Dharma Talks by Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

In the midst of what can be an awesome fear, and grief, the teachings on death and dying can also be a source of great power, wonder, and love

Zuisei shares just how the practice of love is the heart, the path, and the realization of the Buddhist teachings

An intense reaction, a wayward mood, a harmful thought, all the ways in which the mind can hold us back from getting close—it may sound unlikely, yet these are precious moments. Accept their invitation to put into practice the tools explored here.

What makes a good friend according to the Buddhist teachings? Because we need good friends along the spiritual path, the Buddha offered clear guidance on what is needed to see and to be that friend for others.

The Ocean Mind Sangha’s first Jukai ceremony - listen to and join in as Brian Pontolilo formally commits to a life guided by the ethical teachings of Buddhism with his teacher Zuisei, and the sangha.

Take a deep dive into another aspect of Zen training that prepares us to be present in our lives—koan study. This talk draws on Zen Master Dogen’s Case 114, Zhaozhou’s Dog: Does a dog have Buddha Nature?

Could your next meal be a celebration of the sacred, no matter where or with whom? This mondo on mindful eating dives into the many ways we relate to food in light of Buddhist practice, from eating disorders and the art of parenting, to dinner parties and dining alone.

Karma Yeshe Chödrön and Karma Zopa Jigme, married couple and teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, on the reality of engaging in spiritual practice and the fragility of a human life…

According to the poet David Whyte, there is a faith in loving fiercely the one who is rightfully yours. What if the one who is rightfully yours is you?

Delve into Koso Uchiyama’s contemporary Zen text on the importance of zazen and letting go of thoughts in order to see the nature of the self

Looking towards restorative justice and koan practice to understand what it means to be fully present and open to all the circumstances of our lives, no matter how challenging…

A continuation of the exploration of the Buddhist precepts focusing on taking refuge, highlighting the importance of understanding what it is that we take refuge in…

This talk on a koan about the love between parent and child (teacher and student), lays bare the uniqueness of this relationship and the unconditional trust and love that it’s based on—a love grounded in the aspiration for liberation, for awakening…

“What conditions do we need to be truly happy?” Thich Nhat Hanh asks. It’s another way of asking, Do we understand how the seeds of our experiences shape the way we perceive our lives? Thich Nhat Hanh’s text on the Fifty Verses shows us that it’s not what happens to us that determines…

Without you, I cannot be me. Then who am I, fundamentally? Zuisei reflects on identity and interdependence, showing how none of us can “be ourselves by ourselves”—none of us exist independently of one another. How do we help each other be who we are, fully?

I can’t. I won’t. This is the sound of fear in the lead. And a sign to look closer.
Let’s return to the three steps or ways to enter our zazen—failing, falling, and feeling—and study the fear that often holds us back from fully realizing them…

What is shikantaza? How do we practice it? Zuisei offers three steps to enter zazen and our day-to-day lives

It’s never been more important to cultivate an attitude of care and reverence for this world and for one another. How can we use the teachings and our practice to remind us of the sacredness inherent in all things?

Why prostrate yourself, when Buddhism doesn’t include belief in God or a higher power? With insights from Eihei Dogen, Judy Lief, and Reggie Ray, this talk looks at the power of the sacred and of bowing…

“When we practice mindfulness we are not practicing for ourselves alone, but also for the countless generations to follow.”
–Thich Nhat Hanh
Zuisei and the sangha take up this teaching as they continue their study of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Understanding Our Mind.

The center of the eighth realization—the awareness that the fire of birth and death is raging, causing endless suffering everywhere. Even in difficult moments there is a soft spaciousness, perfect and complete, where we are whole and things are as they are…

The center of the Seventh Realization of Great Beings— live simply, follow the precepts, and treat all beings equally and with compassion. Through the poetry of Hafiz and the stories of the Zen teacher and Sixth Ancestor Huineng…

In this mondo the Sixth Realization of Great Beings comes to life through the sangha’s reflections on their lived experiences of the past year. This realization turns to equanimity and generosity in the midst of poverty…

Listening is a practice, and we must listen deeply so that we can become fully human buddhas…

When your enthusiasm for practice slows or seems to come to a halt, what can you do to spark it up again? If you’re unable to practice in a formal way, does it “still count” as practice? In this threaded talk…

The third of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings says that the mind constantly searches outside of itself and never feels fulfilled. Yet it is possible for the mind—and for us—to be satisfied…

Dive into the very human experience of desire within the container of Zen Master Dogen’s teachings, the Tibetan Buddhist Lojong slogans and more…

How do we use this teaching of impermanence to remember the wonder and uniqueness of each moment? Instead of seeing impermanence as a negative teaching, let us let it inspire us into making the most of every aspect of our lives…

In this first threaded talk, Zuisei introduces the realization of impermanence—from a teaching called The Eight Realizations of Great Beings—and asks the group to “thread together” their reflections on the teaching…

Do you find yourself silently commenting on and critiquing this life as it happens? There’s a Buddhist term for the seemingly endless chatter in our minds—papañca…

The life of the Buddha as it illustrates the six stages of pilgrimage—the call, homeleaving, the journey, contemplation, encounter, return…

For this Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows ceremony) Zuisei speaks of sacred space as the ground in which atonement and vow become possible…

Lovingkindness, one of the Four Immeasurables, is also the ninth of the ten paramis or paramitas (perfections). In this dharma talk Zuisei speaks of the hunger we all have for love and warmth, for the touch, the regard, of another human being