AZC Weekly talks

Ahimsa, not-harming, is a fundamental principle of both Hinduism and Buddhism, and is embodied in the first of our Ten Cardinal Precepts, "Not to kill but to cherish all life". In this teisho we look at different aspects of ahimsa: kindness, altruism and not eating meat.Text: To Cherish All Life: a Buddhist Case for Becoming Vegetarian and Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk.

Some thoughts on making the most of a Term Intensive.Sources: Silent Illumination by Guo Gu, Self-help for your Nerves by Claire Weekes, and Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg.

Peace must always be given precedence, in particular making peace with ourselves. But war is always present; there has never been a time in human history when a war has not been waged on some part of our planet. So, in this teisho we take a clear-eyed look at war as well.Text: Essay by James Hillman, "Wars, Arms, Rams, Mars: On the Love of War".

This is the third in a series of koans centred on the natural world. The koan is Case 38 in the MumonkanBooks used in the teisho:Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson and The Gateless Barrier by Robert Aitken.

The three fruits of Zen practice are, 1. joriki or concentration, 2. kensho, or seeing your True Nature and 3. mujo do no taigen, or embodiment of the peerless way.Source: Ruben Habito's Foreword to The Flowing Bridge by Elaine MacInnes, Wisdom 2007.

More from the Shobogenzo Zuimonki on effort.Source: A Primer of Soto Zen translated by Reiho Masunaga.

Sources: How to Train an Ox and Primer of Soto Zen.

Dōgen's Fukan Zazengi, "General Recommendations for Doing Zazen"Source: How to Raise an Ox by Francis Dojun Cook.

Dōgen's talks from the Eihei Kōruku, Part Two.Sources: Dōgen's Extensive Record: Eihei Kōroku translated by Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura, and The Art of Just Sitting edited by John Daido Loori.

Dōgen's talks from the Eihei Kōruku, Part One.Source: Dōgen's Extensive Record: Eihei Kōroku translated by Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura.

Dōgen's early life.Source: Zen Master Dōgen - An Introduction with Selected Writings by Yūhō Yokoi with Daizen Victoria.

Looking at all ten cardinal precepts from the angle of Bodhidharma's One Mind teachings.Source(s): Invoking Reality by John Daido Loori.

This is the second in a series of koans centred on the natural world. The koan is Case 37 in the Mumonkan, Zhaozhou's Cypress Tree in the Courtyard.Sources: Pilgrim at Tinker's Creek by Annie Dillard and Two Zen Classics by Katsuki Sekida.

Not-self is the third of the Three Marks of Existence, and is also referred to as emptiness of self, or just Emptiness. It can be understood intellectually when examined through the lenses of impermanence and dependent co-arising. It can also be directly experienced when we forget ourself.Sources: There is No Suffering by Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Drum 2001, and What makes you not a Buddhist, by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, Shambhala 2008.

This is the third in a series on teachers in the Auckland Zen Centre's lineage.Sources: Endless Vow: the Path of Soen Nakagawa Roshi by Roko Sherry ChayatOriginal Dwelling Place by Robert AitkenRemembering Nakagawa Soen Roshi by Estelle Gerard.

Description: Teachings on determination, generosity and gratitude.Source: Ichi Tantei One Doing -- Tangen-roshi of Bukkokuji Teisho, translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa, Edited by Ron Klein.

Description: Anecdotes and teachings.Source: Ichi Tantei - One doing, Tangen-roshi of Bukkokuji, teisho translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa, edited by Ron Klein.

Description: Anecdotes and teachings.Source: Ichi Tantei - One doing, Tangen-roshi of Bukkokuji, teisho translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa, edited by Ron Klein.

Description: Constant flow.Source: Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Fergusson.

Description: Constant flow.

Some pointers and cautions for zazen at the beginning of our 7-day sesshin.Sources: Various.

Second in a series of talks on The Three Marks of Existence, Impermanence, Suffering and Not-Self. Suffering is a core teaching of Buddhism. The Buddha said "I teach but two things; suffering and the way out of suffering." Buddhism addresses our personal suffering as well as equipping us to be able to effectively help other beings to find liberation.Sources: Dharma Rain eds Stephanie Kaza and Kenneth Kraft and There Is No Suffering Master Sheng Yen.

This is the first in a series of koans centred on the natural world. The koan is Case 46 in the Blue Cliff Record.Sources: Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson and A Step Away from Paradise by Thomas Shor.

Description: Sabbe anicca. Everything that arises passes. Impermanence is one of the Three Marks, or Characteristics, of Existence, and a cornerstone of Buddhist teaching. The Buddha says that what is real is change itself,and that there's order in that change. The Bodhisattva's practice of ego-attrition happens both on the meditation cushion and in our work in the world.Source: Dharma Rain, Sources of Buddhist Environmentalism eds Stephanie Kaza and Kenneth Kraft, Shambhala 2000. 

Adrian Croucher gives a dharma talk on grief and Zen, drawing on a range of sources and his own recent experiences after the loss of his father.References:Domyo Burk, "Grief in Buddhism", Zen Studies Podcast, May 2020 (two parts):https://zenstudiespodcast.com/grief-in-buddhism-1/Lucy Hone, "Resilient Grieving - How to Find Your Way Through Devastating Loss", Allen and Unwin, 2023.

In this teisho we explore the different meanings of "I don't know", which are the three most famous words in Zen.

What is the receiving- the-precepts, or Jukai, ceremony and why do we participate in it?Main Source: Invoking Reality, moral and ethical teachings of Zen by John Daido Loori, Shambhala 2007.

Richard-sensei's teisho on the koan "Linji's Great Enlightenment". The teisho also looks at the use of the kyosaku, the encouragement stick, in Zen.Main references:Zen's Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson.

Description: To die the Great Death means letting go of everything, even our precious awakening experience. We go up the pole to free ourselves of the three poisons, but then we leap back down into the world of duality and suffering to help others to liberate themselves. A Zen master said, "Zen training is preparation for life in the world, not the goal of life in the world."Sources: Awakening to Zen, Roshi Philip Kapleau; Zen's Chinese Heritage, Andy Fergusson; Two Zen Classics, Katsuki Sekida; The Gateless Barrier, Zenkei Shibayama; Passing Through the Gateless Barrier, Guo Gu.

Texts:Urs App, Master YunmenMaster Sheng-yen, The Sword of Wisdom.

Description: According to the Avatamsaka (Huayen) Sutra the Buddha proclaimed at his great awakening that all beings are endowed with wisdom and virtue. Why then do we cause so much suffering for others and ourselves?Source: The Book of Equanimity by Jerry Shishin Wick.

Description: The third of Master Hui Neng's antidotes for attachment. Having the courage to be open and vulnerable and making peace with not being in control, are skilful strategies in an impermanent world.

Main text: Flowers Fall: A Commentary on Zen Master Dogen's Genjokoan translated by Paul Jaffe.

Description: Master Hui Neng's antidotes to our attachment to our inner world, outer relationships and identity.Source: Silent Illumination by Guo Gu.

Main references:Nine Lives by William DalrympleThe Secret Life of Flies by Erica McAlisterIchi Tantei: talks by Tangen Roshi

Description: A look at two of the essential qualities we need to practise Zen and ways we can cultivate them.Sources: Throw Yourself into the House of Buddha by Tangen Harada Roshi, Shambhala 2023, Silent Illumination by Guo Gu, Shambhala 2021, NOON e-Newsletter January 2025 Discipline of the Good Mind article by Freida J. Jacques.

Readings from: Throw Yourself Into the House of Buddha : the Life & Zen Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi / translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa ; edited by Kogen Czarnik.

Readings from: Throw Yourself Into the House of Buddha : the Life & Zen Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi / translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa ; edited by Kogen Czarnik.

Readings from: Throw Yourself Into the House of Buddha : the Life & Zen Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi / translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa ; edited by Kogen Czarnik.

Readings from: Ichi Tantei = One Doing / Tangen Roshi of Bukkokuji ; teisho translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa ; edited by Ron Klein.

Readings from: Ichi Tantei = One Doing / Tangen Roshi of Bukkokuji ; teisho translations by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa ; edited by Ron Klein.

Readings from: Throw Yourself Into the House of Buddha : the Life & Zen Teachings of Tangen Harada Roshi / translated by Belenda Attaway Yamakawa ; edited by Kogen Czarnik.

Texts used in the teisho:Karen Armstrong, BuddhaStephen Batchelor, Living with the DevilNyanaponika Thera and Hellmuth Hecker, Great Disciples of the Buddha

Educating ourselves about our colonial history can be a way of honouring Te Tiriti. We can learn much from Parihaka about waging peace and the power of non-violence, as Gandhi did.Sources: Shifting Grounds, Deep Histories of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland by Lucy Mackintosh Bridget Williams BooksAsk that Mountain by Dick Scott Raupo 1975

Book quoted from:  The Force of Character by James Hillman.

Book quoted from:  The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling by James Hillman.

Daily life practice and "What is this and how did it get here?"Sources: Meetings with Remarkable Women, Lenore Friedman, Shambhala 1987Subtle Sound ed. Roko Sherry Chayat Shambhala 1996

Painting legs on a snakeSources:Meetings with Remarkable Women, Lenore Friedman, Shambhala 1987Subtle Sound ed. Roko Sherry Chayat Shambhala 1996

Sesshin mindReadings from Stephen Batchelor's Introduction to his translation of Nagarjuna's Verses from the Centre.

Nagarjuna's Verses from the Centre Part Two. In this teisho we concentrate on the verses themselves.Sources: Verses from the Centre translated by Stephen BatchelorThe Unborn: Life and Teachings of Zen Master Bankei by Norman Waddell