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PODCAST

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee

I & A Publishing

This is a series of newly digitized talks by spiritual teacher, Lola McDowell Lee, spanning two decades—from the early Seventies through the Nineties.Lola was a Zen Roshi whose Rinzai lineage included Doctor Henry Platov and renowned Zen master, Shigetsu Sasaki. Lola was a religious scholar as well as an ordained Christian minister.While the talks are focused mainly on Zen and Buddhism, Lola drew on many spiritual traditions—including those of Jesus, Plato, Lao-Tzu, the Hindu Vedas, Meister Eckhart

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All Episodes

60:40

Plato, art and spiritual growth. Sep 5, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/12/14

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the concept of freedom through the conquest of self. Per the Dhammapada, we should direct straying thoughts. The path to happiness is through quieting these elusive thoughts with single-mindedness, which brings freedom.We struggle from confusing wants and needs and forgetting the primary goal: freedom.This freedom is not worldly (economic, political, or social). It’s freedom from the ego. When the ego drops, it’s like a curtain falling, revealing the reality

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61:25

The Middle Way—between the world of appearance and...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/12/08

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee draws on the Dhammapada to emphasize a core principle of spiritual success: vigilance, or watching. The fool is careless and enslaved by desire. The master has firm resolve.Man is the only creature on Earth with the ability to choose. Unlike animals and plants, whose lives are determined by nature, humans possess a mind that allows for conscious choice.Man is not born a true being but a becoming. He is a state of perpetual movement between opposing attitudes and

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59:56

How do you go in? Simply stop going out. Aug 2, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/11/29

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, continues her discussion of the Dhammapada.She warns us against mistaking the false for the true, urging us to look into our hearts and follow our true natures. Spiritual texts are meaningless without direct action. Lola discusses the seeming conflict of seeking external rewards while professing detachment from the fruit of action.Truth simply is. It is the truth of being, which human effort must uncover. Our chief obstacle is the web of conditioning. To find truth, one

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59:57

The meanings of various Buddhist terms, practices &...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/11/23

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the meaning of the Dhammapada -Twin Verses.She discusses the importance of thought and self-mastery in shaping one's experience. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.An impure, conditioned mind leads to suffering, while a pure, unconditioned mind leads to unshakable happiness. We have, over and over, a choice of conduct: the easy path of catering to personal ego desires, or the difficult path of

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60:09

Dogen: “Not knowing is most intimate.” July 5, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/11/14

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains the story of Dogen Zenji, the founder of the Soto Zen school in Japan. One master says, “Not knowing is most intimate.”Dogen’s question: if we are already Buddha nature — if enlightenment is our essence — then why do we need to seek it?When Dogen returned to Japan, he founded the Soto school and taught Shikantaza — just sitting. This practice, Lola explains, is single-minded meditation without striving or grasping — simply allowing truth to reveal

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57:05

How you form your ego—and can ultimately overcome it....

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/11/02

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, tells a parable about a powerful Chinese prime minister, who was a devoted Zen student. When the minister asked his master, "how does Zen explain egotism?" the master insulted him, calling him a "numbskull". As the minister's face filled with anger and hurt feelings, the master smiled and said, "Your Excellency, this is ego".Lola explains that this ego is our very basic problem. Paradoxically, we need It presents we need the ego to function in the world, yet it is also

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58:34

Zen and Socrates. Jun 21, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/10/20

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, argues that most people waste their lives playing superficial games and are deceived by their own minds. They fail to engage in the urgent, life and death work of knowing themselves. The pursuit of money, power, prestige, and reputation are hollow endeavors, like waves on an ocean.Lola draws parallels between Zen practice and the Socratic method. Many of us meditate for a short period only to ignore one’s inner awareness for the other 23 hours of the day.Lola describes

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53:10

Instructions for Koan study. And true understanding &...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/10/14

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, recounts the story of master Joshu who offers cups of tea to the various monks, illustrating the idea of how distinction keeps us from seeing the world as it is. When he offers the same tea to newcomers and long-time members alike, the manager asks why. And Joshu has a shouting response. Why?Our scientific world breaks the world into bits, opreating within a framework of complexity and duality because seeing the simplicity of the whole is so difficult for us to

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63:13

The limitations of human knowledge. May 17, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/10/08

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses human knowledge an its limitations. Typical knowledge is the result of fragmented perception. Our knowledge is narrow, limited to appearances and governed by desire, habit, and subconscious impulses.The relationship of Surya (divine light) and Agni (divine force). Agni symbolizes will in consciousness. Together, Surya (knowing) and Agni (will) form a unity. Knowledge and Will are not separate. They are two aspects of the same foundation of reality.The

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59:56

In the struggle between opposites is the Truth. Mar...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/09/26

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, draws on Buddhist and Hindu traditions (including the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita) to explain the human condition.Struggles and opposition are partners in our growth. Manjushri (wisdom) is not found in shrines, but is alive within each person.Lola recounts a tale of a monk and the village courtesan.She talks about how struggle is necessary for growth; it develops character. Friend and foe, like rose and thorn, are inseparable opposites. The human tendency is

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61:06

Where is God? Feb 28, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/09/11

Note: Generally, this talk is more lighthearted than most that Lola gives. It’s nice to see that side of her personality.Lola begins with a comical tale about a man and a priest he asks for advice.Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses Lao Tzu concept of how the hole in the wheel’s knave makes its utility. How the emptiness of a vessel creates its utility.Lola asks, “Who would you rather be: a victim or a perpetrator?”It is in the world of the Relative that we can discover the Absolute.How freedom

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58:07

Mystica Theologica, the Sutras of Patanjali and the...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/08/31

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses various texts about the notion of God — from the biblical book of Genesis to Mystica Theologica to the sutras of Patanjali.Dionysus was a disciple of St. Paul and one-time mayor of Athens.We eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil… but we must return to the Tree of Life.Buddhism did not identify God. Or a self. So for a Buddhist, what is there? Perhaps a Buddhist might say there is a Power greater than himself.Why did God create the world as it is? How

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59:35

How do you answer: “Does God exist?” Sep 20, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/08/24

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, (who is also an ordained Christian minister) explores issues that are common to both Christian and Eastern thought to illustrate the difference between theology/philosophy and religious practice.She explains that it is easier to join a religious group and hang around it than it is to truly struggle with oneself. There are many who participate in religions just so they can tell themselves they are doing their religious duty. They learn a religious system or structure

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59:31

A detailed introductory talk about the Bauls — a...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/08/10

Note: Unfortunately these talks about the Bauls were posted out of order. But the sound quality is much better on this one, which is also the most detailed in its explanation of who the Bauls were. And this talk develops into a wonderful, rich discussion of consciousness.Lola says that not many people have heard of the Bauls because they had no organization or dogma or scripture. They were freewheeling practitioners who loved dance, music and poetry—and looked within.Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee,

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41:44

The Bauls religious sect of India. And Prakrit and...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/08/04

Note: this talk has some sound issues, but I found it valuable enough to include the bulk of it anyway. It’s about 8 minutes shorter because the cassette player apparently started warbling and slowing down badly at the end—during the discussion of Prakrit and Parusha. There is another talk on this subject available here if you are interested. It’s a fascinating doctrine.Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the accounts of the Indian Bauls - a religious group that included members of Vaishnava

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60:00

Zen and the meaning of Easter. Apr 19, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/07/28

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, gives a talk themed on Easter. (While Lola was primarily a Zen teacher, she was also an ordained Christian minister). Lola reads from the Gospels exploring the meaning of Jesus asking, “Why have you forsaken me?”Symbols of Easter include a baby chick, pecking its way out of an egg to become that which he was destined to be. That is also a good metaphor for the human situation.Lola discusses various religious traditions, including that of the Mayans of Central America

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60:00

Guilt and rejection of life does not make you more...

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/07/23

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the meaning of Verse 15 of the Isha Upanishad:"The face of Truth is covered with a brilliant golden lid; that do thou remove, O Fosterer, for the law of the Truth, for sight."Lola discusses the prevalence of guilt in Puritanical America. How some of us feel guilt our entire lives, and how many, sometimes because of religious traditions, feel they shouldn’t enjoy life. We should look at this guilt, and try to understand it.Meditation should not be an escape

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59:20

What we can learn from Indian religious traditions....

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/07/07

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, gives a detailed discussion of the philosophical and historical backgrounds of religious traditions as they developed in India—Vedas, Brahmanism and Hinduism.Lola explains the meaning of many of the Hindu terms and explores the Isha Upanishad.Shakti, the Great Mother or feminine energy of the universe. We all have in us a power. That is shake.Hindu Tantra versus Buddhist Tantra.Prakriti and Purusha. Maya.As mentioned in the Bible, your actions in this world show your

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53:02

How to meditate. And why. Nov 29, 1987

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/06/28

(Note: original recording audio is not ideal, but Lola's message is great)Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, gives an ind-depth explanation of the practice of sitting, as this talk is during a sesshin at the temple.Who is the Buddha? What is birth and death?Zazen is learning about life by dying to one’s self. Be quietly alert, dropping the ego and identifications.Our mistake is taking the phenomenal to be the noumenal. But they are really two aspects of the same thing.Emotions confuse us and cause us

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61:01

The unconscious is the gateway to reality. July 18, 1981

Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee ·

2025/06/20

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses the meaning of the Zen saying, “Joy in the morning. Sleep at night. What else?”When we “do not know,” then we don’t concern ourselves with obsessions about outcomes. That is the meaning of “no mind.”Start by discovering what “no mind” is not. Is there a gradual acquisition of “no mind?” Is there an enduring entity called self? Is there a self to improve? Do not accept of reject an answer without learning for yourself directly.Is the thinker different than his

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