Dogen Sangha Czechia & Slovakia SKSlovensky

Talks

At our retreats, zazen goes together with talks on Buddhist philosophy, with questions and discussion. Here are their recordings and transcripts, newest first.

Every transcript is also in one e-book for e-readers. How to read it Download: EPUB · Kindle (AZW3)

2021

July 2021 · Humpolec, Czech Republic

Retreat at Skalní Fara

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksJuly 2021 — Skalní faraOpen the series →

Civilisation as a Shared TranceMike on why we come away for sesshin: to see the trance from outside and to move between it and realityTranscript Video
Prajñā: Deciding Before ThinkingMike on lessons from the mountains: letting go of viewpoints and deciding by prajñā, which balance developsTranscript Video
Zazen Is Not MeditationMike: zazen is sitting in physical and mental balance, a dynamic, wobbling state that is completely normalTranscript Video
Life Itself Is IntelligentMike finds Maturana and Varela's view of the living cell very close to the Buddhist oneness of body and mindTranscript Video
Not Making Practice SpecialMike: the real rituals are those of ordinary life, and what matters most is to practise balance every dayTranscript Video

2015

September 2015 · Banský Studenec, Slovakia

Retreat in Banský Studenec

Photos Talk series4 Chronicle

Talk series · 4 talksSeptember 2015 — Banský StudenecOpen the series →

Zen Without SpiritualityMike: zazen is a very simple practice; after taking the right posture the body returns to balance by itselfTranscript Video 4 parts
Nishijima’s Four Main PointsWill to the truth, cause and effect, instantaneousness, zazen: Mike on Nishijima’s central points of the pathTranscript Video 5 parts
Buddhist State as Semi-Permeable MembraneMike: a flexible mind that receives and gives; zazen can bring it, but it took him more than twenty yearsTranscript Video
Dojo and Home, Sacred and OrdinaryMike: zazen is not getting knowledge, wisdom or balance but uncovering your own balanceTranscript Video

2014

August 2014 · Banský Studenec, Slovakia

Retreat in Banský Studenec

Photos Talk series3 Chronicle

Talk series · 3 talksAugust 2014 — Banský StudenecOpen the series →

Right Action from BalanceMike on Dogen: right does not wait as an idea but exists in what we do and follows our state of body and mindTranscript Video
Buddhism Through European GlassesMike: it seems that Greek and Christian perfect worlds shaped the West, so right in action is hard to seeTranscript Video
One Real Teacher and SimplicityMike: he and Gabriele learn everything from one real teacher; simplicity comes from practice, not mental workTranscript Video

May 2014 · Banský Studenec, Slovakia

Retreat in Banský Studenec

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksMay 2014 — Banský StudenecOpen the series →

Reading Dogen from ExperienceMike: for Dogen this world is the only real one, so his writings need interpreting from experience, not ideasDigest Transcript Video
Prajñā: The State Before ThinkingMike: prajñā is neither spiritual nor physical force but a natural state where mind and body are not splitDigest Transcript Video
Escape and Refuge in ZazenMike: in trouble he forgets Buddhism; zazen and Buddhism can become an escape rather than a refugeDigest Transcript Video
Genjo-koan: Being Awake Is Being HereMike on the opening paragraphs and four viewpoints: a very strong effort to be present is a delusionDigest Transcript Video
Effort Without Knowing the ResultMike: natural growth is better than intentional building; effort in practice is not building an organisationDigest Transcript Video

May 2014 · Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia

Public talk in Banská Štiavnica

Photos Transcripts1 Chronicle

Action and Result, Living in the PresentMike: two simple truths belong to everybody; zazen is a way to realise them, not just understand themDigest Transcript Video

2013

September 2013 · Banský Studenec, Slovakia

Retreat in Banský Studenec

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksSeptember 2013 — Banský StudenecOpen the series →

Dogen’s Teaching as a Way of LivingMike: a simple but very difficult way of living that suits him; not a religion, not the only wayTranscript Audio
Three Teachings from JapanMike: reality is only here and now, actions have effects without moral judgement, prajñā precedes thinkingTranscript Audio
The Truth as a Cup of TeaMike: the truth of Buddhism is being able to express your real self in real life; nobody can give it to youTranscript Audio
The Heart Sutra: Labels and RealityMike reads the sutra as a teaching on zazen: labels have no separate existence; reality lies beyond themTranscript Audio
Old Writings and Our Own LifeMike: writings full of legendary Buddhas, gods and demons are best read taking our own life as the basisTranscript Audio

2012

August 2012 · Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic

Retreat at Dibbavana

Photos Talk series4 Chronicle

Talk series · 4 talksAugust 2012 — DibbavanaOpen the series →

Two Things, and the Rest Is FashionMike thinks Nishijima wanted Dogen Sangha to rest on two things, waking up in zazen and understanding lifeTranscript Audio
Intuition Covered by ThinkingMike: Intuition (prajñā) is our basic state, covered by thinking, and zazen is a way to uncover itTranscript Audio
Dogen and Modern LifeMike asks what to take from other sources, since Dogen's 13th-century writings are not enough for modern lifeTranscript Audio
Making Dogen's Words Our OwnMike: we cannot see Dogen, so we test his words in our own experience and find our own wordsTranscript Audio

May 2012 · Nová Dedinka, Slovakia

Day of zazen in Nová Dedinka

Photos Talk series2 Chronicle

Talk series · 2 talksMay 2012 — Nová DedinkaOpen the series →

The Map in Our HeadMike: we live by a picture of our life, but our actions take us along a different, real pathTranscript Audio
Recognising the Marrow in OurselvesMike: we can't always see the marrow in a baby, a dog or a mountain unless we recognise it in ourselvesTranscript Audio

2011

August 2011 · Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic

Retreat at Dibbavana

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksAugust 2011 — DibbavanaOpen the series →

Sadness Is a Change in BalanceMike explains that feelings are slight shifts in our sense of balance, so we need not get rid of unhappinessTranscript Audio
Just to Be Alive Is EnoughMike reads stories about Shunryu Suzuki and says that a terrible experience made Suzuki very wiseTranscript Audio
Freedom and the Teacher’s CharacterMike supposes that even the kesa is only cloth and tries to show his character as clearly as possibleTranscript Audio
Kodo Sawaki and Concrete TeachingMike reads Kodo Sawaki's sayings, then contrasts the concrete koans with modern intellectualisingTranscript Audio
When the Mud Buffalo DissolveMike tells a koan about two mud buffalo: our inner conflicts are not real and can dissolve in zazenTranscript Audio

June 2011 · Banský Studenec, Slovakia

Retreat in Banský Studenec

Photos Chronicle

March 2011 · Zhoř near Pacov, Czech Republic

Winter retreat in Zhoř near Pacov

Photos Chronicle

2010

March 2010 · Cholín, Czech Republic

Retreat in Cholín

Photos Chronicle

2009

September 2009 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit, Glastonbury

Photos Talk series3 Chronicle

Talk series · 3 talksSeptember 2009 — Earth SpiritOpen the series →

Buddhism Free from ‘Buddhism’Mike says academics and religious groups have hijacked Buddhism and asks how zazen can work in modern lifeTranscript
Yunmen’s Lantern Without MysteryMike sets Daido Loori’s mystical commentary on a koan against a reading drawn from our own experienceTranscript
The Empty Trappings of TransmissionMike unpacks the symbols of his dharma transmission and says that what counts is the state here and nowTranscript

July 2009 · Brno, Czech Republic

Weekend retreat in Brno

Photos Talk series3 Chronicle

Talk series · 3 talksJuly 2009 — BrnoOpen the series →

Sacred and Ordinary TogetherMike’s own opinion: Japanese temple Buddhism failed to teach what Buddhism is; he encourages zazen at homeTranscript Audio
Opposites and Being UprightMike: opposites form one whole; Buddhism makes no effort to be good or stop being bad, but to be uprightTranscript Audio
Karma, Cause and EffectMike on Dogen: action is free in this moment, yet we never escape cause and effectTranscript Audio

July 2009 · Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic

Retreat at Dibbavana Meditation Centre

Photos Talk series4 Chronicle

Talk series · 4 talksJuly 2009 — DibbavanaOpen the series →

No Hierarchy of EnlightenmentMike contrasts hierarchical Buddhist centres with Dogen’s teaching that all who practise zazen are BuddhasTranscript Audio
Enlightenment as a Normal StateMike rejects enlightenment as a superhuman state won by greater effort: the state we seek is that of zazenTranscript Audio
Effort for Its Own SakeMike: we give up the aim only for this moment and keep the long-term one; actions, not plans, make our lifeTranscript Audio
Precepts as GuidelinesMike: precepts are limits of freedom; for Dogen, simple, sincere action is not wrong when practising balanceTranscript Audio

February 2009 · Cholín, Czech Republic

Winter retreat in Cholín

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksFebruary 2009 — CholínOpen the series →

Western Buddhism and HierarchyMike sees a hidden crisis: Buddhist groups easily grow into hierarchies of ceremony and special robesTranscript Audio
Zazen Without an Intentional AimMike, following Dogen: zazen is giving up the hope of becoming a better or special personTranscript Audio
Ceremony and Everyday LifeMike: ceremonies are not sacred in themselves but a model for noticing the ceremonies of our ordinary lifeTranscript Audio
Morality as Balanced ActionMike: right and wrong are part of what we do; he thinks balance is more practical than religious rulesTranscript Audio
The Buddhist View of Living ItselfMike: living itself is intelligent, in Buddhism prajñā; at every moment we take a step that creates our futureTranscript Audio

2008

October 2008 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksSummer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s MulamadhyamakakarikaOpen the series →

MMK 1: The Four ConditionsMike introduces Nagarjuna’s verses and interprets the first chapter as four characteristics of reality itselfTranscript
MMK 2: Non-SeparationMike surveys chapters 2 to 11 and their recurring theme: what language divides is not separate in realityTranscript
MMK 3: Cutting Through CategoriesMike explains that reality is undivided and that we become whole when we stop dividing it and when we actTranscript
MMK 4: Constructs and the Present MomentMike surveys chapters 13 to 21: our shared world, process and time are constructs; reality is here and nowTranscript
MMK 5: Relinquishing All ViewsMike skims chapters 22 to 27; for him the last verse suggests reality is what is left when views ceaseTranscript

2007

October 2007 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksSummer 2007 — UjiOpen the series →

Uji 1: The Depth of the PresentMike opens Uji by asking how the present can have depth and offers “time-present” as his own name for UjiDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 2: A Crack in Our View of TimeMike: shared linear time is unavoidable, yet finding a crack in it is a kind of liberation, not a denialDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 3: The Complete PresentMike reads Dogen’s contradictory views of time as models pointing to a present moment that is already completeDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 4: Coming into the PresentMike reads that we do not enter the present by removing hindrances; wholehearted effort makes things realDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 5: Life Moment by MomentMike reads Baso’s raised eyebrow as a life made by present action, and words as restricting what they describeDigest Transcript Audio

June 2007 · Bělá u Jevíčka, Czech Republic

Retreat at Padmafarma

Photos Talk series3 Chronicle

Talk series · 3 talksJune 2007 — PadmafarmaOpen the series →

Dropping Off Heart, Mind and BodyMike on shinjin datsuraku: a middle state in the wobbling of zazen, always present, even the first timeTranscript Audio
Koan Stories and Being Here and NowMike: koan stories are for reading and study, not pondering in zazen; three show we are always here and nowTranscript Audio
A Buddhist Teacher Without a PlanMike followed his life as it unfolded and cannot guess whether what he teaches is useful to othersTranscript Audio

January 2007 · Rowardennan, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Winter Sesshin, Rowardennan, Scotland

Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksWinter 2007 — KugeOpen the series →

Kuge 1: Ripening FruitMike approaches Dogen’s Kuge through Kant’s phenomena and reads its opening on natural unfolding and ripeningTranscript
Kuge 2: Coolness in the Centre of FireMike reads on in Kuge and explains blue lotus flowers as the present moment and acting as joining realityTranscript
Kuge 3: The Whole World in Each FlowerMike reads on in Kuge: the world as immediate flowerings, and clouded eyes seeing flowers in spaceTranscript
Kuge 4: Nothing to Get Rid OfMike reads on in Kuge: clouded eyes and flowers in space as the world itself, not something to get rid ofTranscript
Kuge 5: Compassion and Freedom in ActionOpen talk: Mike says restraint on retreat lets us notice ourselves, then the discussion turns to compassionTranscript

2006

September 2006 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksSummer 2006 — Ikka-no-myojuOpen the series →

Digest of sessions 1–4

Ikka-no-myoju 1: A Pearl in Ordinary ThingsMike: a teaching’s truth is found in simple practice and made our own by experience, not just understandingTranscript Audio
Ikka-no-myoju 2: Undivided RealityMike: the bright pearl is the reality we already share before dividing it up, not an object or hidden stateTranscript Audio
Ikka-no-myoju 3: Our Place in the UniverseMike: any question, act or regret belongs to reality, yet responsibility stays; morality lies in the situationTranscript Audio
Ikka-no-myoju 4: The Universe as TeacherRecorded part: Mike reads the universe as teacher via people, animals, sounds; a pearl may come unexpectedlyTranscript Audio
Ikka-no-myoju 5: The Four ViewsMike uses the four viewpoints to ask how Buddhism can fit normal life, not a separate idealised worldDigest Transcript Audio

June 2006 · Bělá u Jevíčka, Czech Republic

Retreat at Padmafarma

Photos Talk series3 Chronicle

Talk series · 3 talksJune 2006 — PadmafarmaOpen the series →

Buddhism Beyond Robes and IncenseMike on Dogen’s description of Buddhism from four viewpoints: theory, health, action and zazenTranscript Audio
Right and Wrong in ActionMike on Dogen: the basis of doing right is not an intellectual decision but an intuitive one of body and mindTranscript Audio
The Eight Truths of a Great PersonMike interprets Dogen’s last chapter as truths of a person who practises zazen, not as a perfect idealTranscript Audio

January 2006 · Rowardennan, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Winter Sesshin with Glasgow Zen Group, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksWinter 2006 — Shoaku MakusaOpen the series →

Shoaku Makusa 1: Not Doing Wrong Here and NowMike reads Dogen on right and wrong as concepts, on pre-conceptual wisdom, and on our conduct here and nowTranscript
Shoaku Makusa 2: Not Doing Wrong as a StateMike reads Dogen on acting fully, on cause and effect, and on not doing wrong as the state of balanceTranscript
Shoaku Makusa 3: Balance and Not Doing WrongMike on unconscious tension in zazen, then reading Dogen on not doing wrong as a state of natural balanceTranscript
Shoaku Makusa 4: Doing Right Without a DoerMike reads Dogen on doing right, then answers questions about thinking, karma and the balanced stateTranscript
Shoaku Makusa 5: The Child and the Old ManMike reads Dogen on a koan: not doing wrong and doing right are real events of everyday lifeTranscript

2005

September 2005 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Photos Talk series4 Chronicle

Talk series · 4 talksSummer 2005 — BusshoOpen the series →

Bussho 1: Having Buddha-NatureMike: it is not a quality we get and keep; Dogen’s play with “have” and “without” points beyond conceptsTranscript
Bussho 2: This World, Not HeavenMike: freedom and independence belong to this moment, so the “splendid and pure world” is our only worldTranscript
Bussho 3: Joshu’s Dog and ConceptsMike: dog and buddha-nature exist without concepts; we mistake thoughts for reality; the aim is recognitionTranscript
Bussho 4: The Cut EarthwormMike reads Dogen as turning the question of which worm half has buddha-nature toward plain realityTranscript

June 2005 · Prague, Czech Republic

Weekend retreat at Lotus Centre

Photos Talk series4 Chronicle

Talk series · 4 talksJune 2005 — Lotus CentreOpen the series →

The Life of Master DogenMike tells Dogen’s life up to zazen as getting rid of everything, then the four teachings he built onTranscript Audio
An Introduction to ShobogenzoMike: Dogen sets out all of Buddhism consistently; the difficulty is medieval language, not mysticismTranscript Audio
The Buddha’s DiscoveryMike’s retelling of the Buddha’s life: a middle way found in sitting, and reality as this moment, not a goalTranscript Audio
Zazen from Four ViewpointsMike: zazen is different from thinking, puts the body right, unites body and mind, unites us with the universeTranscript Audio

January 2005 · Rowardennan, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Winter Sesshin with Glasgow Zen Group, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksWinter 2005 — BusshoOpen the series →

Bussho 1: Names and RealityMike reads Dogen: buddha-nature is the real mountains, rivers and person beyond names, yet names remainTranscript
Bussho 2: Without a Concept of Buddha-NatureMike: “being without” buddha-nature means being without pretensions: we are it, not having or lacking itTranscript
Bussho 3: Acting in the Present MomentMike: everyone already exists in the present, but we are fully in it when acting, not when thinking about itTranscript
Bussho 4: Hearing and UnderstandingMike: in Nagarjuna’s full-moon story, being a buddha is manifesting ourselves as we are, without selfish prideTranscript
Bussho 5: Our Fundamental NatureMike: fundamental belief in humanity directs action; zazen and studying theory uncover our fundamental natureTranscript

2004

August 2004 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Photos Summer 2004 — Bussho4 Summer 2004 — Yoko Luetchford1 Chronicle

Talk series · 4 talksSummer 2004 — BusshoOpen the series →

Bussho 1: Fully Manifesting ExistenceMike’s experimental phrase: buddha-nature as a person’s immediate life beyond labels, not a quality we acquireTranscript
Bussho 2: Balance in ActionMike: acting with no self-world division is a wordless balance, the basis of life that thought only points toTranscript
Bussho 3: Beyond the Process ViewMike: fully manifesting existence is this moment’s reality, not a lost origin, future gain or enduring selfTranscript
Bussho 4: Real Present TimeMike reads Dogen: buddha-nature is not a nature arriving later or a state we can observe in ourselvesTranscript
Zazen According to SawakiYoko reads her translation of Kodo Sawaki’s talks: zazen is fully becoming yourself, not a state you getEido Yoko LuetchfordDigest Transcript

January 2004 · Rowardennan, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Winter Sesshin, Rowardennan, Scotland

Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksWinter 2004 — UjiOpen the series →

Uji 1: Time Is the PresentMike reads time-present as the real here and now that relativises clock time and shows itself in actionDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 2: An Alternative to Linear TimeMike keeps the present as the only real time, grants ordinary process, and leaves the contradiction openDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 3: The Changing State of ZazenMike reads time-present as zazen’s actual condition, with irritation and sleepiness, not a pure goalDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 4: Contradictory ExplanationsMike: reality is not contradictory, but our explanations must contradict each other to try to grasp itDigest Transcript Audio
Uji 5: Words and RealityMike closing this Uji sesshin: a description restricts its object; ordinary action can return us to realityDigest Transcript Audio
Performance by Ralph Hoyte: Uji (Time-Present)Ralph HoyteAudio

2003

August 2003 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Photos Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksSummer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo ChaptersOpen the series →

Introductions 1: Rules and RealityMike: action follows the situation, not a rule without its reason; Shobogenzo offers many views of one realityTranscript
Introductions 2: Reality in Ordinary MomentsMike: perfect is no ideal but the real situation, mixed good and bad; ethical decisions are made here and nowTranscript
Introductions 3: A Middle Without IntentionMike: zazen and kinhin have no intention to get or stop anything; the middle comes by passing through balanceTranscript
Introductions 4: Ordinary BalanceMike ties the Buddhist state to the balance of this moment; right action and time belong to the same momentTranscript
Introductions 5: Clear Explanation for ZazenMike: this talk’s Buddhism is an explanation for simple zazen, not therapy or a mystery apart from practiceTranscript

2002

summer 2002 · Glastonbury, England

Summer Sesshin at Earth Spirit Centre, Glastonbury, UK

Talk series5 Chronicle

Talk series · 5 talksSummer 2002 — Genjo-koanOpen the series →

Genjo-koan 1: Four ViewpointsMike reads Dogen’s paragraph: balanced action of body and mind is no licence for anything and cannot be forcedTranscript
Genjo-koan 2: Delusion and Self-ImageMike reads the lines on delusion against a perfect self-image: noticing it can be a way to begin againTranscript
Genjo-koan 3: Action Only Here and NowMike: real action is only here and now, and in whole action there is no separate self at the centreTranscript
Genjo-koan 4: Realisation as WholenessMike reads the moon in water as wholeness without an interface between person and world, beyond descriptionTranscript
Genjo-koan 5: Freedom Within LimitsMike reads fish and birds as action tied to circumstances: we find our way by moving, a goal is an ideaTranscript

1996

January 1996 · Japan

Talk by Gudo Wafu Nishijima

Nagarjuna’s MulamadhyamakakarikaNishijima reads the opening verses as accepting this world as it is; a philosophy of action leading to zazenGudo Wafu NishijimaDigest Transcript Audio

1987

August 1987 · Japan

Talk by Gudo Wafu Nishijima

Why We Practice ZazenNishijima: believing in reality solves the conflict of religion and science; we practise zazen to enter itGudo Wafu NishijimaDigest Transcript Audio

May 1987 · Japan

Talk by Gudo Wafu Nishijima

Introduction to Master Dogen’s ThoughtNishijima: Dogen’s logic of three philosophies and one reality may help synthesise religion and scienceGudo Wafu NishijimaDigest Transcript Audio