PODCAST

Young Urban Zen SF

Young Urban Zen is a group under the auspices of the San Francisco Zen Center, with a particular focus on those between 20 and 40. It meets on Tuesday evenings for meditation and discussion about Zen practice. People of all experience levels are welcome.

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

The Shadow Side

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/09/15

Michael McCord: What is our relationship with the scary, ugly, mean, petty, undeveloped, seemingly unworthy parts or ourselves? And what about these parts of others?

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Unveiling the Gifts of Failure

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/09/12

Hiro Ikushima: We will reflect on the idea that spiritual breakthroughs often arise from our mistakes and failures. How can Zen practitioners cultivate a mindset that welcomes mistakes as valuable opportunities for growth and awakening?

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Under the Words

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/08/30

Kodo Conlin: Founder Dōgen put it, "The path of all buddhas and ancestors arises before the first forms emerge; it cannot be spoken of using conventional views.” Our topic for tonight is getting under the words, invitations to broaden our spectrum of experience, abiding in the vastness beyond words and stories.

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List-Making & Non-Dualism

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/08/29

Anshi Zachary Smith: “We’ll explore, among other things, the intellectual and philosophical environment in which Zen Buddhism developed in China, in particular the that fact that it contained both a proliferation of dualistic “list-making” and a preponderance of radical non-dualism (perhaps “anti-dualism”) as pioneered by some earlier Mahayana Buddhist schools, e.g. the Huayan school. We’ll also see how this balancing act has continued even up to the present day.”

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Living with One Shoulder Bare

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/08/25

Michael McCord: We'll explore the ritual garment practice of Buddhist monks who draped cloth such that one shoulder was bare with their daily garments, symbolizing they always had at least one arm ready to help others. How can we live this way in the modern world when "our" stuff seems to be overwhelming as it is - and what ways may this help us as well?

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Hui Chao Asks About the Buddha

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/07/28

Anshi Zachary Smith raises Case 7 of the Blue Cliff Record, “Hui Chao Asks About the Buddha,” to see what it can tell (or show) us about the exact nature of the much-debated term “Buddha Nature” in the context of Zen practice. We will also be bringing in a bit of Dogen, which is always a good thing—rather like adding pepper, or maybe even smoked Paprika, to soup.

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Social & Communal Harmony

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/07/23

Maybe it's me, or what seems like perpetual election season, but little seems more relevant than reflecting on Social & Communal Harmony. What does the Buddha have to say about this, as one who lived through his own period of political upheaval and community division, and was insulted a fair amount? Let's pick up some of the Buddha's words and see what light they shine on how he was able to walk beneficially through this wild world.

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What You Resist, Persists: the Practice of Acceptance

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/07/13

Hiro Ikushima: "We will discuss the profound benefits of incorporating mindful practice in our daily lives, and how it can assist us in embracing our daily struggles as invaluable teachers that guide us in studying ourselves and ultimately cultivating inner freedom."

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Kindness

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/07/13

Eli Brown-Stevenson ponders the question, "Can you be too kind?"

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The Dharma of Demi-Girls

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/06/19

Heather Shoren Iarusso: “What do unicorns, rainbows, and demi-girls have to do with the practice of Zen? Come to the talk and all will be revealed.”

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Yangshan’s Mind and Environment

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/06/15

“This case raises and explores the question of what actually happens when, as Dogen asks, you take “the backward step that turns your light inwardly to illuminate your self”. Not surprisingly, it’s not exactly as straightforward as turning on the kitchen light on the way to the fridge and there are some nuances to sort out.” — Anshi Zachary Smith

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Beyond Illusion: Exploring the Self to Forget the Self

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/05/25

Hiro Ikushima: Dogen-zenji said, "To study the Buddha Way is to study the self, to study the self is to forget the self." Bassui Tokushō, a Rinzai zen master, gave his disciples a self-inquiry "Who is this that hears the sound?"We'll explore what it means to study the self and delve into self-Inquiry to peel back the layers of an illusory sense of self.

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Embracing Aversion to Open Our Hearts

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/05/18

Heather Shoren Iarusso: "Aversion" is one of the mental afflictions the Buddha calls The Five Hindrances, which hinder our ability to experience calm and insight on and off the meditation cushion. By turning toward these uncomfortable feeling-tones, we slowly become less reactive and more spacious. This frees the heart to be compassionate and receptive toward ourselves and others.

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Imagination and the Bodhisattva Universe

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/05/11

Kodo Conlin

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Fengxue's "Iron Ox" - Book Of Serenity 29

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/05/05

Anshi Zachary Smith: Case 29 of the Book of Serenity, which, in addition to a whole lot of slapstick hi-jinks and, perhaps, the most creative and outrageous insult a Tang Dynasty Zen teacher has ever leveled at his interlocutor, makes a number of subtle points about the nature and practice of teaching/transmission itself. Thus, it’s a fitting follow-on to Kodo’s talk about Practice Discussion of lastweek.

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The Teaching Just for You: The Practice of Practice...

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/04/28

With rivers of Dharma books and oceans of online instruction, how do I know the teaching that is right for me now? What does a practice that's matured by decades even look like? One approach to clarifying such questions is the practice of practice discussion, to meet face-to-face in a space of shared reflection where the Teaching Just for You can arise. We will discuss the hows, whats, and whys. — Kodo Conlin

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Zen as a Path of Metamorphosis

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/04/05

Inspired in part by the recent sesshin at City Center, we will be discussing the practice of Zen as a path of metamorphosis, a complement to our oh-so-everyday style. Let's see what arises as we discuss the path of transformation. -- Kodo Conlin

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Just to Be Yourself: Suzuki Roshi on Everyday Zazen

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/03/16

With the sounds of the Mountain Seat Ceremony still ringing through the halls of San Francisco Zen Center, we take another trip through the territory of Shikantaza, this time informed by the disarmingly everyday phrase Suzuki Roshi used to guide us in Zazen: just to be yourself.

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Turtle Nosed Snake

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/03/08

Anshi Zachary Smithdiscusses the famous and nonetheless mysterious Turtle Nosed Snake from Case 24 of the Book of Serenity as well as Case 22 of the Blue Cliff Record. In the Case,Xuěfēng Yìcún warns his students to look out for the poisonoussnake or, perhaps, he’s just suggesting they get up close and take a good look. We’ll also be taking a good look.

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Everday Mind is Studying the Way

Young Urban Zen SF ·

2023/03/04

Even if you aren't able to make it to a monastery, there are ways to infuse your everyday life with practices to help you awaken your inner monk. Everyday mind is studying The Way.

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Young Urban Zen SF

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