The Peaceful Sea Audio Archive

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Title Speaker Date

Finding Joy in Lowered Standards

Serial: EB-00296 The talk explores the challenges of achieving enlightenment and happiness through meditation and other practices. It presents anecdotes that emphasize the importance of lowering standards and finding contentment with one's own...
Vow, Chanting, Thich Nhat Hanh, Daily Life, Heart Sutra
Jun 15 1984

Everyday Mindfulness: Gateway to Truth

Serial: EB-00312 The talk explores the nature of Zen practice with an emphasis on perceiving everyday experiences as gateways to the truth. It dissects themes of openness and compassion, emphasizing the interplay between personal suffering and...
Vow, Building, Death, Nirvana, Practice Period
Apr 10 1984

Engaging Directly with Suffering

Serial: EB-00317 The talk explores the complex relationship between experience, suffering, and the need for acceptance as articulated in Zen practice. It critiques the tendency to escape from uncomfortable experiences, positing that growth comes...
Vow, Koan, Hate, Greed
Apr 10 1984

Embrace Experience Through Ritual Unity

Serial: EB-00309 The talk explores the integration of conscious and unconscious practices through rituals and ceremonies, focusing on the importance of conscious awareness without succumbing to self-criticism. It emphasizes the concept of...
Emptiness, Ceremony, Freedom, Heart Sutra, Separation
Apr 09 1984

Awakening to the Buddha Within

Serial: EB-00314 The talk focuses on the concept of Tathagatagarbha, exploring its essence and role within Zen philosophy. It delves into interpretations of Tathagatagarbha, emphasizing the inherent Buddha-nature present in all beings and how...
Apr 08 1984

Spiritual Athletics and Mindful Unity

Serial: EB-00242 The talk delves into the analogy of spiritual practice as an athletic endeavor, exploring the balance between competitiveness and mindfulness in personal development. It discusses the implications of viewing spiritual practice...
Big Mind, Samadhi, Vow, Bell, Intention
Apr 07 1984

Inescapable Reality of Zen Practice

Serial: EB-00294 The talk explores the inescapable nature of the Zen practice, particularly during sushin, where the persistence of one's reality becomes unavoidable. It emphasizes meeting this reality with presence and mindfulness, recounting...
Posture, Delusion, Bowing
Apr 06 1984

Zen's Path to True Oneness

Serial: EB-00306 This talk centers on the concept of the "Samadhi of Oneness" in Zen practice, highlighting the importance of maintaining a straightforward mind in various states such as walking, sitting, and lying down. It discusses the...
Samadhi, Oneness, Delusion, Manjushri, Sixth Patriarch
Apr 05 1984

Unveiling Enlightenment in Everyday Moments

Serial: EB-00262 The talk centers on the practice of examining one's inner life meticulously to discern what to retain and what to relinquish, emphasizing the effort to purify one's actions without attachment. The speaker narrates a tale from the...
Avalokiteshvara, Separation, Attachment, confusion, Building
Apr 04 1984

Embrace the Unfolding Unknown

Serial: EB-00291 The talk explores themes of control, perception, and awakening, centered on encounters with Zen teachings, notably through allegories and stories that illustrate the challenge of confronting existential questions. The discussion...
Faith, Big Mind, Letting Go, Doubt, Emptiness
Mar 27 1984

Embracing the Wild Within

Serial: EB-00322 The talk explores themes of self-discovery, inner duality, and integration of different aspects of the self through a Zen lens, drawing parallels to a Grimm's fairytale about a wild man. Emphasizing the concept of "digesting" one...
Daily Life, Big Mind, Concentration, Harmonizing, Bodhidharma
Mar 18 1984

Awakening the Inner Journey

Serial: EB-00308 The talk explores themes of self-reflection, inherent nature, and perception through Zen teachings, poetry, and anecdotes. It discusses the concept of 'the guest within,' inspired by Kabir's poetry, to signify an internal essence...
Dragons, Vow, Practice Period, Bell, Heart Sutra
Mar 06 1984

Paths of Zen: Striving or Being

Serial: EB-00304 The talk examines the practice of Zen through conceptual models, particularly distinguishing between the Rinzai and Soto approaches. It discusses the pitfalls of perceiving enlightenment as either something to be vigorously...
Faith, Observe, Rinzai, Vow, Concentration
Feb 28 1984

Present Practice with Impermanent Time

Serial: EB-00281 The talk examines Zen practice, focusing on the interplay between meditation, the necessity of a teacher, and perceiving one's actions in relation to awareness and intentions. There is exploration into the Zen teaching of living...
Right Effort, Practice Period, Concentration, Emptiness, Intention
Feb 23 1984

Zen Realization Through Balanced Sitting

Serial: EB-00267 The talk explores the concept of realization in Zen Buddhism, particularly using Dogen Zenji's writings about Buddhadharma and realization, emphasizing that realization is beyond thought and expectations. The discussion...
Posture, realization, Building, Vow, Letting Go
Feb 20 1984

Embrace the Present: The Zen Path

Serial: EB-00311 The talk explores the nature of Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of being present in one's current state without striving to alter external conditions. It discusses the significance of internal reflection and acceptance,...
Delusion, Blue Cliff Record, Freedom, Intimacy, Intention
Feb 13 1984

Horizons of Mindful Creativity

Serial: EB-00286 The talk reflects on the themes of personal creativity in entertainment versus professional performances, non-discrimination, and the teaching of one-flavor equanimity in Zen practice. The speaker discusses Dogen's analogy of...
Non-discrimination, Equanimity, Discrimination, Big Mind, Zendo
Feb 08 1984

Awaken to Each Present Moment

Serial: EB-00288 The talk explores Zen practice, emphasizing the concept of non-discrimination and the inherent value of living in the present moment. Through references to Zen teachings, such as the notion that "every day is a good day," it...
Practice Period, Non-discrimination, Aspects of Practice, Thich Nhat Hanh, Koan...
Feb 01 1984

Silent Awareness: Path to True Nature

Serial: EB-00057 The talk delves into the concept of silent awareness as an authentic state of being, contrasting Western critical attitudes with Eastern intuitive silence, influenced by encounters with figures like Rabindranath Tagore and Ramana...
Ego, Silence, Intuition, Buddha Nature, Death
Sep 28 1983

Wisdom and Love Beyond Perfection

Serial: EB-00049 The talk centers on the concept of the "perfection of wisdom" in Zen, emphasizing the futility of tracking one's success in achieving clarity or wisdom. The discussion transitions to the pursuit of love, critiquing the notion...
Evil, training, Buddha Nature, Book of Serenity, Desire

Zen Living: Presence in Every Moment

Serial: EB-00068 The talk explores the Zen practice of mindfulness in everyday activities, using personal anecdotes to illustrate the significance of being fully present in each moment, such as when cooking or meditating. This approach is...
Sixth Patriarch, Manjushri, Transmission, Vimalakirti

Awakening Presence Through Mindful Touch

Serial: EB-00203 The talk explores the practice of mindful touch as a means of connecting with one's own and another's consciousness and essence, emphasizing presence and the ability to simply 'be' without the need to instruct or control. Key...
Peace, Rumi, War, Instruction, training

Rise and Flour: Expanding Artisan Baking

Serial: EB-00208 The talk discusses the development of the Tassajara Bakery and the philosophies behind expanding while maintaining product quality. The speaker details the variety of breads and pastries produced, plans for a larger baking...
Mill Valley, American, Emotions, Politics, Priest

Navigating Wholesome and Unwholesome Dharmas

Serial: EB-00218A This talk explores the Abhidhamma, focusing on how dharmas manifest differently in wholesome versus unwholesome states. It outlines the characteristics of wholesome states such as tranquility, enlightenment, pliancy, workability...
Karma, Concentration, Samadhi, Greed, Desire

Abhidharma: Unlocking Mindfulness Through Analysis

Serial: EB-00219A The talk provides an introduction to the Abhidharma, emphasizing its distinctive analytical approach compared to the Sutta Piṭaka and its importance in understanding non-self or emptiness via structured classifications of...
Abhidharma, Sutra, Vinaya, Heart Sutra, Nirvana

Zen and Abhidharma: Pathways to Enlightenment

Serial: EB-00219C The talk provides an extensive analysis of Zen philosophy through the lens of Abhidharma, focusing on conceptual distinctions like "pitaka" and "vichara," alongside vital mental states like "vittaka," "vichara," "piti," "sukha,"...
Faith, Concentration, Abhidharma, Vow, Samadhi

Navigating Consciousness Through Right Views

Serial: EB-00219D The talk delves into the intricacies of the Abhidhamma, focusing on the faculties and qualities of mind as they relate to understanding and consciousness. It connects these faculties to concepts within the Bhagavad Gita,...
Faith, Hate, Delusion, Greed, Concentration

Embracing Imperfection on the Zen Path

Serial: EB-00222 The talk explores the theme of human imperfection in the context of Zen practice, highlighting the persistence of internal struggles, humorously referred to as the "10,000 idiots," and the significance of recognizing and...
Blue Cliff Record, Intimacy, Thich Nhat Hanh, realization, Sangha

Nurturing Awareness in Modern Meditation

Serial: EB-00245 The talk explores the dichotomy between nurturing and exploitive approaches within meditation practice and life, using personal anecdotes to illuminate how this contrast manifests. The discussion draws parallels between the...
Community, Money, Thich Nhat Hanh, Culture, Chanting

Zen's Journey: Work as Practice

Serial: EB-00249B The talk explores the adaptation of Zen Buddhist practice as it moved from India to China, emphasizing the transition from non-working monastic traditions to work-based Zen practices. It discusses Pai Chang's innovations in...
Okesa, Soto Zen, Ordination, Tenzo, Zendo

Zen of Cooking: Embrace Imperfection

Serial: EB-00250 This talk focuses on the theme of blessings and the intersection of Zen philosophy with everyday life, particularly through the lens of cooking. It emphasizes the practice of embracing imperfections, drawing from personal...
Thich Nhat Hanh, Offering, Priest, Mill Valley, Bell

Zen Reflections: Beginner's Insights

Serial: EB-00218B The talk delves into the concept of self-reflection within Zen practice. "Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki: Highlights the importance of maintaining a beginner's attitude in self-discovery. "...

Embrace the Echo of You

Serial: EB-00219B The transcript appears repetitive and lacks substantive content, focusing exclusively on the phrase "you you you." This repetition might suggest a meditative or contemplative technique employed during the talk, possibly...

Journey to the Inner Spring

Serial: EB-00044 The talk discusses the allegorical story of three princes searching for the "water of life," emphasizing the importance of humility and seeking guidance in personal spiritual journeys. It explores themes of listening to inner...
Enemies, Dragons, Rumi, Silence, Bell

Embracing Rain: Zen and Everyday Moments

Serial: EB-00205 This talk explores the intersections of Zen practice and daily life, using the acts of eating and the sound of rain as meditative focal points. Discussions include the Zen story of "when hungry, eat; when tired, sleep" and its...
Silence, Zendo, training, Balance, Renewal
Feb 21

Zen's Communal Heartbeat: A Legacy

Serial: EB-00207 The talk explores the familial aspects of Zen practice, emphasizing the sense of community and lineage within the Zen tradition. It contrasts with the more individualistic Vipassana approach. Important figures such as Katagiri...
Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Interview, Buddha Nature, Community
Mar 04

Enlightenment in Everyday Moments

Serial: EB-00211 The talk explores the challenges of adhering to spiritual practices, using Zen Buddhism as a framework, and contrasts the micro-management of personal discipline with the concept of sudden enlightenment. An anecdote about a...
Greed, Buddha Mind, Gratitude, Emptiness, Equanimity
Mar 29

Forms as Catalysts for Transformation

Serial: EB-00204 This talk explores the significance of form in life, particularly through the lenses of marriage and meditation, emphasizing that while forms such as weddings and meditation practices might invite challenges and disruptions, they...
Desire, Bell, Ceremony, Lineage, realization
May 17

Embracing Sorrow as a Pathway

Serial: EB-00301 The talk addresses the importance of embracing and understanding sorrow as a path towards genuine happiness, rather than eschewing it. It discusses the work involved in processing sadness and how mindful attention to our...
Ego, Big Mind, Intention, Practice Period, Lay
Jun 25

The Teacher Within Each Learner

Serial: EB-00209 The talk explores the intertwined roles of teacher and student, suggesting that both must embody qualities of the other to truly learn and teach effectively. It recounts anecdotes and teachings from individuals like Suzuki Roshi...
Delusion, Practice Period, confusion, Buddha Nature
Jun 28

Awakening Through Mindful Simplicity

Serial: EB-00299 The talk explores the process of personal awakening and the inherent risks associated with it, such as the potential for self-doubt and feeling foolish. The discussion emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and entering into...
Doubt, Faith, Renewal, Dragons, Balance
Jul 19

Full-Time Presence, Full-Time Truth

Serial: EB-00210 The talk explores the concept of desire and its dominance over individuals, emphasizing that the path to truth is inherently simple yet often overlooked. It suggests that understanding and commitment in relationships require a...
Desire
Aug 01

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