Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Dharma Talks

Buddhism #68

Dharma talks on Zen meditation and practice by Taigen Dan Leighton and other members of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate.

Practicing with Joko Beck in the 1990s
May 13, 2025 – 30:58
Suffering and skillful means
May 11, 2025 – 01:01:25
Emperor Wu Meets Bodhidharma Face-to-Face
May 4, 2025 – 50:49
This is not a Tanto Talk
Apr 29, 2025 – 53:17
Great Ancestor Darlene Cohen takes on suffering
Apr 27, 2025 – 01:01:18
Blanche Hartman: Willing to be just this one
Apr 20, 2025 – 01:08:54
The Two Truths – The Practice Realization of Zazen
Apr 13, 2025 – 38:47
Blanche Hartman and the effort of daffodils
Apr 6, 2025 – 46:34
Joko Beck’s Compassion arising and melting reactivity
Mar 30, 2025 – 45:32
Practice Period 2025 – Joko Beck
Mar 23, 2025 – 56:06
Dongshan and the Five Positions
Mar 16, 2025 – 55:56
Deep Listening
Mar 9, 2025 – 50:13
Genjokoan
Mar 2, 2025 – 46:05
Zazen and the Hamster Wheel
Feb 23, 2025 – 45:55
Parinirvana Day
Feb 16, 2025 – 39:32
Dongshan’s Jewel Mirror Samadhi
Feb 9, 2025 – 51:31
Caring with the Breath
Feb 2, 2025 – 50:10
Moving with the Breath
Jan 26, 2025 – 49:37
Reflecting on 50 Years of Zazen
Jan 19, 2025 – 56:08
Breathing into the new year
Jan 5, 2025 – 59:01
Remembering Abbot Hozan Alan Senauke
Dec 23, 2024 – 33:14
Composure
Dec 22, 2024 – 53:09
Shakyamuni Sees the Morning Star
Dec 15, 2024 – 48:21
Awakening under a tree
Dec 8, 2024 – 01:01:19
Mending rips and tears
Dec 1, 2024 – 45:26
Dogen’s Painting of a Rice Cake
Nov 24, 2024 – 01:01:45
Returning to the ground of this moment
Nov 10, 2024 – 01:00:55
Compassion and boundless ambiguity
Nov 3, 2024 – 48:32
Consistent Practice
Oct 20, 2024 – 54:20
Wrap-up of Dogen’s Expressing the Dream Within the Dream Seminar
Oct 13, 2024 – 56:41
The Dharma of Welcoming
Oct 6, 2024 – 49:54
Delight in the difficulty of practice!
Sep 29, 2024 – 58:49
The bodhisattva precept ceremony (jukai) as community harvest
Sep 22, 2024 – 43:29
In Anticipation of Jukai
Sep 15, 2024 – 48:22
Reflections on the Five Remembrances
Sep 8, 2024 – 47:40
Shanavasa – A Teacher Disciple Dialogue
Aug 25, 2024 – 43:29
Engaged Buddhism
Aug 18, 2024 – 06:48:36
Bring Me the Rhinoceros
Aug 11, 2024 – 46:28
Gassho: Joining palms is dynamic bodhisattva activity
Aug 4, 2024 – 42:33
You Are Here
Jul 28, 2024 – 49:48
Releasing the compassion body, planting the treasure seed
Jul 21, 2024 – 35:37
Ordinary Mind Is the Way
Jul 14, 2024 – 49:58
Maylie Scott’s Prayer to Guide the Bodhisattva’s Response
Jul 7, 2024 – 44:05
The Equal Ground of Zazen
Jun 23, 2024 – 48:52
Responding to the Request of the Present Moment
Jun 16, 2024 – 46:50
Guiding Teacher Transition Ceremony – hogetsu
Jun 9, 2024 – 37:36
Guiding Teacher Transition Ceremony – Taigen
Jun 9, 2024 – 38:55
Now, What?
Jun 2, 2024 – 58:58
Peeking Behind the Facade Seeking the Source
May 28, 2024 – 48:21
Taigen Leighton Final Dharma Talk (as guiding teacher)
May 26, 2024 – 59:20

Recent Reviews

M.NINE

not bad

but not great. I'm looking for a speaker that rivals the late alan watts or shunryu suzuki and did not find them here. the search continues.
Xansara

Wonderful talks!

They have helped me find my path in an area where teachers and like-minded people are rare. I really connect with the way Taigen speaks. I recommend giving it a try to see if it will help you in your journey. Namaste
DymaxionGiraffe

Excellent, erudite dharma talks

If I've never had reason to be jealous of Chicago residents before, I do now; for they get the benefit of this wonderful dharma teacher, who speaks with clarity, compassion, and great learning. Taigen's way of speaking is somewhat different from many other dharma teachers – he's more energetic and doesn't over-mystify topics which can be explained, if only partly, in everyday language – but it's been wonderful for me to listen to. I look forward to hearing more in the future.