Thousand Harbours Zen

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. The third is "to work to produce a buddha during this life." (Koun Franz; August 6, 2024)You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. In this talk, a look at the first: cultivating the mind of awakening. (Koun Franz; July 22, 2024)You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

In "The Way of the Buddhas" (Shōbōgenzō Butsudō), Dōgen recommends five practices. The second: "Next, we should deeply revere the three treasures of buddha, dharma, and sangha." (Koun Franz; July 9, 2024)You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

On retreat, a talk about how we hold someone we see as an enemy versus how we hold a baby. (Koun Franz; June 22, 2024)You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Case #105 of Dōgen’s Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; June 18, 2024):Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion [Avalokiteśvara] use so many hands and eyes?”Daowu said, “It’s just like a person in the middle of the night reaching back in search of a pillow.”—from The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki TanahashiYou can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

 Our temple, Sensouji, has received official recognition as a temple by the Soto Zen School in Japan. Here, a talk about what it means for us to belong to something else: a sect, a school, a tradition, a lineage. (Koun Franz; June 4, 2024)  You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

 When we sit in zazen, we’re waiting for the bell; when we notice that feeling, we notice we’re always waiting for something. What if we weren’t? (Koun Franz; May 21, 2024)  You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen podcast.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

 Case 93 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; May 7, 2024):  Shenshan was sewing when Dongshan said, “What are you doing?” Shenshan said, “I am sewing.” Dongshan said, “What is sewing?” Shenshan said, “Each stitch follows the other.” Dongshan said, “If my companion of twenty years says so, I guess there is a point.” Shenshan said, “What would you say, Elder?” Dongshan said, “Each stitch is like the earth exploding."  —from The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki Tanahashi  You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Case 76 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; April 16, 2024):  Dagui was once asked by a monastic, “What is the Way?” Dagui said, “No-mind is the Way.” The monastic said, “I don’t understand it.” Dagui said, “It’s good to understand not-understanding.” The monastic said, “What is not-understanding?” Dagui said, “It’s just that you are not anyone else.”  —from The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki Tanahashi  You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

 Following the death of a member of our community, a talk on how we measure, and what that might mean in terms of the middle way (Koun Franz; April 6, 2024).  You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Case 73 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; April 2, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Kosho Uchiyama-roshi instructed, “Sit immovably in the place where being superior or inferior to others doesn’t matter." (Koun Franz; March 19, 2024) You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Case 77 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; March 5, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Case 70 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; February 20, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Case 67 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; January 31, 2024):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

A talk on practicing stillness. (Koun Franz; January 16, 2024)You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

To start the year, a talk about dana, generosity, and the mutuality of practice (Koun Franz; January 2, 2024).You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo, Case 59 (Koun Franz; December 5, 2023). You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

It's easy to see that when we do zazen, we're doing a yoga pose. But we may not be clear about which one it is (Koun Franz; November 21, 2023). You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen podcast. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

On the realm of atarimae: "of course." What do we already know? (Koun Franz; Nov. 7, 2023) You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

 On the comfort of speaking the same language as someone else--and how we're doing it all the time (Koun Franz; October 17, 2023). You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

To mark Bodhidharma Day (October 5), a look at how the character of Bodhidharma appears--again and again--in the koans compiled by Dogen (Koun Franz; October 3, 2023). You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.  Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo, Case 47 (Koun Franz; September 19, 2023):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

A talk by Koun Franz on the power of stopping. (September 5, 2023) Follows podcast #259You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

From Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo, Case 37 (Koun Franz; August 1, 2023):You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Days before the official opening of our temple, Sensouji (千湊寺), some thoughts on the temple and what we really do offer. (Koun Franz; July 4, 2023) Case 56 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo: “It’s just that the gift belongs to everyone.”The giver, receiver, and the gift are the same.  You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel. Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

Zen form takes many forms. But there are basic principles to which we can refer, whether we're at a temple, or online, or out in the world. (Koun Franz; August 29, 2023)You can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube Channel.Post-production by Nyokai Todd Cornett.

THZ 258 - I Have Already Exhausted Myself for You

THZ 257 - What Tools Do We Gain from Zen

A talk on Case 12 of Dogen's Mana Shobogenzo Koun Franz; Jan. 17, 2023

THZ 255 - Community

From a retreat held on Earth Day, a talk on taking how we look at “nature” and applying it to ordinary stuff. (April 22, 2023; Koun Franz)

At the start of the year, a return to the basics of the practice. Koun Franz; January 4, 2022 

THZ 252 - You're Where You Need to Be

THZ 251 - What is Now the Time For?

THZ 250 - Zen is Not About Zen

THZ 249 - The Wisdom to Know the Difference

THZ 248 - Practice Like a Thief

THZ 247 - Getting Trapped By Right Intention

THZ 246 - What About Passion?

THZ 245 - Zazen is Colourless and Transparent

THZ 244 - Meeting Death in Everyday Life

THZ 243 - Five Remembrances

THZ 242 - Equanimity and Congruence

No Secular World in Buddhadharma

THZ 240 - Zen Practice as Form

THZ 239 - Resolute Stability

THZ 238 - Let Yourself Break Open

THZ 237 - Desire vs Attachment

THZ 236 - Lean in to Letting Go