The No Abode Audio Archive

Serial: RA-01316 The talk focuses on elucidating the essential meaning of the Buddha Dharma as "not to attain, not to know," a practice epitomized by the act of facing the wall, which symbolizes accepting things without objectification or...

Serial: RA-01279 The talk discusses the six paramitas, or perfections, which are foundational practices for bodhisattvas. These include dana (generosity), shila (ethics), kshanti (patience), virya (energy), samadhi (concentration), and prajna (...

Serial: RA-01966 The talk examines the dynamics of the student-teacher relationship in Zen practice, emphasizing the spiritual journey of surpassing one's teacher. The narrative discusses how true understanding and the transmission of Dharma...

Serial: RA-02013 The talk primarily addresses the importance of being grounded and settled to properly engage with and understand complex Zen cases, emphasizing that insight must be accompanied by a deep connection to one's own suffering to avoid...

Serial: RA-01280 The discussion explores the relationship between suffering, acknowledgment of suffering, and the path to liberation as understood within Buddhist philosophy. It emphasizes the significance of renunciation and compassion,...

Serial: RA-01284 The talk examines the Zen teaching of gradual and sudden paths to enlightenment, emphasizing that what appears as linear stages in practice often occur simultaneously, akin to cycles or waves. Referencing Dogen Zenji's teachings...

Serial: RA-01286 The talk centers on the practice of upright sitting (zazen) as a means to realize Buddhist teachings, emphasizing patience and self-acceptance as essential components. It further explores the concept of initiation by fire and...

Serial: RA-01289 The talk emphasizes the practice of "upright sitting" as a central component of Zen meditation, which involves a deep engagement with the body and breath to transcend the self and achieve a state of stillness. This practice is...

Serial: RA-01626 The talk explores the story of Huineng's enlightenment and teachings, focusing on the theme of realizing one's "original face" and the non-duality of good and evil. Huineng's encounter with the Diamond Sutra acts as a catalyst...

Serial: RA-01631 The talk explores the concept of "original face" in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the mutual recognition required for true spiritual understanding and how this mirrors relational dynamics between teachers and students. By recounting...

Serial: RA-01281 The talk discusses the Zen story "Cloud Cliff Sweeps the Ground," highlighting the interplay between busyness and the violation of precepts, and the non-busy nature of enlightened mind. Through the exploration of precepts, it...

Serial: RA-01481 The talk centers on exploring the concept of intimacy as portrayed in Zen texts, particularly focusing on aspects such as boundaries, ethics, and spiritual teachings. The discussion references Case 20, in which Di Cang and Fa Yan...

Serial: RA-01479 The talk dissects a Zen koan from Case 20, involving Chinese Zen figures Di Cang and Fa Yan, exploring themes of "not knowing" as a form of intimacy and spiritual awakening. The discussion delves into how stories, words, and...

Serial: RA-01628 The talk centers on the concept of non-dual meditation and the pitfalls of dualistic thinking. It emphasizes understanding one’s own thought processes to transcend duality and suggests that enlightenment is not about achieving...

Serial: RA-00604 -

Serial: RA-01480 The talk centers on the study of Zen stories, particularly evaluating the depth and multi-layered nature of these narratives and the experience of understanding or not knowing as a form of intimacy. The discussion transitions...

Serial: RA-01276 The talk focuses on the practice of repentance and its integral role in understanding and embracing one's humanness within Soto Zen. It emphasizes accepting the fleeting nature of thoughts and the liberating acknowledgment of one...

Serial: RA-00785 The focus of this talk is on the practice of sincerity in Zen, specifically through the admission of one's true self, the reception of the sixteen bodhisattva precepts, and the transformation they facilitate. The process of...

Serial: RA-01972 The talk reflects on the concept of "unconcerned surrender" in Zen practice, paralleling it with the idea of not producing a single thought and its connection to spiritual liberation and the bodhisattva vow. Case 18 and Case 19...

Serial: RA-01140 The talk delves into the Buddhist concept of repentance, emphasizing its role in Zen practice not as a preliminary act, but as an integral entry into living Buddha's way. The discussion explores the ritual of formless repentance...

Serial: RA-00606 What the primary intention was. Intention to be free Reb's primary intention to learn the way of the Buddha, to study the Buddha Way, to study the self. to let the self be the self. The talk reflects on the primary intention of practicing Zen, centering on the aspiration to be free and to live compassionately. It emphasizes the importance of studying the Buddha Way as a means to understand and transcend the...

Serial: RA-02008 The talk explores the pervasive nature of compassion and its application in challenging situations, questioning the distinctions people make when distributing compassion, especially in the context of societal and personal...

Serial: RA-02006 The talk centers on the story of Zen Master Zhaozhou from the Mumonkan, particularly Case 18, exploring the question, "Does a dog have Buddha nature?" This discussion highlights the practice of settling into one's experience and...

Serial: RA-02635 The talk explores the concept of "upright sitting," a fundamental Zen practice that centers on confronting the existential realities of birth and death through meditation. It emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and honesty...