SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery
912 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 19 ratingsA Sōtō Zen Buddhist Temple. Visit: SokukoJi.org
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Episodes
Life Comes Without Warning - 02-06-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
February 06, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.3 MBhttps://youtu.be/DVEqdW-CgMU
Not Separating Appearance And Emptiness - 02-02-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
February 02, 2022 00:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBhttps://youtu.be/ySq0fGP2IC0
Ego Intelligence - 01-30-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 29, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBThe ego, the self-centered aspect of the mind, is very intelligent at defending itself. It uses this intelligence to confirm or reify someone who knows everything, someone who understands. Hold still and watch the constant propaganda of the mind. You don’t need to stop or control anything. What’s happening is totally appropriate; it’s utterly, completely perfect because it’s happening out of dependent origination. Who you are transcends personality. https://youtu.be/yssHUNqZcpM
Relationships Don't Work, Talk 2 - 01-26-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 26, 2022 00:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBhttps://youtu.be/li5priPpojs
Relationships Don't Work - 01-23-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 22, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 70.7 MBChogyam Trungpa’s very direct way of saying this is, “The best relationship is no relationship.” When I say relationships don’t work, I mean we have expectations, transactions, and agreements. We think there is someone here in relation to someone over there. We even have little relationships with ourselves called conflicting emotions. It’s painful. Find out who you are so that going into relationship there is no confusion about anything. If you are a true student, you are no longer evaluatin...
What Forms Should I Use? - 01-19-22 by Sokuzan - SOkukoJi.org
January 19, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 58 MBhttps://youtu.be/zocFTlZX55o
Thirst For Otherness - 01-16-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 15, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBCraving, desire, or greed for otherness is just a basic way of saying we want something else. This constant inner chatter about ourselves and who we are is substantiating and validating a “someone” who’s doing something. When it ramps up it fuels the believability in the separation and the promise that you can actually get your heart’s desire. Just observe the clutching action of the mind without correcting it. Nothing is broken. The ancient practice of shikantaza is a way observing whatever...
Meditation Experiences - 01-12-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 12, 2022 00:00 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBhttps://youtu.be/bD5Ne8tgYQc
Vividly Unreal - 01-09-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 08, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 61.4 MB“Whatever is seen with the eyes is vividly unreal in emptiness, yet there is still form.” This line is from the Sadhana of Mahamudra, which we chant at every new moon. If you see this, you will see that what’s fundamentally important is not threatened. This is a dream. How do we bring this about in our life stream? The more difficult this gets, the more it is incumbent upon us to practice; instead of trying to fix the confusion, just be with whatever arises in the mind stream. https://youtu...
When I Can't Teach - 01-05-22 - by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
January 04, 2022 00:00 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQAvei5oWaA
You're Not That Important - 01-02-22 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 31, 2021 00:00 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBThe world reminds us that we’re not important all the time. You can make use of this understanding by looking at the self-centeredness that we continually fluff up while ignoring the complete spaciousness of our minds as they are. When any kind of fear or sensitivity that hasn’t been looked into gets triggered, we go to war with it or try to blame somebody. This creates the illusion that we are important. It could even show up as humility. Just look at this, without looking for credentials. h...
Questions From Sangha - 12-29-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 29, 2021 00:00 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuFc3mmGMG4
The Truth Of Suffering - 12 26 21 - By Sokuzan
December 25, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBThe first of the four noble truths is the truth of sufffering (dukkha). Why are we suffering? Because we want something else; this is the second noble truth. Trying to be happy and trying not to suffer can tie up your whole life and it will persist if you try to stop it. There’s no particular way to deal with this other than to just see what it is through the simple practice of shikantaza or zazen. Even a basic mindfulness practice can be helpful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O09SZM69VO0&t
Walk Between Thoughts - 12-22-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 22, 2021 00:00 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZgkRLzFzDo
Receive More, Produce Less - 12-19-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 19, 2021 00:00 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ETD-lhg0OY
Intention's Results - 12-15-21 by Sokuzan - Sokukoji.org
December 16, 2021 16:40 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBI often say, when training your mind, concentrate on your intention without looking for results. The intention to train your mind might not be as forthcoming with results as something like intending to weed the garden. When we focus too much on improvement or results, this is spiritual materialism. It takes energy away from our intention to train our minds, to study, and to return to the buddha, the dharma and the sangha. Emphasize your intention, your inspiration to see your true nature with...
Mountains & Rivers - 12-12-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 12, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBhttps://youtu.be/t9vAfYQ2aCc
Ready For The Teaching? - 12-8-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 07, 2021 00:00 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBAre you ready to step into this kind of training, working with your opinions and preconceptions, your judgements, your beliefs, your unexamined conclusions? If you need to step on the path, it will be obvious to you. It will probably be necessary to meet someone who sees what this is and can teach it out of their realization, out of what they see. If you are ready to be a student, not just someone who collects information and knows things, you become liberated from what you know. It’s an incr...
Circle of Confusion (Talk One) - 12-5-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 05, 2021 00:00 - 71.6 MBhttps://youtu.be/rMz_DIJT5vQ
Circle of Confusion - 12-05-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
December 04, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 71.6 MBhttps://youtu.be/rMz_DIJT5vQ
Don't Let Go - 12-01-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 30, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBQuite often we hear this from others: “Just let go.” The very nature of self-centeredness is to manipulate or take control of something. It just reinforces the self-centeredness. You don’t have to let go. Rather, see the way in which you hang on. It’s about looking at that area that’s not very pleasant to observe. In Trungpa Rinpoche’s words, be genuine, get to know yourself, and make friends with yourself. Everything is basically good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZL6CVKCboA
A True Teacher's Words - 11-28-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 28, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DeL0NTdZDA
Eat What You're Served - 11-24-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 22, 2021 00:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBThis is another way of saying, “Receive.” If it shows up in your mind stream, take it in. Allow things to come toward you. You don’t necessarily have to produce some kind of activity or go out toward something. Whatever shows up, whether in thought patterns or relationships, needs to occur. This is another way of talking about dependent origination or pratitya samutpada. To just fundamentally eat what’s served will completely fulfill your buddha activity while starving that other aspect of th...
Live In Enlightenment - 11-21-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 21, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=266DA7Wb48I
Don't Second The Emotion - 11-17-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 16, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBWhatever shows up in the mind stream, don’t second it, agree with it or go along with it. The added commentary tends to validate and personalize it as somebody who feels this way. That “me” feeling is unreal – it’s a collection of ideas and opinions, hope and fear. Don’t try to fix it, and don’t set up standards to try to protect yourself from the open dimension in which everything is arising without reference points. If it’s coming your way, just receive it and allow the consciousness to be ...
"Why" Questions - 11-14-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 14, 2021 00:00 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4xU7ZGedX0
Don't Do Anything Unless You Have To - 11-10-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 09, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBWe constantly do things we don’t have to do because of paranoia about what might happen. The idea is to put a little bit of tension on our impulsiveness to act. When you do that, there is much more clarity around that which you are doing and what you actually have to do. Hopefully, it’s to train your mind. Don’t go in any direction unless there’s some kind of understanding. Less is better. This is why it’s so important to receive what’s happening. https://youtu.be/ZNWYTNeYefI
Live Your Life, Not Someone Else's - 11-07-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 161 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHRwsxl-zlk
I Don't Know - 5 Minute Teaser - 10-31-21 by Sokuzan
November 04, 2021 15:11 - 5 minutes - 4.77 MBIn this five minute excerpt of Sokuzan's full talk, he explores the idea of "I don't know." All Sokuzan - no Q&As. Please let us know if you are enjoying these short talks and whether they are of value. We listen to and appreciate your feedback! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUWOYJ5Ry0k
Examine Your Mind - 11-03-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
November 03, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 70.8 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE1H2p51L4k
I Don't Know - 10-31-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
October 30, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBZen master Seung-Sahn talked about “only don’t know mind.” This whole area is very powerful if it comes out of your awareness. Knowing and not knowing is something the egoistic mind creates. It is necessary to go into not knowing first and not to panic into your ego with, “I know.” The grasping mind will not allow an open dimension. In the area of consciousness that is without form, your knowledge will begin to crack apart. Depending on your attachment to intellect, you may eventually have to...
Without Views - 10-27-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
October 26, 2021 00:00 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_LLqTs-Ec8
See The Lies - 10-24-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
October 24, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 79.4 MBhttps://youtu.be/XAK7VMbv0OU
See The Lies - Ten Minute Teaser - 10-24-21 by Sokuzan
October 23, 2021 00:00 - 10 minutes - 9.9 MBSpecifically edited for listeners who have only ten minutes to listen. This abridged version of Sokuzan's full talk contains 7 minutes of Sokuzan's teachings and 3.5 minutes of Q&A time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fgWemQzr4I
Forms - 10-20-21 by Chiezan - SokukoJi.org
October 20, 2021 00:00 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYZJf0n4ik&t
Friending Ego - 10-17-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
October 16, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBChogyam Trungpa Rinpoche talked about working with the negativity that arises in your mindstream as making friends with your ego. This is the area that we judge, that’s embarrassing, that we want to do away with. We try to stop it based on thinking it’s real. Just observe the the circularity of passion, aggression and ignorance. What’s being suggested here is that befriending ego is not likely to occur without a strong practice of sitting meditation, realigning our attitude to receive. https:...
Friending Ego - 10/17/21 by Sokuzan - 10 Minute Teaser
October 16, 2021 00:00 - 9.69 MBSpecifically edited for listeners who have only ten minutes to listen. This abridged version of Sokuzan's full talk contains five minutes of Sokuzan's teachings and five minutes of Q&A time.
Friending Ego - Ten Minute Teaser - 10-17-21 by Sokuzan
October 14, 2021 00:00 - 10 minutes - 9.69 MBSpecifically edited for listeners who have only ten minutes to listen. This abridged version of Sokuzan's full talk contains five minutes of Sokuzan's teachings and five minutes of Q&A time.
Ordinary Mind - 101321 By Sokuzan
October 13, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWb6ASjRtrw
Observe The Cover-Ups - 10-10-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
October 09, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBThrough the sitting practice of meditation, you can retrain your mind to observe what’s arising rather than what you think is there. The idea is to see clearly and deeply what is arising so you know fundamentally what it is. You don’t have to stop covering up, just be aware of it. If you don’t cover it up, ego finds its own space in the form of dependent origination. If you see what this is, all the warfare stops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9O3l_3ePyI&t
The Stone Woman Gets Up Dancing - 100621 By Sokuzan
October 06, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJRbTT1IDj8
Questions From Sangha - 10-03-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
October 02, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 69 MBWhat is the observer that can’t be seen as content? That aspect of consciousness which is just receiving and processing does not have a spacial dimension or a time reference. It doesn’t have an identity, particularly. You could call it tathagatagarbha, jnana, prajna or wisdom. Even calling it an aspect is going too far. This and other questions from sangha are addressed in depth in this talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln_M-9lv_-Q
Details Of Fixation - 09-29-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 29, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6TmuW464j8
Do It Anyway - 09-26-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 25, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBThis is something I often say when someone runs into difficulty. It’s not an order, it’s something to consider. True devotion is not about obedience. If someone is trying to get control of you, red flags should go up everywhere. There’s only one authority and you’re it. Progress is materialism, and on the spiritual path progress is invisible. The idea is to encourage you to proceed, to help you be who you are, be genuine. Do it anyway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MtnaKvr5Zk
Petty Mind - 9-22-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 22, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X50EdXpoB_I
Before the Story - 09-19-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 18, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBConstant chattering fills up the space with phrases, protecting the body-mind complex we think we are. Even if the conclusions are relatively correct, it’s still a disturbance as far as the spiritual path is concerned. Before the story there’s just not much going on. The leading edge of the story is your opportunity because it is still texture until we start constructing something about it. There’s nothing to correct. Just receive, just intend and return to the vow. Anything that shows up as ...
Paratantra - 09-15-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 15, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9mur1vqkNg
Freedom From What You Know - 09-12-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 10, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 66.8 MBIt’s not what you know that’s the issue; it’s the knower, the mistaken identity that’s the problem. Whatever shows up in your mind stream, you know that. The first arising is free from a knower. Then you leave the immediacy for what you think about it. The issue is not the feeling that comes up, it’s trying to stop it, fight with it or blame someone for it. It’s called samsara. Liberation doesn’t mean this all goes away, but you’re no longer put upon by it. It’s like leaves falling from a tre...
The True Student - 09-08-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 08, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnSHeaM3n7w&t
Is Daydreaming Meditating? - 09-05-21 by Sokuzan - SokukoJi.org
September 05, 2021 00:00 - 54 MBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzsCChF1DvI We are currently working on improving our sound recording quality, and apologize for any difficulty in understanding Sokuzan's teachings. Thank you for your patience.