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Bright Way Zen: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Rev. Domyo Burk
Bright Way Zen is a Zen community in Portland OR, USA, and worldwide via our "Cloud Zendo" (Zoom). This podcast includes talks and classes by our teacher, Rev. Domyo Burk, Sangha members, and others.
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- 4 days ago54 min
Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 3 - Domyo's Training
In this episode, using journal enteries and poetry from her early life, Domyo guides the Sangha through her path of Soto Zen
- 1 weeks ago51 min
The Koan of Effort in Practice - Domyo
Why are we intensifying our practice during Ango? In Zen, the question of effort vs. non-effort in practice is, in itself, a Koan. Should we aim for vow, intention, motivation, with the urgency of "putting out a fire on your head"? Or, would we be better off settling into equanimity and radical acceptance, just "resting in the Samadhi of all the Buddhas"? Domyo takes input from Sangha on the positives and negatives of each approach, and further discussion follows.
- 1 weeks ago29 min
Fall Ango Opening Ceremony
Bright Way Zen's Sangha opens a new season of practice with acknowledging all who have practice roles, chanting the Heart Sutra, and singing "Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva."
- 1 weeks ago49 min
Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 2
In the second week of our study series on our Bright Way Zen Linieage we look at the Dharma Cloud lineage including Sanghas established by Kyogen and Gyokuko Carlson and their students. We begin with Roshi Kennett and talk about the Carlson's training, their move to Oregon, the establishment and evolution of Dharma Rain Zen Center, and end with some audio of one of Kyogen's talks.
- 1 weeks ago40 min
Making Vows and Living By Vow - Jomon Laura Martin (9/6/2026)
Our guest speaker leads Plum Blossom Zendo in Vancouver, Washington, and is a teacher and resident of Great Vow Monastery. Here, she shares a little bit about vows and how her community works with them, the difference between a vow and a goal, and the various kinds of vows and how they operate. Small group discussions follow - what might our own life vows actually be?
- 2 weeks ago47 min
Our Bright Way Zen Lineage - Week 1
In this episode, Domyo has returned from her sabbatical and begins our series on The Bright Way Zen Lineage. Starting with the Bodhi Dharma, Domyo begins tracing our lineage through China and Japan and it's move to North America by Jiyu Kennett.
- 3 weeks ago44 min
Sangha Voices - Katie - Is Zen Buddhism a Natural Religion?
Before Katie joined Bright Way and accepted Jukai, she made a list of religious elements that mattered to her. She called the list "natural religion" because it came from human values and experience. How does American Zen Buddhism measure up against natural religion? (in case you are holding your breath — pretty well). You might see your own values as she identifies key elements of natural religion in Buddhism.
- 3 weeks ago54 min
Sangha Voices - Carson - We Are the River
Carson brings us into the field of his vocation: river restoration, which is to return river systems to their natural conditions. Inspired by Zen teachings, his work has shown him the preciousness and interconnectedness of all life. To define a river is difficult - where is the boundary? It's a shifting, constantly changing concept - ultimately impermanent, and empty. To act in accordance with the nature of reality - how can we apply that to our practice? What does it mean to truly be a part of nature?
About Bright Way Zen
Bright Way Zen is a Zen community in Portland OR, USA, and worldwide via our "Cloud Zendo" (Zoom). This podcast includes talks and classes by our teacher, Rev. Domyo Burk, Sangha members, and others.
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