The Baker Roshi Audio Archive

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Showing 542 talks

Title	Speaker	Date
Embodied Awareness Through Zazen Serial: RB-00626 Summary The talk primarily discusses the practice of Zazen meditation and its intricate relationship to Zen philosophy, highlighting the inherent challenges of maintaining regular practice outside supportive environments. The... *Posture, Daily Life, Mindfulness, Breath, Separation*	Richard Baker	Nov 24 1999
Embodied Zen: Mind Beyond States Serial: RB-00629 The talk focuses on the challenges and intricacies of Zen practice, specifically Zazen (sitting meditation), and addresses the integration of meditation into daily life. Highlights include a discussion about different states of... *Posture, Mindfulness, Breath, Daily Life, Separation*	Richard Baker	Nov 24 1999
Rethinking Thinking through Zen Practice Serial: RB-00627 The talk centers on behavioral continuity, the relationship to thinking, and the application of Zen practices to realign one's connection with thought. The primary thesis suggests that attachment to specific practices and thought... *Breath, Impermanence, Observe, American, heart*	Richard Baker	Mar 21 1998
Zen's Inner Silence Beyond Sound Serial: RB-00648 The talk on November 24, 1982, delves into the concept of silence within Zen practice, contrasting it with the notion of literal silence. It explores how true silence exists even within sound and speech and highlights the... *Silence, Faith, Breath, Right Speech, Daily Life*	Richard Baker	Nov 24 1982
Embodied Zen and Conscious Community Serial: RB-00403 The June 1981 talk discusses the role of physical communication in Zen practice, emphasizing its importance only when students are prepared to understand it. The discussion transitions to how conscious awareness and the energy... *Community, Building, Money, Hyakujo*	Richard Baker	Jun 1981
Zen Community Principles and Practice Serial: RB-00404 The main thesis of the June 1981 talk, identified as Serial No. 00404, centers on the evolution and principles underlying the Zen Center community, emphasizing practice, stability, community dynamics, and the philosophical... *Community, Building, Sangha, Interdependence, Precepts*	Richard Baker	Jun 1981
Zen Community: Balancing Self and Sangha Serial: RB-00405 Summary The discussion primarily revolves around the Zen Center's formation, community structure, and interdependence principles derived from Zen practice. Zen practice is exemplified through the daily meditation routine coined... *Community, Building, Sangha, Interdependence, Precepts*	Richard Baker	Jun 1981
Living Zen in Every Moment Serial: RB-00623 The talk explores the concept that Zen practice requires one to focus on the present and avoid clinging to past experiences or seeking validation. Zen is described as a way of living that involves complete immersion in the... *Breath, Vinaya, Samadhi, War, Abhidharma*	Richard Baker	Dec 06 1979
The Weight of Emptiness in Zen Serial: RB-00621 The talk expounds on the inherent pessimism in Buddhist philosophy, particularly its view on suffering (samsara) and the absence of inherent meaning in life's events. The discussion references the Mahayana concept of emptiness,... *Buddha Nature, Samsara, Nirvana, Practice Period, Concentration*	Richard Baker	Dec 04 1979
Embodying Zen in Daily Life Serial: RB-00620 The central thesis of the talk addresses the practice of Zen and the embodiment of its principles in daily life. The discussion spans from the importance and practical application of dharmakaya (the ultimate reality or truth body... *Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Dharmakaya, Lineage, Bowing*	Richard Baker	Dec 03 1979
Beyond Duality in Zen Practice Serial: RB-00619 The talk explores the concept of subtle differences in Zen practice and understanding, particularly focusing on the idea of 'a hair's breadth difference' as highlighted in various koans. It examines the tension between order and... *Funeral, Concentration, Practice Period, Chanting, Buddha Nature*	Richard Baker	Dec 02 1979
Zen's Secret of Interconnected Perception Serial: RB-00618 The main thesis revolves around the concepts of interdependence, merit, and secret teachings in Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of perceiving interconnectedness and overcoming conceptual divisions. Key Points Covered: 1... *Practice Period, Soto Zen, Mindfulness, Breath, Daily Life*	Richard Baker	Nov 16 1979
Zen in Everyday Moments Serial: RB-00615 The talk discusses various aspects of everyday Zen practice and its integration into daily life. Key points include comparisons between Japanese and American bathing customs, methods for managing children's fevers using non-... *Building, heart, Vow, Don't Know Mind, resistance*	Richard Baker	Nov 14 1979
Zen Stories: Pathways to Enlightenment Serial: RB-00613 The talk explores Zen teachings, emphasizing the metaphorical use of Zen stories and parables to illustrate aspects of enlightenment and self-understanding. Key references include Dogen's poem "Black Rain on the Roof," the story... *Fox, Manjushri, War, Duality*	Richard Baker	Nov 03 1979 Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
Descriptions and Realizations Unveiled Serial: RB-00612 The talk revolves around the complexities of financial management and accounting within an organization, using metaphors and analogies to explore how descriptions shape our understanding and actions. The discussion then... *Posture, Observe, American, Dokusan, Ego*	Richard Baker	Nov 02 1979
Honoring Feminine Energy in Zen Serial: RB-00190 The talk on October 27th, 1979, covers several topics including the acquisition of a Tara statue for the altar of the Zen Center to honor feminine energy and the financial challenges associated with it. Furthermore, the talk also... *Money, Building, Intention, Humility, Yogachara*	Richard Baker	Oct 27 1979
Title: Zen Practice Through Tara's Grace Serial: RB-00611 The talk revolves around acquiring a Tara statue to bolster the representation of feminine energy in the Zen Center's religious artifacts. It explains the logistical and financial challenges faced in obtaining the statue,... *Money, Building, Intention, Humility, Ego*	Richard Baker	Oct 27 1979
Being Straight Ahead in Zen Serial: RB-00610 The main thesis of the talk is the elucidation of the concept of "straight ahead" from a well-known Zen story as a metaphor for practicing Zen by responding to the phenomenal world with "tenseless being" and total exertion of the... *Truth, Intention, Oneness, War, Posture*	Richard Baker	Oct 02 1979
October 1st, 1979, Serial No. 00189 Serial: RB-00189 The talk emphasizes the intricacies of Zen practice, contrasting it with other forms of Buddhism by focusing on the concepts of training versus practice. It explores the importance of environmental conditions, like a distraction-... *training, Buddha Nature, Fox, Practice Period, Greed*	Richard Baker	Oct 01 1979
Compassion in Adversity Serial: RB-00609 The talk from October 1st, 1979, centers on the profound humanness and simplicity of a prominent spiritual figure, emphasizing compassion amidst personal and collective adversities. The discussion highlights the individual's... *Compassion, Avalokiteshvara, Faith, Chanting*	Richard Baker	Oct 01 1979
Breath and the Nature of Change Serial: RB-00608 The lecture discusses the fundamental principles of Buddhism with a focus on the nature of change and the importance of breathing in practice. It differentiates between unnoticed and noticed change, emphasizing that the act of... *Breath, Buddha Nature, Passions, Shuso Ceremony, Instruction*	Richard Baker	Aug 15 1979
April 6th, 1979, Serial No. 00607 Serial: RB-00607 The talk centers on the 63rd koan from the Blue Cliff Record, concerning Nansen's killing of a cat. This discussion examines the complexities and potential misunderstandings of such actions within Zen practice, emphasizing... *Lay Ordination, Funeral, Composure, Lay, Ordination*	Richard Baker	Apr 06 1979
April 5th, 1979, Serial No. 00606 Serial: RB-00606 Summary The talk explores the nature of everyday life as the teaching itself in Zen philosophy, emphasizing the elusive concept of Dharma. It asserts that the three-dimensional world is a mere concept, and realization of the... *Monkey Mind, Breath, Non-thinking, Posture, Concentration*	Richard Baker	Apr 05 1979
Zazen and Everyday Mindfulness Serial: RB-00605 This talk focuses on the practical and philosophical aspects of Zen practice, particularly emphasizing the physical practice of zazen (seated meditation) as essential for achieving true Zen understanding. The discussion covers... *Religion, Concentration, Issan, Pain, Truth*	Richard Baker	Apr 04 1979
Living Zen Without Images Serial: RB-00604 The talk discusses the practice and philosophy of imageless Zen, emphasizing a consistent, gapless practice without reliance on images or concepts. Examples include stories from Zen masters and personal anecdotes to illustrate... *Tenzo, Kinhin, Anger, Posture, Freedom*	Richard Baker	Apr 03 1979
Zen Presence in Modern Life Serial: RB-00603 The main thesis of the talk emphasizes the importance of being fully present in one's current state and place as the fundamental basis for Zen practice. Key points include reflections on Dogen's teachings, particularly the... *Big Mind, Truth, Concentration, Compassion, Death*	Richard Baker	Apr 02 1979
April 1st, 1979, Serial No. 00602 Serial: RB-00602 - *War, Buddha Nature, Building, Concentration, Money*	Richard Baker	Apr 01 1979
April 1st, 1979, Serial No. 00617 Serial: RB-00617 The talk discusses the essential nature of concentration and intention in Zen practice, likening it to a sophisticated form of shamanism adapted to communal settings. The practice requires a blend of intense focus and serene... *Intention, Concentration, Building, Daily Life, Buddha Nature*	Richard Baker	Apr 01 1979
Zen Alchemy: Natural Transformation Serial: RB-00601 The central theme of this talk revolves around the metaphorical comparison of Zen practice to fermentation and distillation, drawing parallels between spiritual transformation and the alchemical processes of turning simple... *Breath, Ordination, Ceremony, Lay Ordination*	Richard Baker	Mar 16 1979
Zen Women in Daily Life Serial: RB-00600 The talk focuses on the integration of Zen practice into daily life, with particular emphasis on the unique experiences and challenges faced by women practitioners. It explores how traditional Zen teachings intersect with modern... *Practice Period, Community, War, Hate, Intention*	Richard Baker	Mar 08 1979
Zen and the Art of Nearness Serial: RB-00593 The talk primarily discusses the idea of nearness and non-locality in both a metaphysical and practical context, examining Zen teaching's emphasis on direct, non-conceptual engagement with reality. Key references include Mu Bing’... *Buddha Mind, Anger, Chanting, Mindfulness, Paramitas*	Richard Baker	Mar 03 1979
Zen Serenity in Wild Places Serial: RB-00599 The talk begins with a discussion on Hanshan's poetry, emphasizing the deep serenity found in nature's wild and daunting places and relating it to the practice of Zen. It continues with reflections on individual independence and... *Ordinary Mind, Breath, Mindfulness, Love, Samadhi*	Richard Baker	Feb 16 1979
Zen Practice: Incense and Insight Serial: RB-00594 The talk on January 31st, 1979, Serial No. 00594, focuses on practical aspects of incense burning in Zen practice, shares a personal anecdote about the life and contributions of a relative, and discusses a complex legal and... *Shikantaza, Death, Faith, heart, War*	Richard Baker	Jan 31 1979
Transcending Ambivalence Through Zen Serial: RB-00592 The main thesis of the talk is the exploration of ambivalence in the context of Zen practice and life. It discusses how individuals experience, manage, and ultimately transcend ambivalence through sustained awareness, the... *Lotus Sutra, Equanimity, Evil, Priest, Intimacy*	Richard Baker	Jan 26 1979
Zen in Everyday Moments Serial: RB-00598 The discussion highlights the integration of Zen practice into daily life, emphasizing the necessity of thorough engagement with each act to realize deeper continuity and understanding. The practice period at Tassajara serves as... *Practice Period, Five Ranks, confusion, realization, Intuition*	Richard Baker	Jan 23 1979
Living the Bodhisattva Path Serial: RB-00632 The talk navigates various aspects of the Buddhist practice, focusing on the practical application of Bodhisattva vows and the nature of enlightened experience characterized by perceiving universals through observable particulars... *Intention, Love, Vow, Big Mind, Paramitas*	Richard Baker	Dec 07 1978
Radical Privacy in Yogic Perception Serial: RB-00631 The talk delves into the concept of yogic perception, emphasizing the radical privacy and intimacy involved in such direct, non-conceptual perception. The narrative references the four jhanas, paramitas, and various Buddhist... *Avalokiteshvara, Compassion, Sixth Patriarch, Mahayana, Seigen Gyoshi*	Richard Baker	Dec 06 1978
December 5th, 1978, Serial No. 00635 Serial: RB-00635 The talk explores the challenges and value of Zen practice, contrasting it with easier lifestyles. It delves into the significance of direct experiences versus reliance on scriptures and traditional Zen narratives. Various Zen... *Hyakujo, Dharmakaya, Shosan, Buddha Mind, Paramitas*	Richard Baker	Dec 05 1978
Seeing Beyond the Sitting Self Serial: RB-00637 The talk discusses the Zen teaching story of Matsu and Nanaku, focusing on the futility of seeking to become a Buddha through sitting alone, and the concept of "formless absorption" as an essential part of practice. The... *Lotus Sutra, Sesshin, Ego, Shuso Ceremony, Lineage*	Richard Baker	Dec 04 1978
Embracing the Interconnected Self Serial: RB-00638 The central thesis of the talk is the concept of "the pattern that connects" and its role in Zen practice, emphasizing the need for interconnectedness and the dangers of ego, which is seen as a closed system. The discussion... *Ego, Concentration, Breath, Death, Joshu*	Richard Baker	Dec 03 1978
December 2nd, 1978, Serial No. 00634 Serial: RB-00634 The talk addresses the nuanced essence of Zen practice, emphasizing the theme of "no meaning" in traditional Zen stories and responses. It begins by discussing the analogy of a polar bear's fur to introduce the idea of seeing... *Dragons, Breath, Zendo, Sesshin*	Richard Baker	Dec 02 1978
December 1st, 1978, Serial No. 00624 Serial: RB-00624 The talk delves into the exploration of substantial reality in Zen practice, using historical anecdotes involving Lung Ye, Sui Wei, and Linji to question the meaning of Bodhidharma's journey from the West. It underscores the... *Politics, Dragons, Bodhidharma, Sangha, Building*	Richard Baker	Dec 01 1978
Zen Resilience in Storms Serial: RB-00591 This talk addresses practical concerns about a remote living community during storms and examines Zen principles related to understanding reality amidst adversity. Guidance is provided on handling practical emergencies and... *Continuous Practice, Doubt, Samadhi, Freedom, Faith*	Richard Baker	Nov 22 1978
Naming the Essence of Zen Serial: RB-00590 The discussion centers on the theme of naming and form in Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of rituals, understanding one’s true purpose, and the distinction between the superficial and the essential. Stories and examples... *Ceremony, Chanting, Anger, Continuous Practice, Love*	Richard Baker	Nov 17 1978
October 31st, 1978, Serial No. 00589 Serial: RB-00589 The talk examines the relationship between Zen Buddhist practice and social power, emphasizing the unique characteristics of Zen decision-making and its deep-rooted philosophical principles. It discusses the interdependence of... *Lineage, Practice Period, Dokusan, Love*	Richard Baker	Oct 31 1978
Zen Beyond Boundaries Serial: RB-00587 The talk discusses the nature of Zen as an "ecstatic religion" in comparison to other religions that transcend cultural boundaries. It explores the non-dualistic perception achieved through Zen practice, emphasizing concepts like... *Religion, Breath, Dragons, Posture*	Richard Baker	Oct 16 1978
Unpredictable Presence in Daily Life Serial: RB-00588 The talk explores the concept of influence and presence through personal anecdotes and Zen teachings. The discussion includes the impact of being observed, the significance of unpredictable events, and how the practice of... *Religion, Nirvana, Avalokiteshvara, confusion, Issan*	Richard Baker	Oct 16 1978
Embracing Zen's Traceless Lightness Serial: RB-00579 The talk elucidates the concept of "sashi" in Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of lightness and tracklessness in both understanding and application. By referencing various Zen stories and teachings, it underscores the... *Darkness and Light, Samadhi, Ego, Concentration*	Richard Baker	Jun 26 1978
Invisible Treasures of Zazen Serial: RB-00578 The talk addresses the inherent value of Zazen practice despite physical discomfort and the unyielding pursuit of spiritual growth. The narrative recounts personal experiences and insights from other masters highlighting the... *Death, Truth, Sangha, Study Period, Lineage*	Richard Baker	Jun 25 1978
Resilience Amid Flames at Tassajara Serial: RB-00577 The main thesis of the talk revolves around the recent fire that destroyed the zendo at Tassajara and explores the implications and subsequent actions taken by the community. The speaker highlights how the community responded to... *Building, Zendo, Bell, Shosan, Money*	Richard Baker	Apr 16 1978

The Baker Roshi Audio Archive

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