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Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks

CrookedRiverZen

Zen & Buddhist teachings explained in regular talks shared at Crooked River Zen Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Crooked River meets Thurs evenings at 7pm & Sat mornings at 9:30am @1813 Wilton Rd. - Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. Talks primarily given by CRZC guiding teacher Dean Williams. CRZC is based in the Soto Zen tradition. For more info see our website.

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

39:20

10/3/26- "Open Q&A" (Emptiness v. Pantheism etc.)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/10/06

Sensei Dean Williams hosts the regular Open Q&A for the group. Sangha members raised questions for Dean on the parallels between the Buddhist concept of emptiness and pantheism. He notes that while Buddhism does not hold a monotheistic belief, both perspectives share a view of an indescribable, universal life force that permeates all things.Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 10/3/26.

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42:14

10/1/26- "Great Bright Mantra" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/10/06

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra explains that prajna (wisdom) is the direct, unmediated insight into the impermanence and interdependence of all things. This perspective includes the teaching itself, which is also impermanent and interdependent. This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Great bright Mantra". Shared at a Crooked River Zen regular

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58:09

9/24/26- "No Hindrance" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/09/26

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra lines "with nothing to attain, the mind has no hindrance." Dean talks about Emptiness and Interdependence explaining that because all things are empty of self-existence and defined by impermanence and interdependence, we can rely on "nothing." This means not clinging to fixed views or specific outcomes, which allows the mind to function without becoming a hindrance.This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The

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76:39

9/12/26- Meditation in Buddhism

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/09/26

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on meditation in Zen. Zazen (meditation) and solitude, what is considered the "prerequisite" to Zen meditation? Begin with recognizing the three poisons, seeing the absolute and the relative aspects in your thoughts and actions.

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40:39

9/19/26- "Zen & Excitement" (Zen Mind, Beginners Mind)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/09/21

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on 'Zen & Excitement'. Dean discusses being fully engaged with our usual environment through focused awareness and mindfulness. Drawing from Suzuki Roshi's Book, we see that whether just sitting, doing chores, drinking tea, etc., we can always be fully engaged with our environment through focused awareness and mindfulness.. This is discussing the section "Zen & Excitement', beginning on pg 57 or 42 (depending on edition) of Shunryu Suzuki's classic Zen Text

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38:36

9/17/26- "No Attainment" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/09/21

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra lines "with no cognition, no attainment" and "with nothing to attain, the mind has no hindrance." Recognizing that "no attainment" dismantles the traditional notion of working toward fixed spiritual ranks or future rebirth milestones as seen in early Buddhist traditions. This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "No

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53:48

9/10/26- "No Buddhism" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/09/13

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on how we we can get attached to Buddhism itself. While early Buddhist teachings viewed cause and effect as flowing in a single direction (from ignorance to old age and death), the Mahayana tradition and the philosopher Nagarjuna expanded this into a multi-directional concept of total interdependence or "interbeing".This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by

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37:51

9/3/26- "No Form" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/09/06

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on emptiness. What the section about "having no form, no feelings, no perceptions, no impulses, no consciousness, no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind..." is pointing us toward.This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Emptiness in Practice". Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland,

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53:02

8/29/26- "True Naturalness" (Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/30

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on 'Naturalness' in Buddhism. Dean discusses how True Naturalness, which is an activity based on nothingness and independence from conditioned responses.This is discussing the section "Naturalness', beginning on pg 96 of Shunryu Suzuki's classic Zen Text Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen meditation & Practice Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/29/26.

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54:13

8/27/26- "Emptiness in Practice" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/30

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on how we practically work with the core concept of Emptiness in Buddhism. Dean discusses relying on mental formations and thought constructions which leads to meaningless arguments because it is so subjective and involves picking and choosing - which is a necessary activity in society but not reality. This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in

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36:09

8/22/26- "Humility"

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/25

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on humility in Buddhism. Dean describes "humility" as an appropriate term to characterize the wisdom teaching of the emptiness of all things, and is an essential aspect of seeing one's true nature. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/22/26.

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44:57

8/20/26- "Understanding Emptiness" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/25

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the core concept of Emptiness in Buddhism. Bowing in Buddhism is Emptiness bowing to Emptiness. Emptiness does not mean that nothing is real but rather it means that nothing possesses a substantial, independent existence. Everything exists because of its interconnectedness and interdependence with all other beings. This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by

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51:54

8/13/26- "The Two Truths- Relative & Absolute" (Heart...

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/23

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on reconciling the Two Truths in Buddhism - the Relative & the Absolute. Dean explains that form represents the conventional realm, while emptiness represents the absolute. These two realms are interdependent and inseparable; you cannot have one without the other. This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Emptiness in Theory"

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36:40

8/8/26- "Open Q&A" (Mu, Metaphors, Letting Go etc.)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/23

Sensei Dean Williams hosts the regular Open Q&A for the group. Sangha members raised questions for Dean on the idea taking the boat to the other shore; the mechanics of letting go; prajna paramita (wisdom); the koan Mu; and more. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/8/26.

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81:17

8/1/26- "Solitude & Meditation" (Way of the...

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/23

Sangha member John Williams shares a talk on Chapter 8 of The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, focusing primarily on the juxtaposition of solitude and meditation, vs having community and relationships.

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66:18

8/6/25- "Emptiness of All Things" (Heart Sutra)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/23

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Emptiness of All Things continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Both Sides". Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/6/26. The Section of the Heart Sutra: Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, When practicing deeply prajña paramita, Perceived that all five skandhas are empty and was saved from all

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53:00

8/15/26 - "Mu" Koan (Case 1 of Gateless Barrier)

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/08/20

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the "Mu" (neither yes or no) Koan - Case 1 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection. Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 8/15/26. The Koan: A monk asked Joshu, “Does a dog have the Buddha nature?” Joshu said, “Mu.” In the 18th century, Hakuin established Mu as one of the introductory Zen koans. Mu is the first of 49 koans in the Gateless Gate or Gateless Barrier (Mumankan), which was compiled by Muman. Muman himself spent six years

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39:13

03/12/2026 Dharma Talk With Dean Williams

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2026/03/24

delving into Conditioned vs Unconditioned Love, Dean explores the distinction between "conditioned" actions—those based on specific causes, social circumstances, or personal relationships—and the "unconditioned" aspect of reality.

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60:32

2025 12 05 dharma talk with Dean Williams

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2025/12/07

On this first day of Crooked River Zen's Rohatsu celebration weekend, Dean talks about the commemoration of the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, focussing his talk on the time after the Buddha's enlightenment took place. Dean discusses the place for tradition in the ongoingness of Buddhism, and the emptiness around the distinctions between the different Buddhist sects.

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57:13

2025 10 16 Dharma Talk with Dean Williams

Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks ·

2025/10/20

Dean delves further into Ben Connelly's book the Flower Garland Sutra and begins with an interesting story of a dog and a crow, after the dog saved the crow from peril.

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