowledges that our deeper wounds need to be given protection and healing care. The darts and arrows of a human life can be sharp and painful - the body and mind are supported by practicing the dharma. 

The Problem is the Problem

Shuso Heito Lee Lourdeaux explores how anger can transmute into compassion. "Understanding is love's other name."

Think Beyond Thinking

Shinmon Michael Newton affirms that beyond recitation and intellectual understanding of the sutras, our practice is full of heart. All is mutually interdependent and dynamic, and all activities are expressions of dharma blossoms.

“If thinking and beyond thinking do not divide the mind you can steer the white ox cart endlessly.” (Zen master Hui-neng)