The Zen Studies Podcast

Domyo Burk
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  • BUDDHISM

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.

  1. No Buddhist Bible: A Brief Overview of 2500 Years' Worth of Buddhist Texts (2 of 2)

    6 DAYS AGO

    No Buddhist Bible: A Brief Overview of 2500 Years' Worth of Buddhist Texts (2 of 2)

    In Part 2 of this episode, I continue giving my "2,500 years' worth of Buddhist texts in a nutshell," an overview of texts in my Zen lineage. In Part 1 I explained what makes a Buddhist text considered legitimate enough to be passed down through the ages. I also introduced the idea of a Buddhist family tree and discussed the original Buddhist canon, the rising of the Mahayana, and the Mahayana sutras. In this episode I cover Mahayana philosophers, Chinese Chan literature, and the writings of two of the main Japanese Zen ancestors in my lineage.

    33 min
  2. A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Sangha as Community (2 of 2)

    31 MAR

    A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Sangha as Community (2 of 2)

    In Buddhism, we have three treasures: Buddha, teachers or our own awakened nature; Dharma, the teachings or the truth itself, and Sangha, the community of people who practice and maintain the tradition together. From the beginning of Buddhism, then, community has been considered essential – but in what sense? We may think of Sangha primarily as an impersonal institution providing access to Buddhist teachings and practice. It certainly fulfills that function, but I believe it's equally important that our Sanghas be welcoming, loving, joyful, mature communities: A place where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.

    21 min
  3. A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Sangha as Community (1 of 2)

    31 MAR

    A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Sangha as Community (1 of 2)

    In Buddhism, we have three treasures: Buddha, teachers or our own awakened nature; Dharma, the teachings or the truth itself, and Sangha, the community of people who practice and maintain the tradition together. From the beginning of Buddhism, then, community has been considered essential – but in what sense? We may think of Sangha primarily as an impersonal institution providing access to Buddhist teachings and practice. It certainly fulfills that function, but I believe it's equally important that our Sanghas be welcoming, loving, joyful, mature communities: A place where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.

    32 min
  4. No Buddhist Bible: A Brief Overview of 2500 Years' Worth of Buddhist Texts (1 of 2)

    17 MAR

    No Buddhist Bible: A Brief Overview of 2500 Years' Worth of Buddhist Texts (1 of 2)

    You may have discovered there are lots of Buddhist teachings and texts. Jews have their Torah, Christians their Bible, Muslims their Quran, and Hindus their Vedas, but Buddhists have no divinely-inspired central text, or even collection of texts, to serve as a definitive source of orthodox teachings. The texts considered authoritative in at least one sect of Buddhism would fill a library. This episode (along with Part 2) is meant to be a brief and broad overview of 2500 years'-worth of Buddhist texts in the Zen lineage. Hopefully, it can give you some context for whatever text you might find yourself reading.

    32 min
  5. Imagine Yourself as a Buddha and Unblock Your Natural Generosity

    1 MAR

    Imagine Yourself as a Buddha and Unblock Your Natural Generosity

    In Buddhism, we are guided by the ideal of a Buddha, or awakened being. One of the characteristics of a Buddha is unconditional and selfless generosity, and when your generosity is blocked, you can be sure that some part of you still needs understanding, healing or liberation. On the other hand, when you're able to set aside your self-doubt and imagine yourself as a Buddha, when you look on other beings as if they were your children, you may find your generosity flows more naturally.

    41 min
  6. Yunmen's "Every Day Is a Good Day"

    13 FEB

    Yunmen's "Every Day Is a Good Day"

    In koan #6 from the Blue Cliff Record, Yunmen says, "Every day is a good day." I explore this koan, including the way we sometimes imagine our real life is going to happen after something, and the various ways we can experience "good."

    22 min
  7. Zazen As Defiant Self-Care

    30 JAN

    Zazen As Defiant Self-Care

    Since the term arose in 1950's, "self-care" has referred to a number of different things. If we consider self-care to be things you do to remain physically and mentally healthy, then Zazen – simple, goalless, Zen meditation – can be seen as excellent self-care. In these troubled times, such self-care can even be seen as defiant – refusing to be broken down by challenging circumstances. Other forms of meditation can also be seen as self-care, of course, but Zazen can be a little difficult to get your mind around. Framing it as self-care may help you appreciate what it's all about.

    25 min
  8. Q&A: Relationships, Cultural "Zen," No-Self, and Confession

    13 JAN

    Q&A: Relationships, Cultural "Zen," No-Self, and Confession

    This a Q&A episode based on questions I've received from listeners: Does Zen have anything to say about human relationships? Can we learn anything from the cultural popularization of the term "Zen"? If we have no independent self-nature, what about our sense of enduring self? Do Buddhists practice confession like Catholics?

    27 min
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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.

Information

  • Creator
    Domyo Burk
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    340
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2017-2025 Domyo Burk
  • Show Website
    The Zen Studies Podcast

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