Clear Way Zen Dharma Talks

Sept 6, 2025: The Foundations of Mindfulness

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:08:37 +0000

At the heart of the Zen practice is to observe. Observe things as they are. Observe the mind as it is. As we observe we also ask the some of the most fundamental questions. The Zen practice isn’t about shutting the mind off but to quiet the mind so we can observe and gain insight to truth as it is.

Aug 30, 2025: The Impermanence of the Self and Death

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 21:43:10 +0000

In life we avoid some very hard truths. One of the biggest being that we are going to die. An other is the fact that everything we define ourselves to be are temporary ever changing definitions. By avoiding truths we create anxiety about them or when things change unexpectedly can cause an existential crisis. The practice of Zen is to directly face all truths to relieve ourselves from the suffering caused by avoiding them.

Aug 23, 2025: What Compassion Looks Like

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 01:11:33 +0000

I heard a statement once that wisdom is giving someone what they need and not necessary
what they want. Compassion doesn’t always look the way we except. Practice gives
us the clarity of the current situation on how to act in the best interest for
all involved. With out this clarity, no matter how it looks, our actions are more
often than not, not for the best.

Aug 9, 2025: Nirvana is Possible

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:52:39 +0000

The Buddha’s teachings of enlightenment wasn’t just for a select few. It was for rich and poor alike. Men and women. For everyone that listened and put those teachings to practice. And 2500 years later this still holds true.

Unfortunately in this day and age, the majority of people don’t believe enlightenment is possible. People listen to the dharma to feel good or do charitable things to gain merits. But when it comes to meditation and practice people turn away and miss the mark leaving nirvana out of reach. Practice and diligence is the key to nirvana for everyone.

I want to include a poem from Hui-neng, The Sixth Patriarch of Zen, found in the Platform Sutra:

Deluded a buddha is a being
enlightened a being is a buddha
a foolish buddha is a being
a wise being is a buddha
a biased buddha is a being
an unbiased being is a buddha
as long as your mind is biased
the buddha dwells in a being
the moment you wake up unbiased
a being becomes a buddha
your mind contains a buddha
your buddha is the real one
if you didn't have the buddha-mind
where would you go to find a buddha?

July 12, 2025: Finding Peace Amidst Conflict

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 01:50:54 +0000

Reflecting on the current state of the world, marked by conflict, instability, and suffering Lotus Vu emphasized the importance of finding peace within oneself to become a beacon of light in the face of darkness.

July 5, 2025: The Three Trainings

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 01:37:12 +0000

Lotus Vu gives the Sangha a great reminder of the Zen practice to be brought both on and off the cushion. As she explains the The Three Trainings aren’t three separate practices but rather three sides of the practice. Without even one of these the end to suffering cannot happen.

May 31, 2025: The Way of being a part of the World but not of it

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 16:27:58 +0000

The life of Zen is about quieting and doing nothing internally while living a full life externally. The way of being a part of the world but not of it.

May 24, 2025: The Reality of the Exprience.. Neo...

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 16:14:45 +0000

Everything we experience is through the mind. Because of this the mind is also the creator of our experience. When we let mind ramble on with out notice or control then you might understand how this effects our experience. Also, Lotus geeks out…

May 17, 2025: The Reality of Control

Sat, 24 May 2025 01:38:11 +0000

After giving a seven week class on Buddhist Psychology, Lotus gives a new talk on the illusion of control. Although we as a society have become good at controlling a lot of our environment to improve our lives it’s also a major source of our suffering.

Mar 8, 2025: Practicing with True Diligence

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 23:51:03 +0000

It not enough to just go through the motions. To have real insight with the Zen practice it must be done with true diligence. Lotus talks about what diligence is and it’s importance.

Unfortunately the audio isn’t that great in this episode but we still wanted to share this great talk. We did what we could to clear it up and hope you still enjoy it as much as we did.

Feb 22, 2025: Be Present, so Simple...

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:49:45 +0000

The Zen practice is to be absolutely and completely in the moment. Such a simple way but all the different ways we complicate it.

Feb 15, 2025: Karma and Habits

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 19:25:55 +0000

In this talk Lotus goes in depth about what Karma is and how habits relate to it.

Jan 18, 2025: Releasing Control

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 02:24:58 +0000

The practice of Zen is not about controlling anything. It’s about letting go and accepting everything as it is.

Jan 4, 2025: Collective Karma and Trauma

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:33:32 +0000

After the trauma of the covid-19 pandemic Lotus discuses our collective karma and trauma as everyone becomes more and more discontent with the world.

Dec 14, 2024: Final Talk for 2024

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 02:08:33 +0000

Before the holidays, Lotus Vu talks about the lives of Jesus and the Buddha.

Nov 23, 2024: The Great Wisdom Heart Sutra

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:09:10 +0000

Every Saturday this Sutra is recited before meditation. This is one of the main pointers in the Zen practice. Lotus gives a fantastic talk on living this Sutra and not just taking it as philosophy.

Nov 9, 2024: Foundations, Grounding in the Breath, Relax and Let Go

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 02:39:50 +0000

To make any practice effective it must all start with good foundations. In Zen these foundations are very simple and yet can be difficult to master and easy to forget. In this talk Lotus Vu reminds us of the foundations of the practice and their importance.

Oct 26, 2024: Accepting Change

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 04:45:09 +0000

Change in our daily lives can be a difficult thing to deal with. Lotus Vu talks about how resisting change creates suffering and the importance of accepting change.

Oct 12, 2024: Being Thankful

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:09:02 +0000

With Thanksgiving in full swing this month in North America, Lotus Vu talks about the importance of being thankful for what we have.

Sept 28, 2024: Creating Suffering when Playing the Victim

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 18:46:54 +0000

In this talk Lotus Vu discusses the first few of stanzas of the Dhammapada as how we play the victim creating our own suffering in the process.

2024 Yearly Retreat Intensive Talk

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 17:42:16 +0000

This talk was given by Lotus Vu to conclude the 2024 yearly retreat intensive.