Zen Talks from Windhorse Zen Community

A collection of Teisho from the Windhorse Zen Community, near Asheville, NC. With over fifty years of intensive Zen training, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede is a dharma heir of Roshi Philip Kapleau, the author of The Three Pillars of Zen. If you'd like to find out more or make a donation, please go to windhorsezen.org

2024 Rohatsu (IV): How Do You Step From The Top of a 100' Pole? 08/13/2025

2024 Rohatsu (IV): How Do You Step From The Top of a 100' Pole? This teisho is from the seventh day of Windhorse's 2024 Rohatsu Sesshin offered by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede. In it, she begins by discussing Case #46 of the Mumonkan, "How do you step from the top of a 100 foot pole?" To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37791395

2024 Rohatsu (III): A Huge Foolish Project 08/06/2025

2024 Rohatsu (III): A Huge Foolish Project This teisho is from the fifth day of Windhorse's 2024 Rohatsu Sesshin offered by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37701665

2024 Rohatsu (II): Preaching Facing Oneness 07/30/2025

2024 Rohatsu (II): Preaching Facing Oneness Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses Case #14 of the Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku) on the third day of Windhorse's 2024 Rohatsu Sesshin. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37607920

2024 Rohatsu Sesshin (I) 07/23/2025

2024 Rohatsu Sesshin (I) In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede reflects on the spiritual, cultural, and historical context of the Buddha's awakening, emphasizing its relevance to our present-day challenges. She calls us to renew their dedication and to affirm that the potential for awakening exists within all beings, right here and now. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37519315

To Cherish All Life 07/16/2025

To Cherish All Life In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the importance of the animal kingdom, one of the six realms of existence in the Buddhist Wheel of Life. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37427540

Death Practice: On Suzuki Shōsan 07/09/2025

Death Practice: On Suzuki Shōsan In this teisho from November 2024, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the life and teachings of Suzuki Shōsan (1579-1655). Originally a samurai warrior, Shōsan studied Zen and became a teacher. One of the practices he advocated was to keep awareness of your eventual death in the forefront at all times. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37347260

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part Four) 07/02/2025

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part Four) Here, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede concludes her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji) from the October 2024 7-Day Sesshin. He is one of the greatest Zen Masters of Song Dynasty China. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37257370

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part Three) 06/25/2025

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part Three) Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji). He is one of the greatest Zen Masters of Song Dynasty China. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37148250

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part Two) 06/18/2025

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part Two) Roshi Sunya Kjolhede continues her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji). He is one of the greatest Zen Masters of Song Dynasty China. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/37056340

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part One) 06/04/2025

The Life and Teachings of Master Dahui (Part One) From this first teisho of the Fall 2024 sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede begins her series on the life and teachings of Master Dahui (his Japanized name is Daie Zenji). As she discussed in the previous podcast on his "Vow for Enlightenment" chant that we use at Windhorse, he is one of the greatest Zen Masters of the Song Dynasty in China. But, she begins the teisho with some admonishments on how we should take care in how we treat each other—both in sesshin and out. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36843510

Master Dahui's Vow For Enlightenment 05/28/2025

Master Dahui's Vow For Enlightenment In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede unpacks "Master Dahui's Vow For Enlightenment," a chant often used at Windhorse. Dahui (Japanized: Daie Zenji) was a well-known Zen Master from the Song dynasty. This chant reflects his intense desire for awakening and he inspires us to follow suit "however long the road ahead appears to be." To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36742115

Clouds Cooking Rice 05/21/2025

Clouds Cooking Rice In this teisho, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the miscellaneous koan (localized for our Appalachian mountains): "On top of Mount Mitchell, a cloud is cooking rice." To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina (and beyond), please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36657400

Under the Shadowless Tree 05/14/2025

Under the Shadowless Tree In this teisho from June of '24, Sunya-roshi discusses Tangen's verse to the Emperor in Case #18 "The National Teacher's Seamless Monument" of the Hekiganroku (Blue Cliff Record). She talks about the importance of practice while travelling. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36563750

There Is No Waiting 04/23/2025

There Is No Waiting In this deep dive into the teisho vault, Sunya-roshi (here just Sunya-sensei) gives a special talk from May 2005 on the immediacy of practice. Please be aware the the audio does take a few seconds to start. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36281625

Go Straight Ahead! 04/16/2025

Go Straight Ahead! In this final teisho from the Summer '24 7-Day Sesshin, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses Case #31 of The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan), "Joshu Sees Through The Old Woman." She ends with the Flowers Poem, anonymous verses written by a Zen monk often used at funerals and memorial services. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhosezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36187405

Zen Practice Is Like A Great Wind Sweeping Through Us 04/09/2025

Zen Practice Is Like A Great Wind Sweeping Through Us In this teisho offered on the fourth day of our 2024 Summer Sesshin, Sunya-roshi talks about waking up and giving ourselves fully to the practice. She tells the story of one of the Buddha’s disciples who, while not very smart, awakened to his original nature by sweeping. And she speaks of Shitou Xiqian (Sekitō Kisen) and his first meeting with his teacher. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhosezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/36068280

You Can't Talk About Zen 04/02/2025

You Can't Talk About Zen In this teisho from the second day of the Summer 2024 sesshin, Sunya-roshi talks about how we ultimately cannot talk about Zen. Zen Practice needs to be embodied. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and the dharma work here in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35975140

At the Bedside of Vimalakirti 03/26/2025

At the Bedside of Vimalakirti In this teisho from June of 2024, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the Vimalakirti Sutra. She talks about how we work with suffering, illness and death. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhosezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35782145

Zen Practice: What's Love Got To Do With It? 03/18/2025

Zen Practice: What's Love Got To Do With It? In all the mystical traditions of various religions, love is oft discussed, but it is seldom mentioned in Zen Buddhism. In this recent teisho from early March of 2025, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses how love can be a tricky word to define or experience—but also how wholehearted Zen practice helps dig up the concrete of views and judgements to rediscover the "living greeness" of our own depths right here. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35771380

A Living Practice In An Unravelling Time 03/12/2025

A Living Practice In An Unravelling Time In this recent and timely dharma talk from the end of February 2025, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the anxieties of our time and how despair is not an option. It's only through deep practice with a radical love that we can open to the chaos and tumult around us. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35643745

The Importance of Being Nobody 03/05/2025

The Importance of Being Nobody In this Dharma talk from May 2024, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede uses the Eight Worldly Winds teaching of the Buddha to show that Zen practice is a radical departure from the whirlwind of our buy/sell society. She also discusses Case #26 of the Mumonkan, Two Monks Roll Up The Blinds. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and Windhorse's Dharma work in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35545260

How to Take the Practice Home 02/26/2025

How to Take the Practice Home In this talk given on April 28, 2024 at the Windhorse Zen Community outside of Asheville, NC, Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses tips on how to take Zen home. She focuses on body practices such as the use of the eyes, centering your attention on your hara (lower belly), and chanting—among many others. To donate or learn more about Sunya-roshi and the dharma work here in Western North Carolina, please go to windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35438800

Vimalakirti and the Power of Silence 02/19/2025

Vimalakirti and the Power of Silence Using Case #84 of the Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku), Roshi Sunya Kjolhede discusses the power and necessity of silence in our lives. This talk was given on January 14th, 2024 at Windhorse Zen Community near Asheville, NC. To donate or learn more about us and our dharma work, visit windhorsezen.org Case #84: Vimalakirti's Gate of Non-Duality Vimalakirti asked Manjusri, "What is the Bodhisattva's Dharma gate of non-duality?" Manjusri answered, "To my mind, in all dharmas there are no words, no preaching, no demonstration, and no recognition. It is beyond all questions and answers. That is entering the Dharma gate of non-duality." Then Manjusri asked Vimalakirti, "Each of us has had his say. Now tell us, good man, what is the bodhisattva's entry into the Dharma gate of non-duality?" [Setcho commented, saying, "What did Vimalakirti say?" And again he says, "I have seen through him."] /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/35354330

Rohatsu: The Buddha's Enlightenment 12/01/2023

Rohatsu: The Buddha's Enlightenment This talk was given by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede at Windhorse Zen Community near Asheville, NC on Sunday, November 26, 2023. To donate or learn more about us and our dharma work, visit windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/28884618

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva 11/15/2023

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva This teisho was given by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede at Windhorse Zen Community in 2016. For more information visit windhorsezen.org, and consider donating to sustain our dharma work while you're there. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/28657638

Master Hakuin Part 3 10/25/2023

Master Hakuin Part 3 Part three in Sunya Roshi's series on Zen Master Hakuin, given in August of 2020. Windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/28290125

Master Hakuin Part 2 10/18/2023

Master Hakuin Part 2 Part two in Sunya Roshi's series on Zen Master Hakuin, given in August 2020. Windhorsezen.org /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/28290101

Master Hakuin Part 1 10/11/2023

Master Hakuin Part 1 Sunya Roshi gives the first in a series of talks about Zen Master Hakuin. This talk was given in August 2020 via Facebook Live while in lockdown due to Covid-19. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/28289945

Looking Into Mirrors- Teisho by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede 03/04/2023

Looking Into Mirrors- Teisho by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede This talk was given by Roshi Sunya Kjolhede at Windhorse Zen Community on July 12, 2020. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/26126733

Koan 36 in The Blue Cliff Record: Chosa Goes Picnicking 02/10/2023

Koan 36 in The Blue Cliff Record: Chosa Goes Picnicking This talk was given by Sunya Kjolhede Roshi at one of our regular Sunday programs on May 2, 2021. To find out more about all the things the Windhorse Zen Center has to offer, please visit: Sunya is a sanctioned Dharma heir of the late, Philip Kapleau Roshi (author of the Three Pillars of Zen and former abbot of the Rochester Zen center). She has been practicing in the Zen tradition for over 40 years and is co-abbot (along with her husband, Lawson Sachter Roshi) of the Windhorse Zen center, located in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. These teachings are offered free of charge. If you would like to help support the center, please click the “Donate” button on our website. /episode/index/show/windhorsezencommunity/id/25890558

Zen Talks from Windhorse Zen Community

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