Recorded Study Classes: Establishing Practice

These audio recordings have been selected as "intermediate" - particularly appropriate for students who have settled into Zen practice and want to continue to explore teachings on Zen and practice at San Francisco Zen Center.  Audio links will open in a new browser window.

Individual Lectures and Short Series


Heart Sutra Class with Red Pine |  Listen to this class  (1:05:45)

Buddhist scholar and translator Red Pine introduces the seminal scripture of the Zen school. 


Living Dynamic Function of The Middle Way |  Listen to this class  (54:52)
with Sara Emerson

Zen Teacher Sara Emerson explores the core Buddhist teaching of the Middle Way


Radical Dharma Class Series with Angel Kyodo Williams

Writer, activist, and ordained Zen priest Angel Kyodo Williams shares teachings from her book, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation

Class 1 of 3  |  Listen to this class  (56:58)

Class 2 of 3  |  Listen to this class  (1:07:48)

Class 3 of 3  |  Listen to this class (53:46)

Question and Answer  |  Listen to this class (1:04:38)


Ritual Practice with Charlie Pokorny  |  Listen to this class  (1:00:56)

Zen Teacher and Buddhist Professor Charlie Pokorny discusses zazen as a ritual practice


Ox Herding Class 1 with Tenshin Reb Anderson  |  Listen to this class  (1:21:26)

Senior Dharma Teacher Reb Anderson introduces the teaching of the Ten Oxherding Pictures, including a discussion about types of consciousness. 


Practicing Inside and Outside Zen Center

In this 6-week class, Senior Dharma Teacher Ryushin Paul Haller uses Dogen Zenji's fascicle Gyoji (Sustained Practice) to explore ways to make practice a focus for your life. 

October - November 2007

with Paul Haller

October 2, 2007  |  Listen to this class  (1:24:15)

October 9, 2007  |  Listen to this class  (1:28:20)

October 16, 2007  |  Listen to this class  (1:28:45)

October 23, 2007  |  Listen to this class  (1:30:30)

October 30, 2007  |  Listen to this class  (1:33:35)

November 6, 2007  |  Listen to this class  (1:33:40)


Spring Sesshin Lectures 2008

This sesshin is the culmination of an 8-week practice period study of kindness, inclusion, and love on the path. 

with Vicki Austin and Michael Wenger

29 March 2008 -- Victoria Austin  |  Listen to this lecture  (40:34)

30 March 2008 -- Michael Wenger  |  Listen to this lecture  (36:37)

31 March 2008 -- Victoria Austin  |   Listen to this lecture  (40:57)

1 April 2008 -- Michael Wenger  |   Listen to this lecture  (37:06)

2 April 2008 -- Victoria Austin  |  Listen to this lecture  (44:45)

3 April 2008 -- Michael Wenger  |   Listen to this lecture  (22:09)