October 18th - November 23rd, 2025
Our Fall Practice Period will be devoted to an in-depth investigation of the relationship between awakening and psychological shadows with the book When the Buddha Needs Therapy by Keith Martin-Smith. In addition to nine community practice periods each week we will be welcoming six senior clergy trained by Jun Po Roshi.
Weekly conversations will be with Kogen Keith Martin-Smith, Shunya Lynn Hyer, Daiden Dan Pecaut, Emyo Darlene Tataryn, Kenshin Cian Whalley and Ekai Joel Kreisberg. We welcome these leaders as they share their insight into the dharma teachings of Jun Po Roshi.
The six week practice period includes:
Six weekly dharma talks by senior clergy
A five week seminar focusing on the Emotional
Awareness Koans of Jun Po Roshi
Nine open practice periods offered each week.
Two retreats:
Zazenkai - Mondo Koan Intensive
Zazenkai - The Capping Phases of Jun Po Roshi
Access to all talks through our online portal
Online forums supporting the community
Weekly Dharma Reflections
Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:00 noon ET (New York)
October 18th - “Spirituality and Spiritual Identity” - Ekai Joel Kreisberg
October 25th - “The Dignity and Disaster of My Ego” - Emyo Darlene Tataryn
November 1st - “When does the Buddha need therapy?” - Daiden Dan Pecaut
November 8th - “Can anyone make you angry?” - Shunya Prajna Lynn Hyer
November 15th - “Why there are no victims” - Kenshin Cian Whalley
November 22nd - “Can you choose enlightenment?” - Kogen Keith Martin-Smith
Seminar
Emotional Awareness Koans of Jun Po Roshi
Fridays 12 noon - 1:00 pm ET (New York)
October 24th - Meditation in Action - Feeling is information
October 31st - What are the deeper feelings lying underneath anger?
November 7th - Can anyone ever make you angry?
November 14th - Transforming an emotional reaction into a compassionate response.
November 21st - What next?
Retreats
Sunday, October 19th - 9:00am - 5:00pm - Zazenkai: Mondo Koan Intensive with Ekai Joel Kreisberg - Online*
Sunday, November 23rd - 9:00am - 5:00pm - The Capping Phrases of Jun Po Roshi with Emyo Darlene Tataryn - Online*
Weekly Practice Periods
Monday - 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm (ET) - Siouxland Zen - Daiden Dan Pecaut
Tuesday - 2:00 am - 2:40 am (ET) - Hon Shin Zen Sanctuary - Nanda Nina Lynch
Tuesday - 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (ET) - Shining Bright Lotus - Ekai Joel Kreisberg
Wednesday - 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm (ET) - Iron Mountain Zendo - Jozen Jonathon Fielder
Wednesday - 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm (ET) - Siouxland Zen - Daiden Dan Pecaut
Thursday - 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (ET) - Green Bay Zen Center - Shunya Lynn Hyer
Friday - 2:00 am - 2:40 am (ET) - Hon Shin Zen Sanctuary - Nanda Nina Lynch
Sunday - 9:00 am - 10:45 am (ET) - Green Bay Zen Center - Shunya Lynn Hyer
Sunday - 10:00 am - 11:15 am (ET) - One Wisdom Zen - Emyo Darlene Tataryn
Events are free
* Retreats and seminar require additional enrollment fees
Photo Courtesy of Darrin Harris Frisby, © Copyright 2025 www.darrinharrisfrisby.com
“Every time you get triggered you have a chance to notice for yourself that your angst is your liberation. ”
— Keith Martin-Smith
Our Teachers
Emyo Darlene Tataryn
Kenshin Cian Whalley
Shunya Prajna Lynn Hyer
Ekai Joel Kreisberg
Daiden Dan Pecaut
Kogen Keith Martin-Smith
Our Partner Sanghas
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Under the direction of Shunya Lynn Hyer
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Under the leadership of Jozen Jonathon Fielder
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Emyo Darlene Tataryn Director
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Under the direction of Daidan Dan Pecaut
The text for the Fall Practice Period 2025
When the Buddha Needs Therapy
by Keith Martin-Smith
“Keith cuts through the dualistic conflict of a spiritual identity and dysfunctional victim mentality. But be warned: the first step on this path is the deconstruction of your precious ‘spiritual identity,’ so proceed with caution ... and persistence!”
— Doshin Michael Nelson Roshi, Abbot, Integral Zen
“The problem with Zen, therefore, is that it can make you rigid and calcified, and out of touch with your emotions. Instead of learning to be in touch with what you’re feeling, you’re only in touch with what you’re feeling so you can get away from it and around it.”
— Keith Martin-Smith “When the Buddha Needs Therapy”
