Crooked River Zen Dharma Talks

Sensei Dean Williams hosts the regular Open Q&A for the group. Sangha members raised questions for Dean on the parallels between the Buddhist concept of emptiness and pantheism. He notes that while Buddhism does not hold a monotheistic belief, both perspectives share a view of an indescribable, universal life force that permeates all things.
Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio on 10/3/26.

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra explains that prajna (wisdom) is the direct, unmediated insight into the impermanence and interdependence of all things. This perspective includes the teaching itself, which is also impermanent and interdependent.
This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "Great bright Mantra". Shared at a Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra lines "with nothing to attain, the mind has no hindrance." Dean talks about Emptiness and Interdependence explaining that because all things are empty of self-existence and defined by impermanence and interdependence, we can rely on "nothing." This means not clinging to fixed views or specific outcomes, which allows the mind to function without becoming a hindrance.
This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "No Hindrance". Shared at a Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sangha member John Wilhelm shares a talk on meditation in Zen. Zazen (meditation) and solitude, what is considered the "prerequisite" to Zen meditation? Begin with recognizing the three poisons, seeing the absolute and the relative aspects in your thoughts and actions.

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on 'Zen & Excitement'. Dean discusses being fully engaged with our usual environment through focused awareness and mindfulness. Drawing from Suzuki Roshi's Book, we see that whether just sitting, doing chores, drinking tea, etc., we can always be fully engaged with our environment through focused awareness and mindfulness..
This is discussing the section "Zen & Excitement', beginning on pg 57 or 42 (depending on edition) of Shunryu Suzuki's classic Zen Text Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen meditation & Practice
Shared at the Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sensei Dean Williams dharma talk on the Heart Sutra lines "with no cognition, no attainment" and "with nothing to attain, the mind has no hindrance." Recognizing that "no attainment" dismantles the traditional notion of working toward fixed spiritual ranks or future rebirth milestones as seen in early Buddhist traditions.
This continues the exploration of the central Zen text of the Heart Sutra. The source text the group is working with is Shohaku Okumura's Living by Vow Chapter 6 in the section "No Attainment". Shared at a Crooked River Zen regular sitting in Cleveland, Ohio.