The Baker Roshi Audio Archive

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Title Speaker Date

Sensefulness Beyond Self Narratives

Serial: RB-04185K The talk explores the nature of reality within the context of Buddhist philosophy, particularly through the lens of the Eightfold Path. It emphasizes the importance of separating self-referential thinking from the cognitive...
Practice, Mindfulness, Buddhism

Awareness Beyond Perception's Illusion

Serial: RB-04182V The talk explores concepts of perception, emptiness, and awareness in Zen philosophy, focusing on how sense perception creates an experience of self and space. The speaker discusses the relativity of experiences and how this...
Consciousness, Time, Practice

Beyond Entities: Embracing Interdependent Flow

Serial: RB-04182I The talk explores the concept of reconceptualization regarding personal existence and interconnectedness with the world. It examines the distinction between entities and interdependent activities, using anecdotes and Zen phrases...
Doubt, Practice, Consciousness

Unveiling Selfhood Through Zen Lenses

Serial: RB-04181I The discussion explores the concept of 'self' and 'non-self' within the contexts of Zen philosophy and Buddhist practice, emphasizing the philosophical distinction between familiar norms ('normative phenomena') and singular...
Practice, Buddha, Emptiness

Awakening Within Uncertainty's Embrace

Serial: RB-04180E The talk focuses on the benefits of Zen practice, specifically zazen, and the challenges that prevent people from adopting it. It addresses the concept of two truths in Mahayana Buddhism, the delusion of a predictable world, and...
Practice, Buddha, Enlightenment

Beyond Perception: The Zen Mind

Serial: RB-01562 Seminar_The_Body_of_the_World The talk explores the Zen concept of the "skandhas" and their relationship to perception, emotions, and consciousness. It delves into the distinctions between feelings and emotions, illustrating how they contribute differently to...
Buddhism, Consciousness, Emotions

Zen Interdependence: A Fluid Path

Serial: RB-04178R This talk explores the integration of Zen practice with the concept of the self as an integrated, interconnected being, emphasizing the non-duality and fluidity between self and the environment. It discusses the influence of...
Practice, Buddha, Breath

Embodied Wisdom Through Lived Experience

Serial: RB-04179F The talk explores the concept of the "lived body" and its dynamic relationship both with the self and with others, highlighting the importance of living through experiences and interactions. It underscores the importance of...
Love, Time, Practice

Embodied Consciousness Through Cultural Practice

Serial: RB-04179G The talk explores the interplay of culture, language, and physical embodiment, emphasizing the significance of linguistic and gestural practices in shaping one's experience of the world. A central theme is the concept of "Body...
Silence, Practice, Stillness

Effortless Clarity in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00913 The talk explores the nuanced approach to practicing Zen, particularly regarding attention and awareness in meditation. It discusses the "Mu" koan and its application in desubstantiating thought patterns, leading...
Practice, Koan, Buddha Nature

Tracing Thoughts, Finding Presence

Serial: RB-01561 Seminar_The_Body_of_the_World The talk focuses on the practice of tracing thoughts back to their origins in meditation and the role of the five skandhas in understanding one's mental processes. Through examining the skandhas, individuals can develop self-...
Consciousness, Practice, Time

Beyond Names: Embracing Wholeness

Serial: RB-01563 Seminar_The_Body_of_the_World The main thesis of this talk examines the transition from divided to undivided perception through the practices of the six dharmas. These practices involve the conscious removal of names and associations from objects, shifting...
Consciousness, Practice, Time

Zen Threads Weaving Interconnected Lives

Serial: RB-04178K This talk explores the Zen concept of interdependence, emphasizing the idea that all beings and objects are interconnected and relational. It suggests that true Zen practice focuses on experiential understanding rather than...
Ceremony, Practice, Culture

Beyond Words: Zen's Silent Wisdom

Serial: RB-04179E The talk focuses on the examination of language's limitations and its role in Zen practice. The discussion highlights Wittgenstein's idea that one should remain silent about the unspeakable, emphasizing the boundary of words in...
Practice, Instruction, Time

Embodied Awareness in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-04178Q The talk explores the process of questioning within Zen practice, emphasizing the interconnectedness of bodily knowing and memory. It delves into the concept of "peripersonal space," highlighting how physical objects, such as...
Consciousness, Time

Releasing Thoughts, Embracing Emptiness

Serial: RB-04178P The talk primarily explores the concept of "background mind" and its relation to Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of noticing and releasing thoughts rather than clinging to them. The discussion contrasts intentional and...
Practice, Time, War

Embodied Awareness in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-04179D The discourse focuses on the concept of "body space," exploring its dimensions and implications within Zen practice and understanding. The dialogue delves into the terms like "internal and external body space," "somatic space,"...
Time, Practice, Work

Zen and the Art of Connection

Serial: RB-04178J The talk explores the concept of interconnectedness within the practice of Zen, emphasizing the importance of experiencing Zazen as a relational and location-based practice. The discussion examines how mindfulness involves...
Zazen, Time, Buddhism

Zen's Path to Present Wholeness

Serial: RB-01564 Talk_Is_the_West_Still_Salvageable? The talk explores the question of whether the West can be "saved" through the lens of Zen Buddhist philosophy, emphasizing the importance of embracing the present moment as the ultimate reality. It discusses the need for Western...
Practice, Consciousness, Buddhism
Berlin

Discovering Buddha Nature in Silence

Serial: RB-00912 The talk explores the Zen koan "Does a dog have a Buddha nature?" emphasizing the notion of Buddha nature as integral to Mahayana Buddhism, particularly in Zen. It discusses the concept of "thusness" or Tathagatagarbha—a state of...
Practice, Buddha Nature, Koan

Constructing Consciousness: Buddhism Meets Psychology

Serial: RB-01560 Seminar_The_Body_of_the_World The talk explores the intersection of intellectual and philosophical thought within Buddhism, contrasting it with concepts from Jungian psychology and Eastern religious traditions. It delves into the use of thinking in Buddhism...
Consciousness, Buddhism, Emptiness

Embodied Zen: Mind and Body Unification

Serial: RB-04179H The talk examines the cultural and philosophical perspectives of the relationship between mind and body, focusing on the concept of the "lived body" in Zen practice. It underscores how the non-dualistic view of mind and body,...
Breath, Practice, Time

Exploring Awareness in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-04178L This talk explores the nuanced distinctions and interrelations between intention, attention, and awareness within Zen practice. The discussion reflects on the cultural interpretations of impermanence and human potential,...
Intention, Consciousness, Culture

Zen and the Dance of Culture

Serial: RB-04178A The talk discusses the intersection of Zen practice and cultural influences, with a focus on how demographics and gender roles shape Buddhism and its related practices. The discussion touches upon the integration of female...
Practice, Monastic Practice, Time

Weaving the Zen of Connection

Serial: RB-04178M The talk explores the practice of Zen chanting and its essence beyond linguistic meaning, connecting it to the concept of "relational objects" and the metaphorical notion of weaving. It examines how language and perception carry...
Practice, Buddha Nature, Work

Embodied Awareness Beyond Thought

Serial: RB-04179I The talk explores the concept of the "bodily self" as a central aspect of Zen practice, emphasizing the distinction between thinking mind and a deeper, non-conceptual body awareness. It highlights the idea that thinking mind...
Buddhism, Time, Practice

Merging Mind and Body in Zen

Serial: RB-01559 Seminar_The_Body_of_the_World The talk examines the relationship between physical and mental phenomena in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the practice of integrating the body and mind into daily life. The focus is on how Zen practice enables practitioners to...
Buddhism, Practice, Breath

Catching Dragons: Unconventional Zen Paths

Serial: RB-00914 The talk explores the nature of Zen practice through the lens of a koan, emphasizing the cultivation of qualities like compassion, faith, and intention, akin to the 'five petals' in Zen. The analogy of catching a dragon with a...
Buddha Nature, Practice, Buddha

Inhabiting the Space Between Thoughts

Serial: RB-04178O The talk examines Zen practice through images and concepts such as "background mind" and the continuity between mind and space. It highlights the evolution from seeking answers to cultivating awareness of each moment's uniqueness...
Zazen, Practice, Time

Transforming Pain Through Zen Practice

Serial: RB-04180A The talk explores the relationship between pain, both physical and psychological, and Zen practice, emphasizing how confronting pain through practices like zazen can lead to personal transformation and enlightenment. Additionally...
Practice, Pain, Time

Navigating Consciousness in Global Culture

Serial: RB-01699 Seminar_The_Integrity_of_Being_11 This talk examines the intricacies of the five skandhas, emphasizing their nuanced yet straightforward nature in Buddhist practice, highlighting the concept of deconstructing consciousness as unfamiliar in Western culture. It...
Consciousness, Time, Culture

Exploring Consciousness Through Five Skandhas

Serial: RB-01698 Seminar_The_Integrity_of_Being_10 The talk analyzes the concept of consciousness within Buddhist philosophy, particularly through the framework of the Five Skandhas (aggregates) and their relation to the non-self. It critiques translations and conceptual...
Consciousness, Time, Buddhism

Embodied Enlightenment Through Zen Practice

Serial: RB-04179J The talk explores the distinctive aspects of Zen practice, particularly the emphasis on zazen, the unique use of language in koans and wados, and face-to-face transmission of teachings outside the scriptures. The discussion...
Practice, Buddhism, Bodhidharma

Zen Mindfulness Meets Modern Therapy

Serial: RB-04178N The talk explores the parallels between Zen practice, particularly through 'still sitting' or Zazen, and modern therapeutic techniques like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), emphasizing the importance of noticing and accepting...
Practice, Consciousness, Enlightenment

Mu and the Mind's Unfindability

Serial: RB-00915 The talk explores the transformation of mental states through the practice of Zen, focusing on the perception of 'appearance' and the 'unfindability' of mind and appearance in unison. It discusses the dynamics of fear and inner...
Buddha Nature, Buddha, Koan

Mutual Creation of the Present

Serial: RB-01689B Seminar_The_Integrity_of_Being_1 The talk explores the concept of "now" as a mutually created, not self-contained, space, emphasizing the importance of cultural and perceptual processes like Dogen’s teachings and the Japanese concept of "harage." The discussion...
Practice, Continuous Practice, Time

Zen Journeys: Practice and Perception

Serial: RB-04179A The talk explores the evolution of Buddhist practices and teachings, emphasizing the importance of personal practice and experience in understanding and refining these doctrines. The discussion includes reflections on the need...
Practice, Time, Doubt

Unified Consciousness: Dolphins and Humanity

Serial: RB-00349 The talk explores the concept of a unified consciousness shared by humans and dolphins, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all beings through shared elements like breathing, prana, and consciousness. It suggests that while...
Consciousness

Zen Essentials: Practice, Perception, Presence

Serial: RB-00350 The talk examines the integration of Zen practices with the precepts and zazen, emphasizing their role in maintaining mental clarity and preparing one for genuine meditation. It highlights the five concurrent causes essential for...
Practice, Doubt, Time

Zen Bridges: Teaching, Tradition, and Psychology

Serial: RB-00417 The discussion explores the integration of English language teaching in Japan, the extensive commitment required for Rinzai and Soto Zen training, and the challenges faced by foreigners and women in monastic settings. It also...
Practice, Japan, Buddhism

Zen Harmony in Cultural Contexts

Serial: RB-00649B The talk explores the essence of Zen practice, emphasizing the significance of discipline, order, and the formation of an understanding through collective agreement within a Sangha. It highlights how the form and practice of Zen...
Practice, Yoga, Practice Period

Right Livelihood: Mindful Ethical Living

Serial: RB-00652 The talk focuses on the concept of "right livelihood" within Zen Buddhism, emphasizing its place within the eightfold path. It discusses the interplay between personal morality, decision-making, and awareness of one...
Time, Buddhism, Practice

Unified Being: Embracing Zen Interconnection

Serial: RB-04187D This talk explores themes of connectedness and the absence of dualism in Zen practice, particularly focusing on Dogen's concept of "ocean mudra samadhi." It challenges listeners to perceive the myriad things and oneself as a...
Samadhi, Breath, Japan

Embracing Impermanence Through Zen Blossoms

Serial: RB-04187F The talk focuses on the themes of impermanence, self-cultivation, and the Zen practice of perceiving reality. It discusses the symbolism of the flower, referencing the enlightenment story of Mahakashyapa and Shakyamuni's gesture...
Impermanence, Practice, Japan

Relax Into Presence: Embrace Impermanence

Serial: RB-00803 Sesshin The talk emphasizes the fundamental Zen practice of relaxation as opposed to the pursuit of self-improvement strategies, highlighting the importance of feeling present in the moment without the need to achieve or gain. This is...
Koan, Buddhism, Faith
Roseburg

Solitude's Path to Collective Wisdom

Serial: RB-00544 The talk explores the theme of complete personal responsibility and aloneness, which is considered the gateway to understanding and connecting with others. It discusses how recognizing one’s own complete responsibility and...
Buddha, Work
Dec 07

Embodying Silence in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00802B Sesshin This talk delves into the dynamics and importance of silence within the Zen practice of Sesshin. It emphasizes the complexity of maintaining silence in a community setting, especially with necessary exceptions such as kitchen...
Silence, Practice, Time
Roseburg

Zen, Quantum, and Interconnected Reality

Serial: RB-00595 The talk primarily explores the relationship between quantum mechanics and Zen Buddhism, highlighting the concept of non-locality and interconnectedness as explained by Bell's Theorem. It further examines how these scientific...
Koan, Buddhism, Time
Dec 07

Breaking Illusions: The Zen Path

Serial: RB-00327 The talk focuses on the concepts of Zen practice and the role of mind in understanding reality, emphasizing teachings from the Sixth Patriarch and related Zen teachers. The discussion explores the practice of the samadhi of one...
Practice, Suffering, Buddhism
May 06

Embracing Presence Beyond Perception

Serial: RB-00525 The talk centers on the Zen story of Ryutan's encounter with Tokusan, using it as a metaphor to explore core Zen concepts of 'being' over traditional subject-object relationships. By examining Buddhist precepts not as...
Buddhism, Time, Karma
Oct 27

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