Endless Path Zendo | Roshi Rafe Martin

Roshi Rafe Martin
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Endless Path Zendo, is a lay Zen Buddhist community. Intimate and non-institutional in atmosphere, we are dedicated to realizing the Buddha Way in the midst of our own ordinary lives, finding our center of gravity in the creativity of Zen, and the Way of the Bodhisattva. Zen teacher (roshi) Rafe Jnan Martin began traditional Zen practice in 1970, becoming a personal disciple of Roshi Philip Kapleau, author of The Three Pillars of Zen. After Kapleau Roshi’s retirement, he practiced with Robert Aitken Roshi, founder of the Diamond Sangha, then from 2002-2016 worked intensively with Danan Henry Roshi, founding teacher of the Zen Center of Denver and a Kapleau Roshi Dharma Heir as well as a Diamond Sangha Dharma Master. Rafe received full lay ordination in 2009, and in 2012 received inka—recognition of his successful completion of the Diamond Sangha/ Harada-Yasutani koan curriculum, along with authorization to begin teaching. In 2016 he received full Dharma Transmission as an independent Zen teacher. An award-winning author and storyteller whose work has been cited in Time, Newsweek, The NY Times, and USA Today, Rafe has a master’s degree in English literature and literary criticism and is a recipient of both national and state awards, including the Empire State Award for the body of his work. His writing has appeared in Tricycle, Lion’s Roar, Parabola, The Sun, and Inquiring Mind, among other journals of religion and myth. He has given talks at Zen and Dharma Centers around the US and Canada, as well as such venues as the American Museum of Natural History, Zuni Pueblo, and The Joseph Campbell Festival of Myth and Story.  His most recent books are A Zen Life of Buddha (Sumeru 2022), The Brave Little Parrot (Wisdom Publications, 2023) and A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas (Sumeru, 2023). 

  1. Sep 12

    Are Trees Bodhisattvas?

    Recorded September 12, 2026. In this latest teisho (Zen talk) Roshi Martin, reads, comments on, and edits on the fly Chapter 11 —“The Bodhisattva Saves the Realm as the Consciousness of a Tree” from his book, “A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas” (Sumeru, 2023). “You and the tree in your backyard come from a common ancestor. A billion and a half years ago, the two of you parted ways. But even now, after an immense journey in separate directions, that tree and you still share a quarter of your genes.” Richard Powers, quoting Canadian botanist Suzanne Simard in “The Overstory: A Novel” “In the assemblies of the enlightened ones there have been many cases of mastering the Way bringing forth the hearts of plants and trees; this is what awakening the mind for enlightenment is like.” Zen Master Dogen Through root systems, leaves, and fungal webs every tree is woven into a planetary web of life that enfolds the body of the Earth, as well as endlessly up into the light of sun, moon, and stars. So, where does a tree’s body and consciousness end? How might a tree use its expansive consciousness to fulfill the three general resolutions of bodhisattvas to — “do good, avoid evil, and save the many beings”? Listen to this unique teisho and find out! Referenced: "The Overstory: A Novel," Richard Powers Painting: "Trees at Night, West Branch St. Regis River" by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    Are Trees Bodhisattvas?

  2. Aug 8

    Fugen, Tree Bodhisattvas, Creativity and Zen

    Recorded on August 8, 2026. This teisho is a potpourri made up of 3 shorter sections from "A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas" — namely a folktale of Fugen Bosatsu, a jataka tale of the Buddha in a past life when he was the consciousness of a tree, and a short piece on Zen, Creativity, and imagination all read aloud and commented on by their author, Roshi Rafe Jnan Martin.  Tree painting by Rafe Martin  Read Roshi Rafe Martin's latest book:  Finding Your Buddha Smile: Coming Home To What Zen is Really All About.  Available from Amazon , Sumeru Books, and Barnes & Noble Online. Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    Fugen, Tree Bodhisattvas, Creativity and Zen

  3. Aug 1

    The Buddha Makes a Mistake

    Recorded 08/01/2026. What does it mean to be human? Does the form of having two feet, legs, eyes, and ears, a nose, brain, and heart sum it up? If so there are billions of us. But if by “human” we mean someone wise and compassionate, not driven by greed, anger, ignorance, or fear; someone who can be counted on when the going gets rough, then that number may be rather small. What does it take to be or become such a genuinely human, human being?  The Buddha in a distant past life was on the path of becoming fully human — that is, he was on the Way of the Bodhisattva — when a wrong choice led to an unexpected life. What did he do? How did he resolve it? What did he learn and how does knowing any of this help us? Give a listen and you’ll see why the image of a whale accompanies this teisho. Books: A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas -- Rafe MartinCarnivore Minds -- G.A. BradshawThe Three Pillars of Zen -- Philip KapleauThe Poetry and Prose of William Blake -- David Erdman, ed. Photo of John Perry sperm whale sculpture by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    The Buddha Makes a Mistake

  4. Jul 25

    A Dream Within A Dream

    Recorded July 25, 2026. Case no. 25, Gateless Barrier: “Yang-shan’s Sermon From the Third Seat” is as follows: Yang-shan dreamed he went to Maitreya’s realm and was led to the third seat. A senior monk struck the stand with a gavel and announced, “Today the monk in the third seat will preach.” Yang-shan rose, struck the stand with the gavel, and said, “The Dharma of the Mahayana is beyond the Four Propositions and transcends the Hundred Negations. Listen, listen.” Why does Master Wu-men, creator of the Gateless Barrier, use a story of an old teacher’s dream as a koan? Koans present actual words and doings. But this is just a dream. What value could it have? Roshi Kapleau used to say that enlightenment is a dream. After all, enlightenment is simply the realization of our own Mind, the selfless Mind that’s been ours from the beginning. What are we going to get with enlightenment that we don't already have? The problem is that we don't know it. So, while lost in dreams, we should not discount the dream’s value. Bob Dylan says “I’ll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours.” (“Talking World War III Blues.” Dreams within dreams. Within a dream. Roshi Kapleau used to relate how, not long after he’d arrived at Hosshinji Monastery a monk asked him, “Kapleau-san. Do you believe in dreams?” He told us that it took many years of Zen practice before he grasped what that monk was getting at. Do you believe in dreams? Who is it that believes in dreams? There is a dream dreaming dreams. Is it wrong that our life is a dream? With this dream scenario, Yang-shan and Wu-men have found a way to pull the wool not over, but off our eyes. This is a pretty good trick, wouldn’t you say? Book: Zen Life of Bodhisattvas by Rafe Martin Photo of Hotei at Endless Path Zendo by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    A Dream Within A Dream

  5. Jul 11

    Bodhisattva of Great Compassion

    Recorded on July 11, 2026. Asked to write something about the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, Hakuin penned: “Even if the rivers and seas all receded and became dry land,/ Her vow to save all sentient beings still would never cease.” In other words even if the world turns upside down and seas become mountains and mountains seas, (which has actually happened), even if what is beyond imagining occurs, even, then, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion will not fall into thinking only of her self but will remain dedicated to the welfare of All — so deep and fundamental is her Great Vow.  Zen practice doesn’t care who we know or what our salary or social standing might be. It’s an iron mountain or, as Western fairy tales have it, a glass hill. We try, we fail, we try again. Through trying, failing, getting back up and trying again, Zen practice becomes genuine and we ourselves, authentic, authentically ourselves. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s own great Vow matured through such heart-felt failure — which is rather hopeful indeed.  Books — Complete Poison Blossoms from a Thicket of Thorn — Norman WaddellA Zen Life of Bodhisattvas — Rafe Martin Photo — detail: Avalokitesvara thangka at Endless Path Zendo by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    Bodhisattva of Great Compassion

  6. Jun 6

    The Zen Buddhist Precepts and Living Our Zen

    Recorded June 6, 2026. In preparation for the Jukai (receiving the precepts) on 6/20/2026, before leaving for the American Zen Teachers Association gathering, Roshi Martin read and commented on Aitken Roshi’s opening chapter of “The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics” — “The Nature of the Precepts.” Here’s that teisho, as presented at Endless Path Zendo on 6/06/2026.  Books -- "The Mind of Clover" by Robert Aitken Photo of Aitken Roshi at Palolo Zen Center, Honolulu, HI.  Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    The Zen Buddhist Precepts and Living Our Zen

  7. May 30

    Manjusri Fails!

    Recorded 5/30/2026. Wu-men’s commentary to Case 42 of The Gateless Barrier, “Manjusri and the Young Woman in Samadhi” says “The comedy Old Shakya puts on the stage here is a great hodgepodge. Just tell me now; Manjusri is the teacher of the Seven Buddhas – why couldn’t he get the young woman out of her samadhi, when the Bodhisattva of Delusive Wisdom, a beginner, could? If you can firmly grasp this point, then for you this busy life of ignorance and discrimination will be the life of the Dragon Samadhi.” His verse to the case: One can awaken her, the other cannot; Both of them are free. A god mask, a devil mask The failure is wonderful indeed. Hmm. One can, one can’t. Isn’t that unfair? Shakespeare was an immediate success, but Melville never received a single positive review on his masterwork, Moby Dick. Picasso never failed to receive worshipful accolades, yet Van Gogh never sold a painting and William Blake died in poverty. One can awaken her, the other cannot. Astoundingly, Wu-men asserts that both are free. If so, how is Manjusri free, and how is the Bodhisattva of Delusive Wisdom also free? How is Einstein free and how Walt Disney? And what about us? How are we free, Dragon Samadhi or no? Let’s take a look! Photo of Manjusri on Lion at Endless Path by Rafe Martin Books referenced:  A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas by Rafe MartinBooks by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    Manjusri Fails!

  8. May 16

    Meeting Manjusri Bodhisattva of Wisdom Face-to Face

    Recorded May 16, 2026. Roshi Rafe Martin reads and comments on Chapter 3 of "A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas."  “Manjushri’s Threes by Threes” — Case # 35 of the Blue Cliff Record —  Manjusri asked Wu Cho, “Where have you just come from?” Wu Cho replied, “The south.” Manjusri said, “ How is southern Buddhism faring?” Wu Cho answered, “The monks of the latter days of the Law have little regard for the precepts.” Manjusri said, “Are there many or few?” Wu Cho said, “Here about 300, there around 500.” Wu Cho then asked Manjusri, “How does Buddhism fare in this part of the world?” Manjusri said, “The worldly and the holy dwell together; dragons and snakes intermingle.” Wu Cho asked, “Are there few or many?” Manjusri said, “In front, three by three; in back, three by three.” What’s going on? Does Manjusri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom, deliver — or obfuscate? What kind of wisdom is this? Wise folks may speak in riddles but can hide behind gibberish. Con-men have played that field. Have we been taken in? What is Manjusri’s profound wisdom and how will it help us live lives of actual meaning here and now? Let’s take a look! Books  A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas — Rafe MartinHaiku, Vol. 1: Eastern Culture — R.H. BlythMoby Dick — Herman MelvilleThe Adolescent — Fyodor Dostoevsky Photo of Manjusri and Buddha at Endless Path Zendo by Rafe Martin Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org

    Meeting Manjusri Bodhisattva of Wisdom Face-to Face
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About

Endless Path Zendo, is a lay Zen Buddhist community. Intimate and non-institutional in atmosphere, we are dedicated to realizing the Buddha Way in the midst of our own ordinary lives, finding our center of gravity in the creativity of Zen, and the Way of the Bodhisattva. Zen teacher (roshi) Rafe Jnan Martin began traditional Zen practice in 1970, becoming a personal disciple of Roshi Philip Kapleau, author of The Three Pillars of Zen. After Kapleau Roshi’s retirement, he practiced with Robert Aitken Roshi, founder of the Diamond Sangha, then from 2002-2016 worked intensively with Danan Henry Roshi, founding teacher of the Zen Center of Denver and a Kapleau Roshi Dharma Heir as well as a Diamond Sangha Dharma Master. Rafe received full lay ordination in 2009, and in 2012 received inka—recognition of his successful completion of the Diamond Sangha/ Harada-Yasutani koan curriculum, along with authorization to begin teaching. In 2016 he received full Dharma Transmission as an independent Zen teacher. An award-winning author and storyteller whose work has been cited in Time, Newsweek, The NY Times, and USA Today, Rafe has a master’s degree in English literature and literary criticism and is a recipient of both national and state awards, including the Empire State Award for the body of his work. His writing has appeared in Tricycle, Lion’s Roar, Parabola, The Sun, and Inquiring Mind, among other journals of religion and myth. He has given talks at Zen and Dharma Centers around the US and Canada, as well as such venues as the American Museum of Natural History, Zuni Pueblo, and The Joseph Campbell Festival of Myth and Story.  His most recent books are A Zen Life of Buddha (Sumeru 2022), The Brave Little Parrot (Wisdom Publications, 2023) and A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas (Sumeru, 2023). 

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