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Religion Talks
Religion is a range of social-cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements—although there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion. It is an essentially contested concept. Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine, sacredness, faith, and a supernatural being or beings.
The origin of religious belief is an open question, with possible explanations including awareness of individual death, a sense of community, and dreams. Religions have sacred histories, narratives, and mythologies, preserved in oral traditions, sacred texts, symbols, and holy places, that may attempt to explain the origin of life, the universe, and other phenomena. Religious practice may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of deities or saints), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, matrimonial and funerary services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, or public service.
There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide, though nearly all of them have regionally based, relatively small followings. Four religions—Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism—account for over 77% of the world's population, and 92% of the world either follows one of those four religions or identifies as nonreligious, meaning that the vast majority of remaining religions account for only 8% of the population combined. The religiously unaffiliated demographic includes those who do not identify with any particular religion, atheists, and agnostics, although many in the demographic still have various religious beliefs. Many world religions are also organized religions, most definitively including the Abrahamic religions Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and the Baháʼí Faith, while others are arguably less so, in particular folk religions, indigenous religions, and some Eastern religions. A portion of the world's population are members of new religious movements. Scholars have indicated that global religiosity may be increasing due to religious countries having generally higher birth rates.
The study of religion comprises a wide variety of academic disciplines, including theology, philosophy of religion, comparative religion, and social scientific studies. Theories about religion offer various explanations for its origins and workings, including the ontological foundations of religious being and belief.
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Studying the Flower Adornment Scripture TogetherA Dharma talk by Tenshin Roshi for a gathering of the No Abode community Martin Luther King, Torei, Avatamsaka Sutra, Non-violence, Bowing, Anger, Religion,... |
Jun 24 2023 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Buddha Has Reasons For Teaching Non-Self And Buddha Has Reasons For Teaching Self Addiction, Nirvana Sutra, Impermanence, Religion, Nirvana, Letting Go, Building,... |
Feb 01 2020 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Stories of EnlightenmentIn our class this fall we will contemplate and converse about several stories of Zen practice and enlightenment. Our contemplation and conversations will naturally bring up questions and concerns... YRB-2019-Fall, Four Noble Truths, Book of Serenity, Daily Life, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Oct 10 2019 2/7 The Yoga Room |
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Teachings for the Welfare of the WorldIn this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world. YRB-2019-Summer, Silence, Transmission, Religion, Passions, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen,... |
Jul 02 2019 2/7 The Yoga Room |
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Silent Sitting & Social ActionZen students often ask how our practice of silence and stillness relates to injustice and our environmental crisis. In this class we explore this question and study the intimate interplay of... YRB-2018-Fall, Silence, Bodhidharma, cognitive process, Observe, Fundraising, Lay,... |
Nov 13 2018 5 of 7 The Yoga Room |
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Bodhisattva Practice Includes Everything Religion, Offering, confusion |
Jan 02 2017 PM |
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The Bodhisattva's Mind of No AbodeThe Bodhisattva’s Mind of No Abode Religion, Chanting, Posture, Attachment |
Sep 01 2012 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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The Bodhisattva's Mind of No Abode Peace, Practice, Religion |
Sep 01 2012 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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When Dharma Fills Body and MindWhen Dharma Fills Body and Mind Thich Nhat Hanh, Nirvana, Religion |
Jul 13 2012 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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When Dharma Fills Body and Mind Nirvana, Religion |
Jul 13 2012 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen's Path: Compassionate Stillness Karmic Consciousness, Consciousness, Religion |
Jan 17 2010 |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Emptiness, Religion, Manjushri |
Mar 13 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Only a Buddha and a BuddhaThe Lotus Sutra says that the desire to help beings open to Buddha's wisdom is the condition for Buddha's appearing in this world. Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Desire, Religion |
Jul 28 2007 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Enlightenment is the Silent Bond Discrimination, Religion, Desire, difficulty |
Apr 01 2007 Green Gulch Farm |
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HappinessThe pursuit of happiness vs. wanting others to be happy; happiness from absorption in activity Teachings on Happiness for Dancing Mountains Sangha newsletter Lovingkindness, Desire, Religion, Emptiness |
Feb 03 2007 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Transcending Separation Through Conscious Serenity Transmission, Letting Go, Separation, Passions, Religion |
Jan 11 2006 |
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Crisis: A Spiritual Turning Point Conversation, Dragons, Transmission, Religion, Attachment |
Jan 08 2006 Part 1 |
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Finding Presence in Duality Priest, japanese, Religion |
Oct 13 2005 |
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Unity Through Embracing Harmony Religion, Patience, Evil, Separation, Impermanence |
May 29 2005 Green Gulch Farm |
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All Religions Support Each OtherSerial: RA-00505 Note: It was decided not to put this talk out to the public, because there are things in it which could easily be misunderstood. Jane Lazar 2/06/06 Religion, Patience, Evil, Impermanence, Rumi |
May 29 2005 Green Gulch Farm |
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Freedom from Religious Divisivness Religion, Buddhism, Wisdom |
Nov 21 2004 Green Gulch Farm |
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Beyond Stories: Zen Liberated Wisdom Letting Go, Religion, Attachment, Doubt, Bodhidharma |
Oct 26 2003 |
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Beyond Thought: Zen Liberation Journey Letting Go, Bodhidharma, Religion, Attachment, Evil |
Oct 26 2003 |
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Interdependent Self, Illusion, and Growth Karma, Delusion, Religion |
Sep 2003 |
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Sitting With No ExpectationsSerial: RA-00407 Sunday "Sitting With No Expectations." Hindrances, Daily Life, Transmission, Religion, Enemies |
Dec 15 2002 |
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GGF-Samadhi PP Bodhisattva Way, Bodhidharma, Paramitas, Religion |
Mar 06 2002 |
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GGF-Samadhi PP Mahayana, Religion, Culture, Breath |
Feb 20 2002 |
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Embracing Emptiness for Universal Liberation Emptiness, Religion, Interdependence |
Nov 04 2001 |
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2001.11.04-GGF Religion, Interdependence, Mahayana, Gratitude, Heart Sutra |
Nov 04 2001 |
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Unified Wisdom Beyond Boundaries Culture, Religion, Buddhism |
Oct 14 2001 |
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2001.10.14-GGF Culture, Religion, Letting Go, Renunciation, difficulty |
Oct 14 2001 |
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Love and Solidarity Amid Ruins War, Enemies, Anger, Religion, Commitment |
Sep 12 2001 |
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Living the Moment in Zen Religion, Bodhisattva Precepts, Enthusiasm, Ceremony, Vow |
Feb 25 2001 |
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Intimacy in Unknowing: Zen's Essence Zazen, Koan, Religion |
Oct 30 1997 |
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Balancing Extremes in Zen ThoughtSerial: RA-00752 Class Conversation, Politics, causation, Observe, Religion |
Oct 23 1995 Tassajara |
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Zen Moments: From Delusion to Clarity Zazen, Religion, Samadhi |
Mar 30 1993 |
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Class - Tenth Precept - Not Disparaging the Triple Treasure Three Treasures, Ego, Religion, Suzuki Roshi |
Apr 05 1992 Tassajara |
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Class #7: The Dependent Co-Arising of Birth, Death and Suchness Evil, Perfect Wisdom, Religion |
Feb 11 1992 Tassajara |
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Class #7: The Dependent Co-Arising of Birth, Death and Suchness Evil, Perfect Wisdom, Religion, Doubt |
Feb 11 1992 Tassajara |
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Blooming Compassion through Zen Awakening Breath, Religion, Lineage, Buddha Mind |
1991 Tassajara |
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Mindful Pathways to Awakening Breath, Dragons, Mindfulness, Separation, Religion |
Jun 06 1989 |
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Immediate Awakening Through Total Acceptance Breath, Buddha Nature, Religion, Practice Period |
Jan 25 1989 |
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Embracing Zen: Beyond Discursive Thinking Religion, Lineage, Intimacy, Sangha, Lotus Sutra |
Apr 03 1988 |
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Zen's Dance of Emptiness Four Noble Truths, Conversation, Lotus Sutra, Duality, Religion |
Mar 21 1987 |
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Zen's Interplay: Mind, Spirit, Philosophy Doubt, Religion, Breath, Oneness |
Mar 04 1987 |
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Understanding the Nature of MindSerial: RA-00343 Reb Anderson Week 6 3/30/06 Understanding Nature of Mind 2 Non-violence, Mindfulness, Greed, Faith, Impermanence, Current Events, Religion, Separation,... |
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