Platform Sutra Study- Part 1

Dear Good Friends, As I start my August retreat, I invite you to join me in reading and reflecting on the teaching of  Hui-neng. The Translation I have chosen is by Red Pine (Although there are other translations of the Platform Sutra, this is the one that offers the best translation from my view). If you are following along with me, I recommend that you go directly to the Platform Sutra and skip the introduction and the sections with commentary […]

Exploring the PLATFORM SUTRA with OZS

The Zen Teaching of Hui-Neng Hui-Neng was the Sixth Patriarch of China’s Zen sect. Over the centuries, he has become a most venerated teacher of one of the world’s great spiritual traditions. During my personal retreat this August, I will be focusing on the Dharma as presented by Hui-Neng. I read the platform Sutra many years ago and studied it as part of a curriculum in a Buddhist Studies class I took. Now it is time for me to take […]

Ancestors of Ordinary Zen

The audio clip from “The Sutra of Hui Neng”  in this Dharma Talk was taken from “The Diamond Sutra, The Heart Sutra, The Sutra of Hui Neng:  Three Key Prajna Paramita Texts from the Zen Tradition”, available as an Audiobook on Audible. It is also available in Print on Amazon.

Calmness and Wisdom

Can you have different emotional states and be calm at the same time? Dharma Talk by Sangha member, Serena Olsen.

Life Is Difficult?

What are the aspects of our practice that deal with difficulty? They are: Don’t Know, Don’t Make, and How can I help?

OZS News for Summer 2023

Schedule Changes Our practice session for Sunday, June 18, 2023 (Father’s Day) has been canceled. At OZS, once a month we encourage a Sangha member to give the Dharma talk. The Dharma talk for Wednesday, June 21, 2023, will be given by  Sangha member, Serena Olsen. In July, a Dharma talk will be given by Nick Dow. The date TBD. (The Dharma talks may be podcast, if the presenter agrees to it.) This year, I plan to take time off […]