Teisho Today Archives
Welcome to the Teisho Today archives, where we present our most recent Daily Zen Journals as audio files for your enjoyment. Over time, we aim to have the entire library of journals available in this format; however, this is a work in progress, as the first journal was released in 1998, and this is now 2026!
Join us on this journey as Daily Zen evolves and grows into the present moment, heading into our 25th year.
The Teishos are also available wherever you get your podcasts.
The Awakening of Mugai Nyodai – Part 2
Chiyono said, “I have heard that the Buddha emits rays of light from a tuft of white hair between his eyebrows, illuminating all ten directions. Gazing at them is like looking at the palm of your hand. Can I point to my lowly self and say that I have Buddha nature, or am I deluding myself?
The Enlightenment of Chiyono
In the village of Hiromi in the Mugi district, there were three nuns who built a Zen temple and devoted themselves to practicing the Buddhist way.
Skeletons – Part 2
One night, I came to a lonely little temple, looking for a place to rest. I was far off the main road, at the base of a mountain, seemingly lost in a vast Plain of Repose.
Skeletons
These thin lines of India ink reveal all truth. Students, sit earnestly in zazen, and you will realize that everything born in this world is ultimately empty, including oneself and the original face of existence. All things indeed emerge out of emptiness.
Zazen
Zazen sitting is the way of perfect tranquility: inwardly not a shadow of perception, outwardly not a shade of difference between phenomena.
Divine Light
The entire world is reflected in an eye; the entire world is contained in everyday conversation; the entire world is throughout your body; the entire world is your own Divine Light; the entire world is within your Divine Light and inseparable from yourself.
Informal Talks
Inherent intelligence or high capacity is not necessary. You should not depend on brilliance or smartness. Don’t exclude those who are very slow or less talented. It is a mistake, however, to say that for the true study you should be like a blind, deaf, or dumb person.
Shikantaza
The Fukanzazengi by Dogen Zenji is good instruction, but is very difficult to understand. It is especially hard to comprehend how to work with the mind, and how the practice relates to enlightenment. I will briefly explain how to practice shikantaza.
To Live is Just to Live
Based on Shakyamuni Buddha’s experience and the experience of the buddhas of the past, the main point of Dogen Zenji’s teaching is that zazen is just to become present in the process of zazen itself; this is shikantaza. It is not something you acquire after you have done zazen. It is not a concept of the process; it is to focus on the process itself.
The Platform Sutra
Only practice straightforward mind, and in all things have no attachments whatsoever; this is called the samadhi of oneness. The deluded person clings to the characteristics of things, adheres to the samadhi of oneness, thinks that straightforward mind is sitting without moving and casting aside delusions without letting things arise in the mind.
King of Samadhis
To transcend the world directly, to manifest the magnificence of the Buddha ancestor’s house-this is sitting in the meditation posture. To leap over the heads of outsiders and demons, and become a true person inside the buddha ancestor’s room-this is sitting in the meditation posture.
Practice of Meditation
Ultimately, all true learning is done on one’s own
