A. Jesse Jiryu Davis's dharma talks

A. Jesse Jiryu Davis
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Talks on Zen from a senior student at the Village Zendo. Frequent delusion and swearing.

  1. 21 Jun

    Keep the Dharma Wheel Rolling

    A dharma talk I gave during the New Palz Zen Center's June retreat, a few days before our sangha member Monshin gave her first talk. I was just back from a trip to Nepal and India, and I described how the rituals, symbols, and language we use today go back at least 5000 years in India and Europe. We have a duty today to preserve our ancestors' tradition and to innovate, even though someday Buddhism will be forgotten and the whole universe destroyed.

    27 min

  2. 13 May

    The Kid Is Not My Son

    My father's dishonesty was frustrating and disappointing to many people, but I think he got the worst of it. Here's a dharma talk I gave to New Paltz Zen Center and Village Zendo on May 10, 2026. https://emptysqua.re/blog/the-kid-is-not-my-son/

    29 min
  3. Speak Up If You're Stuck in a Zazen Rut

    19/08/2025

    Speak Up If You're Stuck in a Zazen Rut

    Certain topics seem off-limits in Zen, like: What's the goal of meditation? How do I get better at it? What is everyone else experiencing when they sit? I spoke at the New Paltz Zen Center about getting stuck at a plateau in meditation skill, and about Zen communities' reluctance to discuss peak experiences, progress, and goals. Here's a written version: https://emptysqua.re/blog/speak-up-if-youre-stuck-in-a-zazen-rut/

    42 min

  4. 25/01/2025

    Which Beings Are Sentient?

    Which animals are sentient, and how can we liberate them from suffering? I review the philosopher Jonathan Birch's book "The Edge of Sentience" and shares good news about humanity's moral progress regarding animal welfare.

    43 min
  5. Is an Enlightened Person Afraid of Illness and Death?

    25/12/2024

    Is an Enlightened Person Afraid of Illness and Death?

    This is a dharma talk I gave at the Village Zendo December 12, 2024, about my mother's brain surgery and end-of-life decisions. Here's the video and a transcript.

    27 min
  6. Are You Prepared To Save A Life?

    25/12/2024

    Are You Prepared To Save A Life?

    You can find yourself in a critical situation without warning. Is Zen practice preparing you? Here's a dharma talk I gave to the Village Zendo on September 5, 2024, about the classic koan, "Nansen kills the cat." Video and transcript here.

    33 min

  7. 22/03/2024

    Bodhisattvas Always Smile

    Bodhisattvas smile, though they hear the suffering cries of the world. You should smile too! A Zen talk I gave against doomerism.

    28 min

  8. 08/02/2021

    Give Something Away to a Stranger

    Rich countries and drug firms act selfishly the COVID pandemic. Selfishness is natural, but we can strengthen our universal goodwill through training.

    24 min
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Talks on Zen from a senior student at the Village Zendo. Frequent delusion and swearing.

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