All Episodes

How to enter a gateless gate. Delivered July 6, 1986

The Basic Teachings of Zen Meditation. Presented on June 29, 1986

Accumulating knowledge versus attaining true wisdom. June 22, 1986

The Lesson of True Listening. June 15, 1986

An exploration of the subject of death. Delivered Jun 8, 1986  

Does an enlightened Zen master live a saintly, extraordinary life? Delivered Jun 1, 1986

Give gifts with no notion of reward or praise. Like moving something from one hand to the other. Mar 9, 1986

Learning to live less from the mind and more from the hara. Oct 14, 1981

Allowing Purusha to extricate itself from the mindless play of Prakrit. Sept 27, 1987

Plato, art and spiritual growth.  Sep 5, 1987

The Middle Way—between the world of appearance and the inner world of consciousness. Aug 29, 1987

How do you go in? Simply stop going out. Aug 2, 1987

The meanings of various Buddhist terms, practices & traditions. July 26, 1987

Dogen: “Not knowing is most intimate.” July 5, 1987

How you form your ego—and can ultimately overcome it. Jun 28, 1987

Zen and Socrates. Jun 21, 1987

Instructions for Koan study. And true understanding & non-discrimination. May 31, 1987

The limitations of human knowledge. May 17, 1987

In the struggle between opposites is the Truth. Mar 6, 1987

Where is God? Feb 28, 1987

Mystica Theologica, the Sutras of Patanjali and the Book of Genesis. Jan 31, 1987

How do you answer: “Does God exist?” Sep 20, 1987

A detailed introductory talk about the Bauls — a religious sect of India—and the mystery of consciousness. Sep 13, 1987

The Bauls religious sect of India. And Prakrit and Parusha. Oct 18, 1987

Zen and the meaning of Easter. Apr 19, 1987

Guilt and rejection of life does not make you more enlightened. Lola May , 1987

What we can learn from Indian religious traditions. May 10, 1987

How to meditate. And why. Nov 29, 1987

The unconscious is the gateway to reality. July 18, 1981

Why “What is the purpose of life?” is the wrong question. June 28, 1981

The role of patience in Zen practice. July 5, 1981

Further exploration of the Mystica Theoligica. Dec 11, 1988

The meaning of the the Mystica Theoligica. Dec 4, 1988

Watch how you make your choices. Otherwise, how can you ever change? Nov 6, 1988

How often do we think that we—as individuals—are going to be enlightened? Oct 30, 1988

Meditate for one hour daily, and truly concentrate, and you can merge with the Ku. July 31, 1988

The One-finger Zen of 9th Century Chinese Master Gutei. Jul 10, 1988

To meditate no action is required—simply a shift in consciousness. Exploring the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16. Jul 3, 1988

How do we cross an icy stream? Exploring the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 15. May 28, 1988

A detailed exploration of Chapter 14 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, “Praising The Mysterious.” May 8, 1988

Lao Tzu on two fundamental types of meditation. May 1, 1988

More Bible parables that can help you practice Zen. Dec 12, 1984

Bible parables that can help you practice Zen. Dec 9, 1984

Zen is not a belief system. Zen disturbs the dreaming mind. Nov 12, 1984

When you learn to accept that you are alone, truly alone, it builds a great strength. Nov 5 1984

Who are you really? Your name is not you. Your photo is not you. Who are you? Oct 28, 1984

We are looking for nothing. Which doesn’t give you much to look for, does it? Oct 21, 1984

Lao Tzu: Existence renders actual. Non-existence renders useful. Oct 7, 1984

How can Truth be expressed without speaking—and without being silent? Sep 30, 1984

Is Zen difficult? Also, an in-depth examination of the Mu koan. Sep 23, 1984

The story of the centipede, convinced by a fox to start thinking. Sep 16, 1984

Don’t run to—and don’t run away. Aug 7, 1988

“In what state of mind should I seek Truth?” Doko asks. Sep 9, 1984

Without a word, without a thought, who are you? Aug 19, 1984

Words can’t teach how to practice. Like swimming, we must do it. Jul 22, 1984

Lola recounts the surprising tale of the Sufi mystic who is captured and taken to the slave market by his captors. July 15, 1984

The Paramitas - 1. Giving 2. Observing precepts 3. Patience 4. Diligence 5. Meditation. 6. Wisdom.  July 8, 1984

Pranyaparamita, or “the perfection of transcendental wisdom.” July 1, 1984

The similarities between Hassidic Judaism and Buddhism. May 19, 1985

Make the smallest distinction and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. May 12, 1985

A monk asked his teacher, "I am pecking from inside the shell. I beg you, Master, please peck from outside." May 5, 1985

First is learning, called hearing. Then approaching. Then transcending. Lola Apr 14, 1985

As illusions drop, as attitudes drop, how relaxing it is to be at ease with yourself. Mar 31, 1985

The depth in saying “I don’t know.” Mystica Theologica. Lola Jul 22, 1985

Zen masters never tell the truth. July 15, 1985

"The mind dwells in the cave of the heart. He who conquers it frees himself from slavery." May 26, 1985

The mightiest fighting rooster does not crow about his might. Jun 24, 1984

When you’re silent, there is one mind. When you’re thinking, you are many. Jun 10, 1984

Examine your past so it doesn’t govern you. The past is dead. Stop living it. Oct 30, 1983

What must wake up in you for you to be awake? Oct 29, 1989

Once we understand we are not the masters of our thoughts—but victims—we can stop cooperating. Lola Mar 17, 1985

The tale of the visitor who asked Zen master Bankei what miracles he could perform. Aug 6, 1989

Easter of 1985 - What Zen practitioners can learn from the story of Christ's Resurrection. Apr 7, 1985

Second in a series about using Transactional Analysis in Zen - the Child, Parent, Adult. Lola Oct 13, 1983

Learning to work with three elements of our identity: the parent, the child and the adult. Oct 6, 1983

Most of us are after power. Control in our situation. A wiseman seeks not. Instead, he cooperates. Nov 27, 1923

Life. Death. And Love. The most important thing for you is your life. Do you ever thoroughly investigate it? Nov 20, 1983

We can repeat the most profound teachings and remain stupid. What in us is orginal? May 1, 1983

Get beyond the effort of meditation and find real meditation. Jul 3, 1983

What is the greatest miracle in the world? Oct 30, 1983

The Taoist sage, Lieh Tzu, was once asked: Why do you value emptiness? Jun 12, 1983

By the merit of a single sitting, they destroy innumerable sins. (Hakuin) Jun 5, 1983

There are plenty of Buddha statues sitting still. But have you ever seen a Zen master sitting still? Mind vs action. May 29, 1983

The tale of the thief who robs Shichiri Kojun who was busy reciting sutras. Don’t fight the darkness—light a candle. May 22, 1983

Human beings are stuck in an in-between state—not unconscious and we’re not completely conscious. May 15, 1983

When we meditate and watch our breath, we are playing an iron flute with no holes. Apr 24, 1983

Without speaking and without silence, how can you express the Truth? Apr 10, 1983

Being truly alive should be an adventure into the unknown. Apr 3, 1983

We identify with everything but ourselves. Possessions, emotions, thoughts. But not our true selves. What is true silence? Mar 12, 1983

Chuang Tzu and appreciating the useless in the world. Mar 6, 1983

The intellect cannot penetrate consciousness. When you drop thoughts, consciousness is present. When you drop the pseudo self, the True Self is present. July 12, 1981

What is the meaning of movement and rest, in Zen and Christian practice? Dec 13, 1981

As you breathe into the tanden (Hara), your focus deepens and mysteries will reveal themselves. You don’t have to solve them—they reveal themselves to you. Apr 14, 1981

Are you free or is your conditioning controlling you? Dig into yourself and ask “Who am I?” Jun 21, 1981

We are divided between our senses and our thinking, our body and soul, matter and consciousness. Jun 14, 1981

Zen practice is not an intellectual endeavor. The tale of the blind man and the lantern. Feb 17, 1985

When you look in the mirror, do you see you? When you are silent, it speaks. Your absence is its presence. Feb 10, 1985

Understanding Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching and the Middle Way. Non-action, yet nothing remains undone. Sep 22, 1985

Do not sit in meditation waiting for enlightenment. Direct your attention to the mind. And, what is faith? Mar 2, 1986

Exploring the meaning of the Dhammapada. Listening to teachings as if you are an empty tape recorder. Sep 4, 1983

What is this life living you? It’s the same as that which sings in the birds. Jan 8, 1984

A Christmas message for Zen practitioners about the birth of the light within. Dec 20, 1986

To witness the apparent in the real and the real in the apparent. One mind sees both worlds. Jan 26, 1986

We try to both change and remain the same—the hook that many are on. Jun 7, 1981

Meditation is about life and death. Nirvana is not. The thundering silence. 1990 Sesshin Friday

Learning to differentiate what you see, what you think and what you feel. Aug 16, 1981

Your ego has no power to do anything. It’s impotent. Dec 6, 1981

Misfortune and our identity. And the tale of the farmer who asks God to let him choose the weather. Dec 03, 1981

Lao Tzu uses the metaphor of a vessel to show that while existence renders it (and us) actual, it is the vessel's non-existence (or emptiness) that renders it useful. Aug 23, 1981

What is consciousness? Does a rock have consciousness? Who are we? Summer 1990 Wed Night Sesshin

The mind-body relationship. And breathing from the Hara. Apr 14, 1981

Lola shares the tale of the monk and the bottomless pitcher. And how to focus with a no-thinking mind. 1990 Summer Sesshin Monday

When you're fast asleep and hear a noise you wake up. What wakes up? What was awake to hear the noise? Jan 27, 1985.

First one finds quiet, explains Lola. Then one goes further and finds silence, or Shunyata. Mar 28, 1982.

An early talk by Lola where she explains the metaphor of a boat crossing a river to reach the other side. Apr 20, 1975.

We can live in the valley—but be the peak. Lola explains how to live an awakened life. Apr 4, 1982

What is the power with which you look at yourself? Lola explores the meaning of religion and non-discrimination. Feb 2, 1985

Lola asks: What gives the eye its sight, the ear its hearing? Mar 22, 1987

Lola explains how the process of becoming awakened depends on two factors—the information you feed your mind—and your meditation. Sep 24, 1989

Lola suggests we ask ourselves Agathon’s question: What in your life is the greatest good? She also explains that truth is not an idea but an encounter, an adventure. Mind is just a record of what has happened. Sep 10, 1989.

Lola mentions an early experience of awakening. And shares the tale of the Duke and the wheelwright. Feb 15, 1987

Lola explores the nature of consciousness and the relationship in our world of subject and object. Apr 26, 1987

Lola shares the story of the old man, the young man, and the donkey. Habits and non-attachment. Nov 30, 1986

Lola explores how we create many identities during our lives, all the time ignoring our true selves. Mar 29, 1987.

Lola asks "What is consciousness?" And continues exploring the meaning of the Hindu Isha Upanishad. Mar 15, 1987

Lola explores the relationship of subject and object using sacred Hindu texts. Mar 08, 1987

Lola discusses the Great Doubt, or dark night of the soul, which sometimes precedes Satori. May 17, 1989

Lola tells the story of the frog in the well. And answers the question: Is Zen meditation active or passive? Aug 27, 1989

Lola tells of the three men who ask Buddha if there is a God? June 3, 1984

On Easter, Lola explores the meaning of the Resurrection. Apr 22, 1984

Lola Explores the Meaning of the Eightfold Path - Apr 15, 1984

Lola shares the story of the traveler and the one-eyed monk. Oct 20, 1985

Lola explains how sometimes that which you value most in your life can become your greatest burden. Jan 24, 1988.

Lola McDowell Lee, a Zen Roshi, explores what it means to plan for the future while we also are told to live in the present. February 7, 1988.

Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee talks about the breath, and how we may have distanced our instinctual being from our rational mind. Jan 31, 1988