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.
On the Transmission of Mind – Part 3
The Mind is no mind of conceptual thought, and it is completely detached from form. So Buddhas and sentient beings do not differ at all. If you can only rid yourselves of conceptual thought, you will have accomplished everything.
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.
The Fundamental Expedient Teachings
The fundamental teachings of mind are (1) the mind of all the Buddhas is the First Principle, based on the Lankavatara Sutra, and (2) I-hsing san-mei means that the mind which is aware of the Buddha is the Buddha, whereas the mind which does false thinking is the ordinary person
The Ryumon-ji Sermons – The Unborn Part 3
You often hear religious people talking about samsara, or living and dying, being the same as nirvana. But when they speak about it they do so from the standpoint of samsara, so in fact it has nothing to do with nirvana.
Readings from Sun Face Buddha
There was a monk who asked the Master, “The twelve divisions of the teaching have spread through this land; the number of those who have obtained the fruits of the Way does not stop at one or two.
Sermons – Part 2
The Patriarch said to the assembly, “The Way needs no cultivation; just do not defile. What is defilement? When with a mind of birth and death one acts in a contrived way, then everything is defilement. If one wants to know the Way directly: Ordinary Mind is the Way!
Sermons – Part 2
The Patriarch said to the assembly, “All of you should believe that your mind is Buddha, that this mind is identical with Buddha. The great master Bodhidharma came from India to China, and transmitted the One Mind teaching of Mahayana so that it can lead you all to awakening.
The World of Intensive Practice
Regardless of conditions, what is essential in doing zazen is just to sit, aiming at zazen and waking up to zazen. In just sitting and waking up to zazen, the various conditions going on in our heads simply become the scenery of our zazen!
Five Points in Buddhist Practice
One day the Master said to the assembly: “Nowadays, methods of applying the Buddhist practice are very poor. As a result, everyone says that Buddhism is of no use in the secular world. This is not so.
The Wise Ones of Old
The wise ones of old had subtle wisdom And depth of understanding, So profound that they could not be understood. And because they could not be understood
Practice of Meditation
Ultimately, all true learning is done on one’s own
