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PODCAST

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast

Sensei Michael Brunner, One River Zen

Awakening Streams features Dharma talks and Zen reflections from Sensei Michael Brunner of One River Zen Center in Ottawa, Illinois. Each episode explores the living practice of Zen Buddhism through classic Zen koans, teachings from the Shōyōroku and Mumonkan, and direct encounters with everyday life. Discover how awakening flows through every obstacle, every act of compassion, and every moment of wonder. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.oneriverzen.org

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

00:13:12

Put It Down: Embracing Compassion Beyond Judgment

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/11/09

In this teisho titled "Put It Down: Embracing Compassion Beyond Judgment," Sensei Michael Brunner explores Shasekishu Case 14, "Muddy Road." This Zen case brings us face-to-face with the challenges of releasing guilt, shame, and the stories we cling to about ourselves and others. Sensei Brunner encourages us to examine how judgments and labels often obscure the reality of the present moment, keeping us bound to suffering.Through the lens of "Muddy Road," we learn how to soften these boundaries,

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00:10:27

Responding to the Call: Finding Freedom in Discipline

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/11/05

In this episode, Sensei Michael Brunner delivers a powerful teisho from our Zen of Recovery Retreat, examining Shōyōroku Case 16, "The Sound of the Bell and the Seven-Piece Robe." Sensei discusses how discipline and freedom come together in Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of being fully present and responding to life as it unfolds—without the interference of our judgments or the habitual stories we tell ourselves.This talk explores how labels and judgments shape our experience, often

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00:23:30

Awakening the Master Within: Breaking Free and...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/11/03

In this teisho from our Zen of Recovery retreat, Sensei Michael Brunner dives into the teachings of Sansheki-shu, Case 2: "Finding a Diamond on a Muddy Road." The story of Zen master Gudo and a gambler in desperate need of transformation serves as the foundation for a profound exploration of awakening. Sensei emphasizes that the master we seek is already within us and that our true nature can only be revealed by letting go of the small self, with its limitations and judgments.Through the virtues of

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00:11:45

Seeing Beyond Concepts: Embracing Life’s Boundless...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/10/26

In today’s teisho, Sensei Michael Brunner examines Shōyōroku Case 91, Nansen’s Peony, a classic koan that questions the nature of reality and our habitual tendencies to divide and categorize our experience. Through Nansen’s response to Riko Taifu’s statement about the unity of all things, Sensei illuminates how our minds draw boundaries between “real” and “unreal,” and “self” and “other,” creating a fragmented view of life.Rather than getting caught up in the endless cycle of judgment and labeling,

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00:15:38

Knock Down the Flagpole: Letting Go of Expectations...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/10/21

In this teisho, Sensei Michael Brunner draws on Case 22 from the Mumonkan, Kashyapa’s Knock Down the Flagpole, to explore the nature of awakening and the importance of letting go of our deeply held expectations and self-concepts. Through the dialogue between Ananda and Mahakashyapa, we’re invited to reflect on what it means to release the notion of who we think we are, to drop our ego, and to meet life as it truly is.Sensei shares the deeper meaning behind Mahakashyapa’s instruction to “knock down

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00:21:17

Wandering in the Mountains: Living Fully

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/10/19

"Wandering in the Mountains: Living Fully with Positive Samadhi"In this episode, Sensei Michael Brunner reflects on the kōan from the Hekiganroku (Blue Cliff Record), Case 36: Chōsha Wandering in the Mountains. Through this powerful teaching, Sensei explains the difference between positive samadhi—the experience of fully living in the present—and absolute samadhi, which signifies the dissolution of the self in death.Sensei discusses how Zen practice is about embracing life as it unfolds, without

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00:12:42

Embracing the Present: Letting Go of Stories and...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/10/12

"Embracing the Present: Letting Go of Stories and Finding Compassion"In today’s episode, Sensei Michael Brunner offers a powerful teisho based on Shoyoroku Case 14, "Attendant Kaku Serves Tea." Through this ancient Zen encounter, Sensei explores the core teaching of letting go of our habitual stories, judgments, and expectations to embrace the clarity of the present moment.Key insights include:The practice of bearing witness to our lives without the filters of the small selfThe dynamic exchange

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00:13:27

Practice as if Your Life Depends on It | Shōyorōku...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/10/11

In this episode, Sensei Michael shares reflections from the closing of a September 2024 sesshin at One River Zen. As the retreat draws to a close, he explores the powerful insights that arise when we step out of the stories we've created about ourselves and engage with the present moment. Drawing from Shōyōroku Case 32, "Kyōzan’s State of Mind," Sensei Michael invites us to observe our thoughts and experience life directly, without being swept away by mental constructs.The episode also weaves in the

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00:14:36

Surrender | Shōyorōku Case #59 | Seirin’s Deadly Snake

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/03/11

Case #59 of the Shoyoroku – Seirin’s Deadly Snake:Attention! A monk asked Master Seirin, “How about when a student proceeds on the trail?” Seirin replied, “The dead snake hits the great road. I advise you not to bump into it.” The monk said, “When it’s bumped into, then what?” Seirin answered, “You lose your life!” The monk continued, “When it’s not bumped into, then what?” And Seirin said, “There’s no place to dodge to.” The monk said, “At that very moment, then what?” Seirin replied, “It has been

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00:26:35

Daring Greatly | Mumonkan Case #46 | Stepping from...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/02/28

CASE 46: Stepping Forward From the Top of a PoleCase:Master Sekiso said, “How will you step forward from the top of a hundred-foot pole?”Another eminent master of old said, “Even though one who is sitting on the top of ahundred-foot pole has entered realization, it is not yet real. He must step forward from thetop of the pole and manifest his whole body throughout the world in ten directions.”Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:14:38

Finding the Way | Mumonkan Case #19 | Ordinary Mind...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/02/12

Sensei Michael discusses the nineteenth case of The Gateless Gate: Ordinary Mind is the Way. He stresses the importance of not looking at a spiritual path as something extra - instead finding it in every moment of our lived experience. Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:13:55

Banzo's Sword | Shaseki-shu Case #91 | The Taste of...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/01/24

Sensei Michael Shikan Brunner Discusses case number ninety-one from the Shaseki-shu - "The Taste of Banzo's Sword." Sensei teaches that when we devote ourselves fully to being open, we find the unexpected always bringing us joy and richness. Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:16:16

In Living Color | Shoyoroku Case #6 | Baso's White...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/01/22

Attention! A monk once asked Baso, “Your reverence, abandoning the four propositions and wiping out the hundred negations, please point out to me directly the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming from the West.” Baso said, “I don’t feel like explaining to you today. Go ask Chizo.” The monk then went to ask Chizo, and Chizo said, “Why don’t you ask the master?” The monk said, “The master told me to ask you.” Rubbing his head with his hand, Chizo said, “I’ve got a headache today. Go and ask Brother Kai.”

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00:12:12

What Loving-kindness? | Shasekishū Case #6 | No...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2024/01/13

Sensei Michael gives a Dharma Talk about letting go of our judgements about self and others as a prerequisite to awakening. Case six of the Record of Stone and Sand is discussed: No Loving-kindness Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:08:47

Working With the Flow | Hekiganroku Case #80 |...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2023/12/27

Sensei Michael gives a Dharma Talk about cutting through the rough turbulence of the mind to find our True Self in this very moment. Case eighty of the Blue Cliff Record is discussed: Joshu's Newborn Baby Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:11:04

Freedom from Other | Hekiganroku Case #57 | Joshu's...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2023/12/20

Sensei Michael discusses our inalienable intimacy with our lived experience through case fifty-seven of the Blue Cliff Record: "Joshu's Nondiscrimination." Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:16:55

The Path is the Goal | Shaseki-shu Case #37 |...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2023/12/07

Sensei Michael Shikan Brunner Discusses case number thirty-seven from the Shaseki-shu - "Publishing the Sutras." Sensei teaches on the importance of living your life true to your intentions rather than some distant or lofty goals. Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:15:16

Beyond Ideas | Mumokan Case #29 | Not the Wind, Not...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2023/12/06

Sensei Michael Shikan Brunner speaks during the 2023 Ango Sesshin to his students about case twenty-nine of the Gateless Gate: "Not the Wind, Not the Flag". The case inspires us to look beyond our ideas of how things are or should be and truly appreciate all that is present right here and now. Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:13:58

Opening to Life | Hekiganroku Case #43 | No Cold or Heat

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2023/12/05

Sensei Michael speaks to students during day two of the 2023 Rohatsu Sesshin about Blue Cliff Record case forty-three: "No Cold or Heat". The importance of moving beyond our judgements and preferences and truly opening to our lived experience is discussed in this case of the Hekiganroku. Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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00:17:16

Seeing Beyond | Mumonkan Case #31 | Joshu Sees...

Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast ·

2023/12/04

Sensei Michael speaks during the 2023 Rohatsu Sesshin on case 31 of the Gateless Gate, Joshu Sees Through an Old Woman. Ultimately, we need to see past all of our ideas, judgements, and labels to really open to and appreciate our lives. Learn more, study with us, and meditate online at oneriverzen.org.

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66 results

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