Shasta Abbey

   Rev. Allard Kieres explores the vital relationship between faith, doubt, and compassion within Zen practice, contrasting rigid "absolute faith" with the open, flexible "perfect faith" described by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett. He redefines doubt not as the enemy of faith, but as a tool that sharpens it, describing faith as the willingness to take the next step in the dark even when the path is obscured by delusion or pain. Through personal stories—including a transformative encounter with a statue of Maitreya in college and a profound, comforting experience of Avalokiteshwara (Kanzeon) during a period of intense lay training—Rev. Allard illustrates how the universe compassionately waits for us without judgment or agenda. Ultimately, he argues that the conditions of daily life are not obstacles but friends meant for our spiritual good, and that the simple, quiet act of sitting in Zazen (meditation) is itself a profound expression of "great faith" that allows practitioners to harmonize with reality exactly as it is.   This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday May 31, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/MpkT91OY0b8Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck explores Prajnaparamita as the "Perfection of Wisdom", specifically focusing on the 8,000-Line Prajnaparamita Sutra and her personification as the "Great Mother." Rev. Oswin discusses how this foundational Mahayana Buddhist teaching emphasizes transcendent wisdom, emptiness, and the nurturing, compassionate nature of enlightenment. Ultimately, the lecture serves as a guide on how practitioners can understand and embody this profound wisdom in their daily spiritual practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday May 24, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/woR7EWel1GkTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a talk after the annual celebration of Wesak which celebrates the Buddha's life and teaching. She emphasizes that above all else, for her, it is the Buddha's kindness that shines forth as the supreme example of his life. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday May 17, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pt908DbVCwQTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Valeria Allison explores the aspect of practice in which we must be willing to ask of our teachers and ourselves, 'The Honest Question', and how we find this for ourselves. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday May 10, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/dtILL-GtoPATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Margaret Clyde gives a talk about faith. She addresses the idea of having 'certainty' in our practice and faith of the Triple Treasure (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and what that word means to her and how we might approach it. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday May 3, 2026. YouTube: https://youtu.be/uwrQUsFD3d8Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Ando Mueller talks about Great Master Keizan Jokin after his annual festival memorial. Master Keizan is considered the 'mother' of Soto Zen in Japan and is the monk after Master Dogen who is credited with making the practice accessible to the people. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday April 19, 2026. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvV3D6ZfNZsTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Astor Douglas addresses 'changing conditions' and how we approach this dynamic, often chaotic, reality of life. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday April 12, 2026.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmmHGPp-w50Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, encourages us with a teaching on 'simplicity' in a world that seems like it is getting more and more complicated. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on April 5, 2026.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPxC97Exf9ITwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett gives and explanation of the Denkoroku and how to study this particular text. This includes a look at what the traditional 'Transmission' is about. This talk is part of a lecture series given in 1979.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Koten Benson, Prior of Lions Gate Buddhist Priory in B.C., Canada, and Head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, talks about the fundamentals of Buddhist practice. This talk was given at Lions Gate Buddhist Priory on October 17, 2025. YouTube: N/A

Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett continues with study and commentary of the Shushogi, picking up where the previous lecture left off. She then enters into a detailed explanation of the daily scriptures. There are questions and answers at the end. This talk is part of a lecture series given in 1979.  YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

The late Rev. Chosei Swann gives a talk on Founder's Day and talks about how Shasta Abbey's found is not actually Rev. Master Jiyu, but actually her teacher Keido Chisan, and also other important points of teaching.

Rev. Scholastica Hicks shares some reflections from her life as a monk and specifically as an elderly woman. We never know how much time we have left in this world. This brings up the important question, "what's important now"? This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 22nd, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/CeufxBpaSAY?si=XkEf0HLcuiacbhYgTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Daishin Yalon talks about trust in Buddhist practice. How do we as Buddhists approach and practice trust? What is it not? And what did the Buddha have to say on the matter? This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 29, 2019.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck continues his lecture series on iconography. In this talk he focuses on how the gender switched from Compassion as male in India to female in China. And how Wisdom switched from female in India to male in China. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 15, 2026.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Daishin Yalon encourages us to practice Metta (goodwill) towards others during this difficult time of war and violence in the world. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 8, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/Na3qC5AbenMTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks after a Transfer of Merit Ceremony about how being still and offering our love and well wishes to the world is an important and helpful part of our practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday March 1, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/yi24vgWwFwYTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Ando Mueller gives a detailed look at the Festival of the Buddha's Parinirvana, describing the details and symbolism of the ceremony. Parinirvana is the festival of the Buddha's death. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 22, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cv8ceOA5NgUTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Amanda Robertson discusses what the Three Refuges are and what they mean to us in our daily practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 15, 2026.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, gives a talk on the annual Avatamsaka festival day. She talks about what the scripture is and why we hold it in such high regard. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday February 8, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/n8AA1VsdFwwTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

The late Rev. Jisho Perry talks about the Shurungama Sutra and its core teaching. This fundamental teaching is what we in our practice hear over and over again—we are not trying to 'get' something, we are trying to let go of something. The heart of the scripture, as Rev. Jisho discusses, is how to convert our ignorance into understanding. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 24, 2017.YouTube: N/ATwitter: @shastaabbey  

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, teaches about who Maitreya Bodhisattva is on his annual festival day. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on January 1, 2026.YouTube: https://youtu.be/cIv3RhjCIggTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Margaret Clyde starts by sharing the information that Buddhists celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment during the month of December. And she offers us her advice and encouragement for our own practice of meditation. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 28, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/jjvV9V8gNTwTwitter/X: @shastaabbey  

Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck continues his lecture series on Prajnaparamita. In this talk he guides us on an imaginative journey as to how ancient religion might take the respected qualities of a leader and convert them into the iconography we encounter today. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 21, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/cyBaH2m9Yl0Twitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Allard Kieres talks about working meditation and how the practice of being with, and seeing the value in, all our daily work, is of prime importance to our spiritual practice and basic mental health. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday December 14th, 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/WNKqeq6vUAsTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Daishin Yalon shares a teaching from Rev. Master Jiyu which is that, "first we train for self, then we train for others, and eventually we come to a place where we train for training's sake". This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 23, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/sgrapDe4aakTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Margaret Clyde gives a Dharma talk at the end of an introductory retreat and poses the question to the audience, "what did you come here for?". Rev. Margaret shares her own experience in trying to answer that question for herself and how she eventually encountered the first teaching of Zen which is to 'set your slippers straight'. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 16, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/9OsaLAVJOmETwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Enya Sapp talks about the Three Refuges and how they act as a foundation for us in our practice to open ourselves up to the Buddha's Teaching. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday November 9, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/b17mT2fLJ3QTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Ando Mueller, on the occasion of Rev. Master Jiyu's yearly memorial, speaks on some of Rev. Master Jiyu's teachings. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on November 2, 2025.  YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Amanda Robertson shares the parable of the Spider's Silver Thread. The story which emphasizes sharing whatever merit we encounter with others. This story was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 26, 2025.     YouTube: https://youtu.be/b31qRkc-BJ4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about living and dying and how we engage with the two through the grounded lens of our Buddhist practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 19, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/NNCc-0B24B4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck begins a new lecture series about Prajnaparamita who is the personification of the Scripture of Great Wisdom. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 12, 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/xXxDGtvqRTETwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about the importance of impermanence and how it helps us to 'see' clearly. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday October 5th, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/5UiV7sli11gTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Astor Douglas shares some personal stories that highlight how we must endeavor to move forward in our practice even when we can't see the path. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 28, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/5Tge9F2A5g0Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Allard Kieres encourages us to find peace in our lives through finding and knowing deeply for ourselves what our True Refuge is. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 21, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/DdvfWa8qe50Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Valeria Allison explores a line from Great Master Dogen that reads, "Will is the secret of life and words are its key". This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 14, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/5CHkwVKZyzITwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, explores an old Buddhist saying, "All acceptance is the key that unlocks the gateless gate". This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday September 7, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/3ud6pN4Rbi4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Ando Mueller gives a Dharma talk after a monthly memorial honoring Rev. Master Jiyu. She draws on some of Rev. Master Jiyu's teachings that encourage us to have faith and be still within the current conditions of the world that many find difficult and troubling. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday August 31, 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/GhBAH0H9b7ITwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck introduces a new lecture series where he will be exploring the Scripture of Great Wisdom and what it means to us in our practice. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday August 17, 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/QiLWIqNHqogTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Master Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey, talks about transferring merit. She encourages us to offer merit universally to all beings starting with ourselves, our loved ones and friends, and certainly our enemies and those we do not like. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday August 10, 2025,YouTube: https://youtu.be/jLEuS7ArrMcTwitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Oswin Hollenbeck gave this talk during a Continuing Practice Retreat at Shasta Abbey in July 2025.YouTube: https://youtu.be/XA0UeQ2VIY8Twitter/X: @shastaabbey

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: N/ATwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: https://youtu.be/b0EfN8zDV3UTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pl2SvvZeeRwTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: https://youtu.be/ajOOm9yR6TgTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZvnvSOOk4jgTwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Enya Sapp leads a retreat on the Lankavatara Sutra in August 2025. This sutra is one of the most important Zen texts and also one of the most obscure. Legend has it that Bodhidharma handed this text to his disciples saying, "this is all you need". However its profound teaching is often abandoned for other texts which feel more accessible to practitioners. Rev. Enya seeks to help us persevere and find success with the Lankavatara. She encourages us to accept the 'cup of tea' that is the Lankavatara Sutra, and most importantly, to DRINK the tea.YouTube: https://youtu.be/2fgCa9_OTuETwitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Margaret Clyde continues with her analysis of Great Master Dogen's chapter "Hachi Dainingaku" or "On the Eight Realizations of a Great One" (Chapter 96 in the Shasta Abbey translation of the Shobogenzo). Shasta Abbey Shobogenzo translation: https://www.shastaabbey.org/pdf/shoboAll.pdfYouTube: https://youtu.be/4AjpfZhSXI4Twitter/X: @shastaabbey 

Rev. Valora Midtdal addresses the common cultural fear of death in society and how our Buddhist practice can help us find peace within an unpredictable universe. This talk was given at Shasta Abbey on Sunday July 27, 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/HuGQkxnvHq0Twitter/X: @shastaabbey