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Bright Way Zen: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Rev. Domyo Burk
Bright Way Zen is a Zen community in Portland OR, USA, and worldwide via our "Cloud Zendo" (Zoom). This podcast includes talks and classes by our teacher, Rev. Domyo Burk, Sangha members, and others.
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- 5 days ago52 min
Do You Have to Abandon Worldly Entanglements? - Domyo
At our annual Continuous Practice retreats, we study excerpts from Dogen's Gyoji, which includes a section that seems to suggest that we abandon all worldly entanglements...but is this what is expected of us all? Through formal practices, we can, either short term or long term, choose to become monks of body who enact literal renunciation. However, we also can continuously enact internal renunciation by being monks of mind, without leaving home. To be involved in our lives on the dusty householder path isn't easy, but it is just as valuable a choice to make.
- 1 weeks ago52 min
Our Brightway Zen Lineage - Week 8 - The Transmission of the Dharma
Authentic transmission of the Dharma through the generations requires teachers – lay or ordained – who have verified the truth through their own direct experience, and have demonstrated to their teacher that they embody the training through time and proximity. You can't learn the essential matter of Zen from books, or even from wise peers. What is this about?
- 1 weeks ago51 min
How Many Zens, Again? - Anjo
Using Tang-era Chan master Guifeng Zongmi's "Five Zens" framework, Anjo explores our relationship with zazen and the way it can change over time.
- 2 weeks ago53 min
The Importance of Sesshin - Guzan and Jinryu
In this recording, Sangha holders Guzan and Jinryu discuss the important role of Sesshin in our Zen practice and invite fellow sangha members to speak to their experiences in Sesshin.
- 2 weeks ago52 min
Forgiveness - Domyo
The Buddha knew it can be very difficult to forgive others, but taught that it could be done. Domyo offers that forgiveness begins with willingness, and has nothing to do with the other person. It is ultimately, simply letting go - but, to find our way there, we may need to get creative. We can turn to the teachings, as well as reflect on our own experience, for ideas as to what works best for each of us.
- 3 weeks ago59 min
What Characterizes Our Dharma Cloud Lineage? - Our Bright Way Lineage - Week 6
What Characterizes Our Dharma Cloud Lineage? An overview of twelve things that characterize our lineage. These are things we emphasize, value, or offer; we employ the "Dharma Rain" approach to everything, using the metaphor from the Lotus Sutra of the rain of Dharma (teaching/truth) falling equally on all the plants in the forest, from small herbs to giant trees, and each plant takes up just what it needs. Similarly, we honor each person's unique path without judgement, and invite people to participate in whatever aspects of our offerings they want or need: Zazen, Precepts, Sangha, Vow, Dharma Study, Chanting & Ritual, Retreat & Sesshin, the Reality of Awakening, Samadhi Power and Karma Relationship as the two sides of practice, Priest and Monastic Training as an option, honoring Lay Practice as a complete path, and honoring the Dharma Transmission Lineage.
- 3 weeks ago50 min
Shining the Light Inward - Domyo
In Fukanzazengi, Dogen says "Learn to take the backward step that turns the light and shines it inward." In this, he indicates the essential point of our practice: studying the self, and turning your awareness toward your own heart-mind. Redirecting our focus from external conditions to the essential internal work, we can then gain insight into how to deal with our own circumstances and Karmic entanglements. It all begins, and ends, with Right View. Those in attendance share their own experiences of when a realignment in view made a positive difference.
- 4 weeks ago36 min
2026-09-29 - Class Discussions - Tyler - The Trail Markers On Our Personal Zen Path
In this Tuesday talk, Sangha member Tyler leads a Sangha discussion around our personal Zen path and our relationship to it over time. Using prompts from Dogen's Uji, as well as his experience reflecting on his Zen path while hiking a familiar trail in the woods, we examine our personal path and the path of our lineage and what "trail markers" we use and have developed to guide our understanding of this path.
About Bright Way Zen
Bright Way Zen is a Zen community in Portland OR, USA, and worldwide via our "Cloud Zendo" (Zoom). This podcast includes talks and classes by our teacher, Rev. Domyo Burk, Sangha members, and others.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Bright Way Zen as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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