San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

11/23/2024, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk by former central abbot Rinso Ed Sattizahn examines Suzuki Roshi’s open, inviting practice, and unpacks Wang Wei’s poem “In my middle years…”

11/16/2024, Paula Arai, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk by visiting teacher Paula Arai at Beginner’s Mind Temple explores Buddhism from a woman’s perspective, focusing on the liberating power of storytelling in sutras. Combining rigorous research and an embodied approach, Arai humanizes Buddhist women’s experiences. She shared two stories—Queen Shrimala and "Bowing With the Dharma"—from her upcoming book, "Of Lotuses and Mud: Women Liberating Dharma".

11/13/2024, Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, co-leader of the fall 2024 Practice Period at City Center. Inspired by the teachings from Suzuki Roshi and the symbolism of the bell in Zen practice, this talk explores the Bodhisattva’s unwavering path of sincerity, presence, and purpose. Through Ox-Herding Pictures 5 and 6, we follow the journey from striving and control to a state of acceptance and flow. Moving from “Taming the Ox” to “Riding the Ox Home,” we learn to meet ourselves with patience and embrace life as it is.

11/10/2024, Zesho Susan O'Connell, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk by Zesho Susan O’Connell examines the vast field of existence, the fabric of our world that can get torn and faded. We are not in control, but we can “clearly observe” the tears.