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San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

San Francisco Zen Center
Buddhism
Zen Buddhism
Zen Practice
Mindfulness
San Francisco Zen Center
Compassion
Zazen
Meditation
Dharma
Dogen
Interconnectedness
Community
Suzuki Roshi
Soto Zen
Zen
Suffering
Buddha Nature
Interdependence
Impermanence
Awakening

Dharma Talks given at San Francisco Zen Center

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes115Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BuddhismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

Latest Episodes

Given by Myoju Erin Merk at City Center on September 19th, 2026

Myoju Erin Merk explores an ancient teaching from the Samyutta Nikaya, offering practice nourishment to fuel our collective journey toward justice and upright humanity.

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Given by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on October 21st, 2026

Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman addresses some of the misconceptions we might have about renunciation, including that it means foregoing altogether both worldly pleasures and... more

Given by Shundo David Haye at City Center on October 17th, 2026

In a talk given after completing dharma transmission, Shundo David Haye reflects on the generosity of the ancestors in ensuring that the dharma continues to be available to us and thos... more

YouTube

Given by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on October 3rd, 2026

Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman uses ancient water analogies and parables to unpack the concept of paramita, which can be translated as “perfection” or “transcendent,” as well... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Myoju Erin Merk
San Francisco Zen Center priest and high school teacher
San Francisco Zen Center
Episode: Untangling the Tangle
Le Palais de Conzine Gaelin Godwin
Director of the Soto Zen International Center
Soto Zen International Center
Episode: Teaching Without Words: An Invitation to Continuous Practice
Rinso Ed Sattizahn
Zen practitioner presenting a commentary on Case 19 of the Gateless Barrier
San Francisco Zen Center
Episode: Ordinary Mind is the Way
Shosan Victoria Austin
Zen Buddhist priest
San Francisco Zen Center
Episode: Building a Posture of Love

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 288 ratings
  • The mark is way over there

    Let Zazen drop away the veil of DEI. It’s nonesense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    char88809864
    United States2 years ago
  • Rich, generous, compelling

    These talks offer me a great reminder of why I practice zen and how it helps me be better I. Touch with my humanity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Know Your Ps and Qs
    United States3 years ago
  • From Mexico

    I come home again and again, am reminded to touch ground, kiss earth, sit upright with the threefold Dharma realm of Suzuki Roshi: GreenTasSisco. Thank you for the Dharma.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    borningreen
    United States6 years ago
  • Compressed audio :/

    Great content but audio needn’t be so compressed. It makes it uncomfortable to listen to at length

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    :Duncan
    United Kingdom8 years ago
  • Zazen is Face to Face Transmission

    Your talk is far too esoteric: include the audience and how an esoteric concept applies directly to them. Yes, you did use examples of a young child & chimpanzees, the connection seemed forced. Why did the boy yell when orange peel bitten into or banana cut? Bring it home to the audience.

    Using the integration (don’t like this word—let’s try “The Sacred Marriage of Opposites”) of seeming opposites, the shallow & the deep, not esteeming or despising the finite or the infinite, among many others... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    canedops
    Canada9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The range of teachers and perspectives is a draw for listeners seeking Buddhist instruction from different voices.
Some listeners find certain talks too abstract and want clearer connections to everyday experience.
Many describe the teaching as generous, wise, and useful for reflection or returning to a sense of balance.
Listeners value the talks as a source of practical support for Zen practice and compassionate, patient living.
Audio quality is a recurring concern, with reports of compressed or inconsistent sound.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

May Our Life Reveal Their Compassion
Q: How have you changed in the last 27 years?
Haye says he has become more able to notice and move beyond self-protective closing, judgment, and fear, though the change is not complete.
The Summit of Heat and Cold
Q: So, how do you navigate finding that balance between tough love and listening to someone's body when you're in a leadership role?
Heather explains it varies case by case, emphasizing the importance of a relationship with a teacher who can observe patterns and resistances, and who can gently guide a student toward practicing with what is, rather than what they wish it to be, even if it means delaying comfort (like wearing socks) to deepen practice.
The Friendliness of Not Knowing
Q: A participant asks for practical tips on staying in the friendly not-knowing state during daily interactions and when others insist on certainty.
The speaker suggests listening more, practicing zazen regularly to soften the urge to know, and using moments of uncertainty as opportunities to cultivate patience and openness with others.
The Friendliness of Not Knowing
Q: Jenna asks how the speaker's realization about autistic traits changed their relationship with family and what compassion looks like in that context.
The speaker describes increased compassion for their mother, repair of their relationship, and a reconnection that included regular communication and expressing love, underscoring how greater self-understanding can soften family bonds.
Awe, the Satipatthana Sutra and Zen Practice
Q: What is the role of awe in karma and personal change?
Awe invites a reexamination of past actions and their effects, helping to realign present choices toward fewer harmful consequences and greater moral clarity, thereby transforming future outcomes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

What is San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Regular Dharma talks from Zen teachers connect Buddhist teachings, texts, and lineage stories with the challenges of everyday life. Speakers explore themes such as meditation, compassion, uncertainty, ethical conduct, non-attachment, and the Six Paramitas, often pairing traditional Zen stories and sutras with personal experience and practical guidance. Talks may include meditation instruction, poetry, ceremony, or audience questions and answers, and are delivered by a rotating group of teachers rather than a single recurring host.

The distinctive focus is on applying Soto Zen practice in ordinary life: meeting difficulty without judgment, returning attention to the body and breath, and considering how personal choices affect others. Suited... more

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Which podcasts are similar to San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks:

1. Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast
2. The Zen Studies Podcast
3. Tricycle Talks
4. The Way Out Is In
5. Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

How many episodes of San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks are there?

San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks launched 20 years ago and published 115 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks?

Recent guests on San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks include:

1. Myoju Erin Merk
2. Le Palais de Conzine Gaelin Godwin
3. Rinso Ed Sattizahn
4. Shosan Victoria Austin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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