The Zen Studies Podcast

By Domyo Burk

What's The Zen Studies Podcast about?

Learn about traditional Zen and Buddhist teachings, practices, and history through episodes recorded specifically for podcast listeners. Host Domyo Burk is a Soto Zen priest and teacher.

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The Zen Studies Podcast episodes:

04.22.2024
267 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chp 4 - Mindfulness: Cultivating Awareness Every Moment
The third Field of Zen practice is Mindfulness, which is cultivating clear awareness of what is happening, moment by moment, within you and around you. Mindfulness is absolutely fundamental to Zen practice, allowing you to practice within all the other...
04.15.2024
266 - What Would the Buddha Say About the Suffering in the World?
Recently, someone submitted a Dharma question for me to address: “I wonder what Buddha would say to us about the crises facing humanity, particularly the suffering of our own making?” I can't know, but I dare to put some words...
03.30.2024
265 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter Three, Part 3: Zazen – Our Total Response to Life
This is the third episode of three comprising the “Zazen” chapter of my book, “The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners.” I start by offering what I should have put at the beginning of my chapter on...
03.26.2024
264 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter Three, Part 2: Zazen – Our Total Response to Life
This is the second episode of three comprising the "Zazen" chapter of my book, "The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners.” I finish my discussion of the five efforts of Zazen, covering becoming intimate with Life, seeing...
03.18.2024
263 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter 3, Part 1 - Zazen – Our Total Response to Life
The second Field of Zen practice is Zazen. “Za” means seated, and “zen” means meditation. However, as 13th-century Zen master Dogen famously stated, “…Zazen is not meditation practice.” Superficially, our Zazen may look like the meditation done in other spiritual...
03.01.2024
262 - The Value, Care, and Feeding of Dharma Friendships – Part 2
The Buddha famously said “admirable friendship,” or what I’m calling Dharma friendship, is the entirety of the holy life. In the last episode, I discussed the value and nature of personal Dharma friendships. In this episode, I talk about what...
02.25.2024
261 – The Value, Care, and Feeding of Dharma Friendships – Part 1
The Buddha famously said the “admirable friendship,” or what I’m calling Dharma friendship, is the entirety of the holy life. In this episode, I discuss the value and nature of personal Dharma friendships. In Part 2, I will talk about...
02.17.2024
260 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter Two: Bodhicitta, Way-Seeking Mind
This episode on Bodhicitta, or Way-Seeking Mind, is chapter two of my book The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners.” Bodhicitta is the first Field of practice because without it we never even begin practice, and, if...
02.01.2024
259 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter One: What Is Zen Practice?
In this introductory chapter to my book, “The Ten Fields of Zen Practice: A Primer for Practitioners," I discuss the nature of practice and "progress" on the path of practice. I then introduce the Ten Fields, and the rest of...
01.09.2024
258 - One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 6: The Two Truths of Absolute and Relative 2
The Two Truths teaching is another classic Chan/Zen description of Reality-with-a-Capital-R. Reality has two aspects, often called relative and absolute. I call them the “dependent dimension” and the “independent dimension.” I describe this teaching and discuss why it is so...
12.31.2023
257 - One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 5: The Two Truths of Absolute and Relative – Part 1
The Two Truths teaching is another classic Chan/Zen description of Reality-with-a-Capital-R. Reality has two aspects, often called relative and absolute. I call them the "dependent dimension" and the "independent dimension." I describe this teaching and discuss why it is so...
12.17.2023
256 - Do Your Own Practice: Spiritual Translation Versus Transformation
One way to frame our practice is to say it has a "translation" aspect and a "transformation" aspect. Translation means to apply Buddhist teachings and practice to our life to free self and other from suffering, and live with greater...
12.02.2023
255 – The Medicine of Emptiness When Witnessing Suffering and Injustice
When we witness - or experience - suffering or injustice, the medicine of emptiness can give us strength and equanimity. It should also increase our compassion, allowing us to be open, sensitive, and responsive without getting overwhelmed by anxiety, depression,...
11.25.2023
254 - Practice is How You Live Each and Every Moment – Part 2
Everyday life gives us countless opportunities for "awakening work." I discuss ways to practice each and every moment in order to awaken to the truth of Dukkha and the ending of Dukkha, and to the truth Emptiness. In Part 3...
11.15.2023
253 - Practice is How You Live Each and Every Moment – Part 1
The formal aspects of Buddhist practice – the things you can look at and identify as “Buddhist practice” – are very important. These include meditation, Dharma study, and time with Sangha. However, unless you’re a monk in a really strict...
10.31.2023
252 - Reflections on Dogen’s “Bussho, The Buddha-Nature” Part 2: Total Existence
In my second episode reflecting on Dogen's “Bussho,” or “The Buddha-Nature," I discuss how Buddha-Nature is a teaching about our existential koan as human beings. I also talk about how Dogen says we have already got Buddha-Nature, and then explore...
10.27.2023
251 – Reflections on Dogen’s “Bussho, The Buddha-Nature” Part 1: Being
In his essay "Bussho," or "The Buddha-Nature," Dogen explores and expands a classic Mahayana Buddhist teaching. I reflect on a few central concepts from the first paragraph.
10.15.2023
250 - In Zazen We Stop Imposing Ourselves on the World and Meet It Instead
In zazen we stop imposing ourselves on the world either through our habitual thinking or through any effort to control or judge our meditative experience. Only then can we meet the world us it is unfolding around, within, and through...
10.01.2023
249 - Are the Buddha’s Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 2
In this second half of a two-episode discussion, I briefly review the limitations of sensual or worldly pleasures. Then I explore how engagement with the world, contrary to simply being a compromise, can be its own path of practice. Finally,...
09.28.2023
248 - Are the Buddha’s Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 1
The Buddha was pretty clear. If you wanted to experience complete liberation, it was best practice renunciation - to leave all worldly things behind: Family, sex, alcohol, fancy food, music, entertainment, frivolity, etc. Why did the Buddha recommend this? Why...
09.16.2023
247 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 3
In Part 3 of my “Sangha Challenges” discussion, I finish my list of reasons you may resist joining a Buddhist community or find it challenging to maintain your relationship with one over time. I present each challenge as an opportunity...
08.31.2023
Two Episodes Recommended by Listeners
This is my third and final post during my 2023 sabbatical month. I'll be back soon with a full episode, but in the meantime I wanted to share two past episodes with you that multiple listeners have said were important...
08.25.2023
Recommended Episodes on Zazen
Here again with recommended episodes for you to listen to while I'm on my August sabbatical from Zen teaching and writing. Your chosen form of meditation may be what I call "Directed Effort" meditation, or "Letting Go" meditation (I discuss...
08.17.2023
Announcement and Recommendation
I take a sabbatical from my Zen teaching one month a year, and this year it’s in August. In this announcement I explain (and thank you for your patience), and recommend one of my 236 past episodes to listen...
07.31.2023
246 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 2
In Part 2 of my “Sangha Challenges” discussion, I talk about various reasons you may resist joining a Buddhist community or find it challenging to maintain your relationship with one over time. I present each challenge as an opportunity for...
07.27.2023
245 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 1
Should you join a Sangha? Sangha, or community, is one of the “Three Treasures” of Buddhism, but is it really necessary? How important is it? There are many "Sangha Challenges" - reasons you might feel resistance to joining a community,...
07.17.2023
244 - Zazen as a Religious Act
Seated Zen meditation – zazen – is less like the meditative practices of many other spiritual traditions, and more like prayer in theistic traditions. This is not because we believe in God (although we might), but because zazen can be...
06.30.2023
243 - The Buddha’s Life Story as Archetype and Teaching
Understanding the teachings of Buddhism starts with becoming familiar with the Buddha's life story. This isn't because he is believed to have been divine, or even a prophet. Instead, his story is important because it serves as an archetype for...
06.23.2023
242 - Reflections on Sansuikyo, Dogen’s Mountains and Waters Sutra
One of Zen master Dogen’s most beloved writings is a relatively short essay called “Sansuikyo,” or the Mountains and Waters Sutra. In this episode, I reflect on two aspects this work: The statement that mountains and waters are, in of...
06.16.2023
241 - What Does It Mean to Waste Time?
Buddhist and Zen masters through the ages have begged us not to “waste time.” What does this really mean? How do we know if we’re wasting time, and does it really matter?
05.31.2023
240 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 4: Buddha-Nature 2
This is part four of my series called “One Reality, Many Descriptions,” Buddha-Nature Part 2. I first talk about Buddha-Nature as trust. Then I offer the requisite discussions of what Buddha-Nature is not, and how it is necessary for us...
05.28.2023
239 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 3: Buddha-Nature 1
This is part three of my series called “One Reality, Many Descriptions.” While experiences of Emptiness and Suchness (or Thusness) may be liberating and transformative, we may be left with the question of how our limited, embodied existence relates to...
05.12.2023
238 - Eco-Anxiety and Buddhism – Part 2
It's natural to feel some eco-anxiety as the earth’s natural life-support systems break down. Buddhism clearly admonishes us to refrain from killing, to actively care for all life, and see ourselves as being in the “same boat” with all beings....
04.29.2023
237 - Eco-Anxiety and Buddhism – Part 1
Eco-anxiety is fear that our earth’s natural life-support systems are in the process of a collapse that will be catastrophic to life as we know it. This fear may range in intensity between a vague, pervasive sense of worry to...
04.19.2023
236 - Spiritual Inquiry Part 5: Koans and Awakening
Awakening Inquiry is aimed at awakening to what I’ve been calling Reality-with-a-Capital-R. How do we inquire into aspects of Reality we have not yet even imagined? How do we even know what we don’t know? How can we see what...
04.12.2023
235 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 2: Suchness or Thusness
What do Buddhists mean by the terms “Suchness” or “Thusness”? Over the millennia, Buddhists have employed many concepts to point us toward Reality-with-a-Capital-R, because awakening to Reality is profoundly liberating. This series of episodes discusses five classic descriptions of Reality....
03.30.2023
234 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 4: Investigating and Resolving Karmic Issues
In the last episode I discussed “karma work,” or the process of noticing the underlying reasons for our selfish, harmful, or less-than-enlightened behaviors of body, speech, and mind, and then working to resolve them. I talked about how to identify...
03.18.2023
233 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 3: Identifying our Karmic Issues
An important part of Buddhist practice is spiritual inquiry. Buddhism teaches us that there are underlying reasons for every selfish and neurotic thing we do, and that we can discern what those reasons are and work on them. This karma...
03.06.2023
232 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 2: Resistance to Questions and Karma Work Versus Awakening
In this episode, my second in a short series on spiritual questions, I talk about various reasons for resistance to coming up with or asking spiritual questions. Then I discuss the relationship between karma work and awakening, because in my...
02.27.2023
231 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 1: What Spiritual Questions Are and Why They Matter
There are many aspects of Buddhism which suggest you ought to have deep spiritual questions – questions which are not merely intellectual, but which matter to you, personally, very much. Questions which bother you so much that you are driven...
02.15.2023
230 – The Importance of Bodhi-Mind, or Way-Seeking Mind
Buddhism is based on seeking – seeking freedom from suffering, greater wisdom and compassion, greater skillfulness in benefiting beings, and a more authentic, connected way of being. Our spiritual growth depends on arousing and sustaining “Bodhi-Mind,” or the “Way-Seeking Mind,”...
01.31.2023
229 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 1: Emptiness
Teachings like Emptiness, Buddha-Nature, Suchness, Absolute and Relative, and Mind-with-a-capital-M are challenging, and sometimes people wonder if they’re all just terms for the same thing, more or less, or whether they’re part of a long list of difficult-to-comprehend concepts we...
01.19.2023
228 – Skillful Self-Discipline Part 2: Clarity of Purpose and Patient Determination
If we live without self-discipline – without clarifying aspirations, forming intentions, or training ourselves – our lives are unlikely to go in the direction we would like them to. Unfortunately, self-discipline is notoriously difficult! In the last episode I discussed...
01.09.2023
227 – Skillful Self-Discipline Part 1: Balancing Discipline and Gentleness
If we live without self-discipline – without clarifying aspirations, forming intentions, or training ourselves – our lives are unlikely to go in the direction we would like them to. Unfortunately, self-discipline is notoriously difficult! In this episode I will discuss...
12.25.2022
226 – How to Relate to Worldly Pleasure as a Buddhist – Part 2
In Part 1 I defined what I mean by “worldly pleasure,” and then discussed five drawbacks of such pleasure as described in Buddhist teachings, and in our own experience. In this episode I talk about how - if we can...
12.25.2022
225 – How to Relate to Worldly Pleasure as a Buddhist – Part 1
Traditionally, the ideal of Buddhism is the renunciate monastic who forgoes worldly pleasures because they are fleeting and distract us from practice. How should a serious practitioner relate to worldly pleasures if they’re not living a renunciate lifestyle? Is it...
12.16.2022
224 – Human Nature: Why Aren't We Born Enlightened?
Why aren't we just all born enlightened and avoid suffering? Or, we could ask: Why are human beings the way they are? Why did they evolve to cause so much suffering for themselves and others? If we all have Buddha-Nature,...
12.01.2022
223 – Integrating Insights
On the meditation seat and off, we may experience significant insights - realizations that shift our perceptions of ourselves and world, and help relieve suffering. Insights may be sudden or gradual, major or minor, but we naturally want to be...
11.23.2022
222 – Confronting the Buddha’s Sexist Discourse – Part 2
I explore how - for some of us - explaining, dismissing, or justifying the story of the Buddha’s resistance to ordaining women (told in the Gotami Sutta) does not completely neutralize the discouraging effect of this story’s presence in the...
11.16.2022
221 – Confronting the Buddha’s Sexist Discourse – Part 1
I introduce the text that describes the Buddha’s negative words and actions in response to the question of ordaining women into what was called the “homeless life” of his monastic community. Then I’ll talk about various ways we can explain,...

What's The Zen Studies Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Zen Studies Podcast episodes:

267 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chp 4 - Mindfulness: Cultivating Awareness Every Moment

266 - What Would the Buddha Say About the Suffering in the World?

265 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter Three, Part 3: Zazen – Our Total Response to Life

264 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter Three, Part 2: Zazen – Our Total Response to Life

263 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter 3, Part 1 - Zazen – Our Total Response to Life

262 - The Value, Care, and Feeding of Dharma Friendships – Part 2

261 – The Value, Care, and Feeding of Dharma Friendships – Part 1

260 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter Two: Bodhicitta, Way-Seeking Mind

259 - Ten Fields of Zen Practice Chapter One: What Is Zen Practice?

258 - One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 6: The Two Truths of Absolute and Relative 2

257 - One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 5: The Two Truths of Absolute and Relative – Part 1

256 - Do Your Own Practice: Spiritual Translation Versus Transformation

255 – The Medicine of Emptiness When Witnessing Suffering and Injustice

254 - Practice is How You Live Each and Every Moment – Part 2

253 - Practice is How You Live Each and Every Moment – Part 1

252 - Reflections on Dogen’s “Bussho, The Buddha-Nature” Part 2: Total Existence

251 – Reflections on Dogen’s “Bussho, The Buddha-Nature” Part 1: Being

250 - In Zazen We Stop Imposing Ourselves on the World and Meet It Instead

249 - Are the Buddha’s Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 2

248 - Are the Buddha’s Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 1

247 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 3

Two Episodes Recommended by Listeners

Recommended Episodes on Zazen

Announcement and Recommendation

246 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 2

245 - Sangha Challenges: How and Why to Open Up to the Treasure of Sangha – Part 1

244 - Zazen as a Religious Act

243 - The Buddha’s Life Story as Archetype and Teaching

242 - Reflections on Sansuikyo, Dogen’s Mountains and Waters Sutra

241 - What Does It Mean to Waste Time?

240 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 4: Buddha-Nature 2

239 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 3: Buddha-Nature 1

238 - Eco-Anxiety and Buddhism – Part 2

237 - Eco-Anxiety and Buddhism – Part 1

236 - Spiritual Inquiry Part 5: Koans and Awakening

235 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 2: Suchness or Thusness

234 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 4: Investigating and Resolving Karmic Issues

233 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 3: Identifying our Karmic Issues

232 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 2: Resistance to Questions and Karma Work Versus Awakening

231 – Spiritual Inquiry Part 1: What Spiritual Questions Are and Why They Matter

230 – The Importance of Bodhi-Mind, or Way-Seeking Mind

229 – One Reality, Many Descriptions Part 1: Emptiness

228 – Skillful Self-Discipline Part 2: Clarity of Purpose and Patient Determination

227 – Skillful Self-Discipline Part 1: Balancing Discipline and Gentleness

226 – How to Relate to Worldly Pleasure as a Buddhist – Part 2

225 – How to Relate to Worldly Pleasure as a Buddhist – Part 1

224 – Human Nature: Why Aren't We Born Enlightened?

223 – Integrating Insights

222 – Confronting the Buddha’s Sexist Discourse – Part 2

221 – Confronting the Buddha’s Sexist Discourse – Part 1