Prairie Mountain Zen Center Dharma Talks
PMZC offers Sunday morning Dharma talks by our own teachers and sangha members. In addition, we are privileged to have wonderful Soto Zen guest speakers from around the country.If you enjoy listening to our online dharma talks, please consider making a donation to Prairie Mountain Zen Center at https://www.prairiemountain.org/donate .
Isabelle Andre: Broken Bodhisattva
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Isabelle Andre presents a talk titled, “Broken Bodhisattva”. This powerful talk explores how we can embrace loss and heartbreak during tumultuous times on the Bodhisattva path.
Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie: When Your House of Practice Burns Down
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Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie presents a talk titled, “When Your House of Practice Burns”. The talk ties together the burning of the Tassajara zendo and library on March 26 with the burning down of relationship trust to the Paramita Practices of Generosity, Energy, Patience and Wisdom-insight.
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin gives a talk on The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings from the Lotus Sutra.
Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie: Practice as Epic Journey, Together and Alone
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Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie gives a talk exploring practice. Like Homer’s Odyssey, each practitioner undertakes an epic journey with others and alone within themselves.
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Dogen's "King of Samadhis"
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin speaks on Dogen's "King of Samadhis" from the Shobogenzo.
Nendo David Pavlacky: Stillness at the Heart of Impermanence
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Sangha member Nendo David Pavlacky gives a talk exploring Buddha’s ancient teaching of impermanency from the Lankavatara Sutra and Katagiri Roshi’s teaching of total dynamic functioning.
Shin-E Kieran Rhysling: The Middle Way of Protest
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Sangha member Shin-E Kieran Rhysling facilitates a discussion about the challenges of determining an appropriate response to the harms we are seeing in the world.
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Birth and Death
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin speaks on the Birth and Death chapter of the Shobogenzo.
Dr. Bishal Karna: The Zen of Loving Your Neighbor
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Guest speaker Dr. Bishal Karna gives a talk titled, “The Zen of Loving Your Neighbor”.Â
This talk is a fascinating exploration of the different approaches of Christianity and Zen to loving your neighbor and how, ultimately, they seek to achieve the same end.Â
Bishal Karna is a professor of comparative religion and the creator and host of The Spiritual Context Podcast. He lives in Rochester, NY, with his wife, dog, and two cats.
Rev. Jisho Sara Siebert: What is true freedom? Traditional Zen practice and our lives
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Guest speaker Rev. Jisho Sara Siebert gives a talk entitled, "What is true freedom? Traditional Zen practice and our lives."
The talk addresses the question of how the forms and practices of Soto Zen can help us recognize that our limited self is not the center of the universe and instead can help us move beyond our habituated preferences.
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 1: Introduction)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 2: Indigenous Genocide)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 3: Slavery and Racism)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 4: LGBTQIA+ Rights)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 5: Economic Injustice)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 6: Ecological Harm)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 7: War and Violence)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series (Talk 8: Don't Hate)
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This series of talks was recorded in 2025. After each talk, the sangha engaged in lively discussion, which was not recorded.
The talks were an examination of the Statement of Recognition and Repentance from the Soto Zen Buddhist conference of 2018.Â
https://www.szba.org/szba-statement-on-recognition-and-repentance
Shin-E Kieran Rhysling: Everyday Life in Zen
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Shin-E Kieran Rhysling begins a series of facilitated discussions that we're calling Dharma Jams from Dainin Katagiri Roshi’s book, You Have to Say Something.
If the next Buddha is the Sangha, as Thich Nhat Hanh proposed, then maybe the next dharma talk should be something more collaborative and interactive, like a musicians jam session.
In this episode, we start playing with the possibilities of this new format.Â
Rev. Kyosho Valorie Beer: Stop
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Guest speaker Kyosho Valorie Beer shares a Dharma talk, entitled "Stop", that offers us a different way to approach the New Year.Â
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: King Wants the Saindhava
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin gives a talk on the Shobogenzo Chapter: "King Wants the Saindhava".
Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie: Unlocking the Door
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Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie gives a dharma talk entitled, "Unlocking the Door".
Daitoku Rick Vosper: An Appropriate Response
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Sangha member Daitoku Rick Vosper gives a talk entitled, "An Appropriate Response".
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Dogen's Space
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin gives a talk on chapter 77 Â from Dogen's Shobogenzo, entitled Space.
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Dogen's All-inclusive Study
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin gives a talk on Dogen's chapter on all-inclusive study from the Shobogenzo.
Isabelle Andre: Death and Dying
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Sangha member Isabelle Andre gives a talk on Buddhist perspectives on death and dying, drawing from numerous sources including Thich Nhat Hanh and the Tibetan traditions.
Rev. Tetsudo Judy Putnam: The Buddha's Answer to Subhuti
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Sangha member Rev. Tetsudo Judy Putnam speaks on the Buddha's answer to Subhuti from the Diamond Sutra. Subhuti asks the Buddha how one should walk the path of the Bodhisattva and receives an interesting answer.
Shin-E Kieran Rhysling: The Five Remembrances
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Sangha member Shin-E Kieran Rhysling gives a brief overview of The Five Remembrances from the Upajjhatthana Sutta. The sutta recommends that The Five Remembrances of old age, sickness, death, change, and karma be reflected upon often by all.Â
The talk was a short introduction to a longer discussion by the sangha that was not recorded.Â
Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie: Zen and the Metta Sutta: Waking Up with Loving-Kindness
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Rev. Chikyo Ewan Magie gives a talk entitled, "Zen and the Metta Sutta: Waking Up with Loving-Kindness".
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Dogen's Commentary on The Eight Awakenings of Great Beings
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin gives a talk on Dogen's commentary on The Eight Awakenings of Great Beings from the Shobogenzo.Â
Shin-E Kieran Rhysling: Deep Hope: The Paramita of Seeing Clearly
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Sangha member Shin-E Kieran Rhysling gives the final talk in the series based on Diane Eshin Rizzetto's book, Deep Hope: Zen Guidance for Staying Steadfast When the World Seems Hopeless. The subject is prajna, the paramita of wisdom or seeing clearly.Â
Steve Lindly: Does Enlightenment Lead to Helping Others?
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Sangha member Steve Lindly gives a talk titled “Does Enlightenment Lead to Helping Others?”.
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: Dogen’s Ten Directions
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Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin will give a talk based on the Ten Directions Chapter of Dogen's Shobogenzo.Â
Daitoku Rick Vosper: Why We Sit: The Brother-In-Law Question
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Sangha member Daitoku Rick Vosper will give a talk entitled "Why We Sit: The Brother-In-Law Question".Â
Nendo David Pavlacky: Diving Into the Sea of Suchness
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Sangha member Nendo David Pavlacky gives a talk entitled "Diving Into the Sea of Suchness".
Paula Scarborough: Aging and Illness as Practice
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Sangha member Paula Scarborough will give a talk entitled "Aging and Illness as Practice". Paula has been doing holistic elder care for fifteen years and her talk will draw on this wealth of experience.
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin: The Four Immeasurables
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PMZC's Guiding Teacher Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin gives a talk on the Four Immeasurables of the Theravadan tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.
Shin-E Kieran Rhysling: GRACEful Conversations
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Sangha member Shin-E Kieran Rhysling gives a talk on using Roshi Joan Halifax's GRACE process as a framework for having conversations with people we disagree with.
Tetsudo Judy Putnam: Introduction to Komyozo Zanmai
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Sangha member and sewing teacher Tetsudo Judy Putnam gives a talk on Komyozo Zanmai, a fascicle attributed to Dogen's dharma heir Koun Ejo zenji.
Shin-E Kieran Rhysling: Just cis? Just this. Buddhism and Transgender Acceptance
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In recognition of Pride Month, sangha member Shin-E Kieran Rhysling gives a talk on gender identity and Buddhism, with special focus on transgender issues.
