Zen Talks from Windhorse Zen Community
Windhorse Zen
A dharma talk given at the Windhorse Zen Community by Sunya Kjolhede Sensei. Sunya Sensei was sanctioned to teach by Roshi Philip Kapleau, founder of the Rochester Zen Center.
- 36 minutes 2 secondsFacing Your Lion: A Story from Persia and Reflections on Courage
Roshi Sunya Kjolhede tells a story of prince from Persia who must rouse his courage and face a terrifying lion to become king. In much the same way, we muster our courage in practice to face whatever comes our way. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
25 February 2026, 3:17 pm - 28 minutes 26 secondsOn Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Skillful Means
In this final teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Sunya-roshi talks about Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of compassion in action or skillful means. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
18 February 2026, 2:36 pm - 32 minutes 12 secondsNothing Holy
In this teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talks about Bodhidharma meeting Emperor Wu of Liang (Hekiganroku #1) and how nothing is holy or seperate. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
11 February 2026, 3:05 pm - 33 minutes 8 secondsTeisho from the Halfway Point of the June 2025 7-Day Sesshin
In this teisho from the Summer 2025 sesshin, Sunya-roshi gives advice on sesshin guidelines and the importance of recommitting oneself to practice. She also talks more about the importance of early childhood experiences that often lead one to Zen. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
4 February 2026, 3:23 pm - 29 minutesKanzeon!
In this teisho from the Summer 2025 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede talks about Kannon (Guanyin/Avalokitasvara), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
28 January 2026, 2:57 pm - 31 minutes 29 secondsVisions of Childhood: Recalling Early Experiences of Wonder and Questioning
This is a kind of third part to Sunya-roshi's "55 Years of Practice" series. She looks at the importance of experiences in childhood that lead to Zen practice—not only hers, but others. She begins with the Buddha's Rose Apple Remembrance. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
21 January 2026, 1:54 pm - 42 minutes 38 secondsFifty-Five Years of Practice: Delusions & Discoveries Along the Way (Part II)
2025 marked the fifty-fifth anniversary of when Sunya-roshi first met Roshi Philip Kapleau (then Sensei) and moved from Michigan to the Rochester Zen Center to practice. In this second of two special teisho, Sunya-roshi talks about memories of the early days of the Rochester Zen Center and the Polish Sangha. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
14 January 2026, 4:30 pm - 45 minutes 42 secondsFifty-Five Years of Practice: Delusions & Discoveries Along the Way (Part One)
2025 marked the fifty-fifth anniversary of when Sunya-roshi first met Roshi Philip Kapleau (then Sensei) and moved from Michigan to the Rochester Zen Center to practice. In this first of two special teisho, Sunya-roshi offers a bit of a practice retrospective on her years as a student and as a teacher of Zen Buddhism. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi & Lawson-roshi, and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
8 January 2026, 12:30 pm - 26 minutes 51 secondsAffirming Faith in Mind (IV)
In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede concludes her series on Affirming Faith in Mind (Xinxin Ming). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
29 October 2025, 1:55 pm - 34 minutes 21 secondsAffirming Faith in Mind (III)
In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on Affirming Faith in Mind (Xinxin Ming). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
22 October 2025, 1:21 pm - 38 minutes 20 secondsAffirming Faith in Mind (II)
In this teisho from the March 2025 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on Affirming Faith in Mind (Xinxin Ming). This long chant is attributed to Sengcan, the third Chinese Zen ancestor. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org
15 October 2025, 1:27 pm - More Episodes? Get the App