The Baker Roshi Audio Archive

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Showing 3307 talks

Title	Speaker	Date
Bridging Minds: West Meets Zen Serial: RB-01717 Winterbranches_2 The talk explores the relationship between Western philosophy and Buddhist teachings, centering on the Abhidharma and discussions with contemporaries, including Michel Bitbol and Thubten Jinpa. It emphasizes the first-person... *Consciousness, Practice, Time*	Richard Baker	Jul 2006 Johanneshof
Mind and Buddha: Unraveling Oneness Serial: RB-01729 Winterbranches_2 The talk focuses on the concept of the eight vijnanas, emphasizing its centrality to Zen practice and pedagogy, and explores how these notions are reflected in personal practice. Key discussions include the exploration of mental... *Buddha, Practice, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	Jul 2006 Johanneshof
Crafting Consciousness: Interdependent Impermanence Serial: RB-01728 Winterbranches_2 The talk examines the evolution of spiritual practice through the lens of impermanence and interdependence, using the Abhidharma approach to explore how experiences and the present moment are constructed through perception and... *Time, Buddha, Four Noble Truths*	Richard Baker	Jul 2006 Johanneshof
Unveiling Consciousness Through Zen Teachings Serial: RB-01722 Winterbranches_2 This discussion explores the intricate teachings within the "Lankavatara Sutra," a seminal text in Zen Buddhism, focusing on the concept of the syllable body, name body, and phrase body. The talk emphasizes the relevance of the "... *Consciousness, Practice, Time*	Richard Baker	Jul 2006 Johanneshof
Experiencing Zen: Skandhas and Self-Awareness Serial: RB-01723 Winterbranches_2 The talk delves into an experiential analysis of the five skandhas, emphasizing the nuanced experiences that arise during Zen practice. It highlights the importance of perceiving experiences beyond thought and the pivotal role... *Time, Practice, Study*	Richard Baker	Jul 2006 Johanneshof
Engaging Life's Details Mindfully Serial: RB-03108 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire This talk explores the Zen concept of "innermost requests" and how they manifest through the practice of pausing to engage with the particulars in life. It uses imagery from Japanese culture to illustrate the revealing of inner... *Time, Bell, Practice*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Cooking Consciousness: Art, Zen, Reality Serial: RB-03109 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The talk explores the interplay between the sensations and the perception of reality through the metaphor of "cooking" an internal experience, likening it to artistic expressions by painters and poets. This metaphor is used to... *Practice, Work, Intention*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Rooted Unity: Zen's Sacred Connection Serial: RB-03110 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The talk primarily explores the concept of interconnectedness between humanity and nature, expressed through the phrase "Heaven and earth and I share the same root, myriad things and I share the same body." This worldview is... *Priest, Work, Japan*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Inner Desires as Life's Compass Serial: RB-03111 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire This discussion centers on the exploration of what is termed as the "innermost request," a concept reflecting the deepest desires and life paths driven by such inner motivations. The talk delves into how these intrinsic requests... *Practice, Work, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Zen's Innermost Dynamic Awareness Serial: RB-03112B Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The talk focuses on the concept of "innermost request" in Zen practice, exploring how this request functions as a continuous and dynamic field that guides one’s actions and perceptions. The discussion addresses how individuals... *Work, Practice, Renunciation*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Aligning Personal Light and Desire Serial: RB-03112A Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The talk explores the concept of "innermost request" as discussed by Sukhiroshi, examining how personal inner light and individual desires can be harmonized and potentially realized. The discussion considers whether these two...	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Embodied Zen: Visualization Meets Therapy Serial: RB-02440 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy This talk explores the interplay between Zen practices and psychotherapy, particularly focusing on how visualization, intention, and embodiment are interconnected. It discusses the human ability to learn and hold intentions... *Work, Culture, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Navigating Inner Desires in Zen Serial: RB-03113 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The seminar explores the intricate dynamics of inner desires and satisfaction within Zen practice, emphasizing the paradox of holding both pride and shame, akin to the fruitfulness of soil unknowingly producing beauty. It... *Practice, Intention, Work*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Emergent Intentions in Zen Practice Serial: RB-03114 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The talk explores the concept of an innermost request as an emerging rather than innate aspect of human experience, using examples such as musical ambition and spiritual practice to illustrate this emergence. The discussion... *Practice, Time, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Self Awareness: The Path to Insight Serial: RB-02442 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy The talk explores the interplay between self-awareness and the sense of self, focusing on Buddhism's conceptualization of the self as both transient and not inherently possessed by personal ego. It encourages the practice of... *Time, Bodhisattva, Practice*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Balloons of Consciousness: Walk to Insight Serial: RB-03115 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire The talk focuses on the exploration of consciousness and the relationship between mind and body in Buddhist practice. It uses metaphors such as balloons to describe how consciousness is held together and released, underscoring... *Practice, Consciousness, Time*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Transcending Consciousness Through Zen Practice Serial: RB-02429 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy The talk focuses on the intersection of Zen philosophy and psychotherapy, examining the concept of "structured consciousness" and the practice of releasing it to access different states of awareness. The discussion references the... *Practice, Consciousness, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	Jun 2006 Rastenberg
Autonomous Pathways to Experiential Truth Serial: RB-01707 Winterbranches_1 The talk primarily emphasizes the need for the Winterbranches group to autonomously select and study texts on the Abhidharma, particularly focusing on texts available in German due to the language's historical significance in... *Practice, Work, Abhidharma*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Practice in Community Connection Serial: RB-01706 Winterbranches_1 The talk focuses on the practice of Zen and the importance of understanding personal practice within a shared Sangha community. Participants discuss their individual experiences with zazen, shikantaza, and the internal conflicts... *Practice, Time, Zazen*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Journeys: Personal and Collective Paths Serial: RB-01704 Winterbranches_1 The primary focus of this talk is on the development and diversity of personal Zen practice. The conversation explores how individual members of a Sangha incorporate different aspects of Zen practice into their lives, including... *Practice, Sangha, Time*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Arts: Threads of Transformation Serial: RB-01705 Winterbranches_1 The main discussion revolves around the personal transformation and interconnectedness experienced through Zen practice, with reflections on the integration of mindfulness and artistic practice, and the sense of profound... *Practice, Work, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Flexible Sangha: Integrating Experience and Wisdom Serial: RB-01709 Winterbranches_1 The talk discusses the concept of a "sangha experiment," which involves a new, flexible schedule and encourages community feedback on its effectiveness. It reflects on the flexibility and inclusive aspects of the schedule while... *Culture, Buddhism, Time*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Practices Through Abhidharma Insights Serial: RB-01708 Winterbranches_1 This talk examines the integration of Zen practice and study, emphasizing the Abhidharma as a foundational text for engagement in Zen. The discussion explores the relationship between reading and practice, highlighting varied... *Practice, Abhidharma, Work*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Integrating Mind and Body in Zen Serial: RB-01710 Winterbranches_1 This talk debates maintaining intention in Zen practice and explores the relationship between mental and physical aspects as proposed by Yogacara philosophy. The discussion also examines the method of integrating mind and body... *Intention, Practice, Study*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Curricula: Bridging East and West Serial: RB-01711 Winterbranches_1 The talk centers on the challenges and considerations involved in developing a curriculum for studying Buddhism in the West. The discussion includes the importance of integrating Western philosophical ideas, the role of... *Study, Time, Work*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Consciousness Bridging Traditions Serial: RB-01712 Winterbranches_1 The talk discusses the evolution of religious practices among Native Americans and compares this to Buddhist practices, particularly the Abhidharma. It highlights how certain practices historically categorized as political... *Consciousness, Abhidharma, Practice*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Practice: Beyond Blissful Consciousness Serial: RB-01716 Winterbranches_1 This talk explores the relationship between Zen practice and states of consciousness, specifically examining concepts such as Bhavanga and the Jhanas. It discusses how Zen practice allows for a temporary release and re-gathering... *Practice, Consciousness, Meditation*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Momentary Mindfulness in Zen Practice Serial: RB-01715 Winterbranches_1 The talk focuses on the intersection of Zen practice with the Abhidharma teachings, emphasizing the exploration of momentariness in existence and the cultivation of mindfulness through Zen rituals and the practice of pauses. It... *Practice, Abhidharma, Karma*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Sesshin: Beyond Comparative Thinking Serial: RB-01650B Sesshin The talk revolves around the concept of "Sesshin" as a practice of gathering the mind and explores the relationship between comparative thinking and Zen practice. The discussion examines the role of "sticks" or guiding principles... *Samadhi, Sixth Patriarch, Concentration*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Pathways: Beyond Rational Understanding Serial: RB-01650G Sesshin This talk explores the contrasting aspects of lineage Buddhism and institutional Buddhism, emphasizing the nuances in Zen practices. It delves into the significance of ritual actions like the correct handling of incense as... *Koan, Work, Time*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Silent Harmony in Zen Practice Serial: RB-01650A Sesshin The talk explores the practice of Zen meditation, particularly during Sesshin, emphasizing the importance of "doing nothing" while sitting on the cushion and engaging with the mind of the body rather than the thinking mind. It... *Breath, Time, Sesshin*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen Alchemy: Cultivating Wholesome Minds Serial: RB-01714 Winterbranches_1 The talk explores the integration of Abhidharma teachings into Zen practice, emphasizing the cultivation of a wholesome state of mind through mindful awareness and the avoidance of unwholesome states. It discusses the karmic... *Practice, Intention, Karma*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Perception and Change in Abhidharma Serial: RB-01713 Winterbranches_1 The talk explores the Abhidharma as a framework for mental development, emphasizing the phenomenological rather than ontological approach, focusing on perception and the process of change. The discussion stresses interdependence... *Abhidharma, Time, Practice*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Interwoven Paths to Zen Enlightenment Serial: RB-01650C Sesshin This talk explores the concept of mental postures as a critical aspect of Zen practice, emphasizing the idea of "two arrow points meeting in mid-air" as a metaphor for achieving mental focus. The discussion extends to themes in... *Practice, Posture, Addiction*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Evolving Mindfulness Through Collective Practice Serial: RB-01703 Winterbranches_1 The talk introduces the "Winter Branches" program, emphasizing the need for participants to adapt themselves to the teachings rather than the teachings adapting to them. The significance of collective practice within the Sangha... *Practice, Name, Work*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Floating Stillness: Zen's Insightful Dance Serial: RB-01650D Sesshin The talk explores the nuanced relationship between stillness and insight within Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of integrating understanding of Buddhism into cultural context for deeper engagement and effective... *Practice, Buddha, Zazen*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Zen's Puzzles: Path to Transformation Serial: RB-01650F Sesshin This talk elucidates the deep intersection of consciousness, embodied experience, and Zen practice, framed within an exploration of Koan 40. The discussion reflects on the integration of historical Buddhist and Taoist concepts,... *Koan, Time, Practice*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Experiencing Zen: Beyond Perception Serial: RB-01650E Sesshin The talk explores concepts related to the experiential nature of sesshin practice, emphasizing the distinction between expression and experience and the transformative process that occurs over time. Key discussions include the... *Practice, Koan, japanese*	Richard Baker	May 2006 Johanneshof
Breath and Mind: Unity in Practice Serial: RB-01702D Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_1 The talk explores the practice of Mahayana Buddhism as a vision, focusing on how to actualize the teachings in daily life and the relevance of cosmology to practice. Key elements include discussions on the imagery field of the... *Breath, Buddha, Time*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Unified Wisdom: Zen's Scientific Essence Serial: RB-01702C Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_1 The talk discusses the Mahayana Buddhist vision, likening it to a science grounded in personal experience, rather than a belief system, examining change through four key aspects: appearance, disappearance, continuity, and... *Manjushri, Time, Koan*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Lotus Sutra: Path of Universal Transformation Serial: RB-01702A Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_1 This talk explores the evolution of Mahayana Buddhism, emphasizing the transformative nature of practice as a reflection of cultural habits and the tradition's development. The discussion delves into the Mahayana's distinct... *Buddha, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Awakening Through Mahayana Integration Serial: RB-01702B Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_1 The seminar explores the integration of Mahayana Buddhist principles into practice, contrasting early Buddhism's focus on individual enlightenment with Mahayana's collective aspiration and present awareness. It emphasizes the... *Buddha, Practice, Enlightenment*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Awakening Through Collective Zen Silence Serial: RB-01648C Seminar_Sangha_Yesterday_and_Today The talk discusses the sense of shared intentionality and collective consciousness in Zen practice, emphasizing the experience of interconnectedness within the Sangha and the challenges of identifying "original mind" without... *Silence, Practice, Sangha*	Richard Baker	Jan 2006 Johanneshof
Timeless Joy in Shikantaza Moment Serial: RB-01648D Seminar_Sangha_Yesterday_and_Today The talk discusses the practice of Shikantaza, emphasizing the cultivation of attention by merging mind and body, likening the practice to the act of waiting without expectation, akin to a theater stage where anything can appear... *Shikantaza, Practice, Breath*	Richard Baker	Jan 2006 Johanneshof
Breath as the Gateway to Zen Serial: RB-01649D Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_2 This seminar explores the practice of breath attention within Zen philosophy, emphasizing its transformative potential for practitioners' lives. Discussions include the impact of consistent breath awareness on self-referential... *Breath, Practice, Time*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Zen and Science: A Mindful Fusion Serial: RB-01649C Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_2 This seminar discusses the parallels and contrasts between Zen practice and scientific inquiry, emphasizing an experiential, exploratory approach rather than a rigid, belief-based system. The discussion highlights the... *Practice, Meditation, Buddhism*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Awakening Buddha Within Each Moment Serial: RB-01648J Seminar_Sangha_Yesterday_and_Today The talk explores the concept of Sangha, emphasizing the importance of perceiving each person as Buddha by focusing on "what" rather than "who" is Buddha. It delves into the practice of mindfulness and perception, citing... *Buddha, Practice, Sangha*	Richard Baker	Jan 2006 Johanneshof
Sangha: Community as Living Teachings Serial: RB-01648I Seminar_Sangha_Yesterday_and_Today The talk examines the evolution and significance of Sangha within Buddhist practice, emphasizing the deep personal relationships and community connections that foster the transmission and maturation of teachings. It highlights... *Buddhism, Sangha, Practice*	Richard Baker	Jan 2006 Johanneshof
Unraveling Zen Through Koans Serial: RB-01649A Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_2 This talk focuses on exploring Mahayana practice by examining its historical development and its relationship with core Zen texts, particularly through the literary form of koans from key compilations such as the "Shoyuroku" (... *Buddha, Practice, Lotus Sutra*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof
Embrace Life's Koan Journey Serial: RB-01649B Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_2 The seminar discusses the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of openness and acceptance in the face of potential hurt, a core Buddhist principle. The talk emphasizes the role of koans in Buddhist practice as a tool... *Practice, Koan, Time*	Richard Baker	2006 Johanneshof

The Baker Roshi Audio Archive

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