On this page you will find links to Recorded Teishos by Zen Teacher Carolyn Seburn. Links to teishos offered with Mountain Cloud Zen Centre are publicly available. Other links are only available to Carolyn’s students or by special request. Other recordings will be added as they become available.
Teisho on Mumonkan Case1: Joshû’s Dog (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) – December 2, 2023
In one of the most famous exchanges in Zen history, a monk asked Jôshû, “Does a dog have Buddha nature or not?” Isn’t this a little by like asking “I have this friend who is wondering whether or not she has Buddha nature?” Explore how Jôshû’s answer “Mu” is a sword that has helped countless students of Zen cut through everything to see their own nature more clearly. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 2: Hyakujo and the Fox (Mountain Cloud Zen Centre)
Carolyn Seburn, May 4, 2023: Cause and Effect Cannot be Obscured
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 3: Gutei’s Finger (Mountain Cloud Zen Centre)
Carolyn Seburn, Sept 21, 2023: Exploring a Koan by Touch
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 4: The Barbarian Has no Beard (Mountain Cloud Zen Centre)
Carolyn Seburn, February 22 2024: The Barbarian Has No Beard
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 5: Kyogan’s Man Up a Tree (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) – March 3, 2024
“It is like a man up a tree, hanging from a branch by his mouth…” This evocative image from Master Kyôgen shows us various perspectives on our practice and our lives. It is like a kaleidoscope, each time you turn it a little, you see a different aspect of this world. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 6: Shakyamuni Holds up a Flower (Mountain Cloud Zen Centre)
Carolyn Seburn, May 16 2024: Shakyamuni Holds up a Flower
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 7: Joshû’s Wash Your Bowls (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) – June 1, 2024
“It is like a man up a tree, hanging from a branch by his mouth…” Explore how this evocative image from Master Kyôgen shows us various perspectives on our practice and our lives. It is like a kaleidoscope, each time you turn it a little, you see a different aspect of this world. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 8: Keichû Makes Carts (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) – August 3, 2024
In this koan, Gettan asks “if you remove the wheels and axle from a cart, what does it clarify about the cart?” But what if you remove the belief that you are and individual and the ground falls away from your feet, what does that clarify about you? About the whole of existence? Not knowing, over and over again, is also embodying the Buddha-way. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 9: Daitsû-Chishô Buddha (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) – October 13, 2024
Why can’t Daitsû-Chishô, the Buddha of the Wisdom that Pervades the Whole Universe attain Buddha-hood after sitting in the meditation hall for eons? You may identify with this story “why have I not realized after practicing for over a year, over two years? Ten years?” Why is it that none of us can attain Buddha-hood, no matter how long we practice. And yet we can all experience the benefits of already being so. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 10: Seizei the Poor (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) – November 30, 2024
When all this Zen stuff seems very confusing, we can recognize that our body already knows. Breathing is the embodiment of oneness. And of being solitary. Nobody can breathe for you. But you also cannot breathe alone. Every breath you take involves the entire biosphere. Our body learns about gravity without ever studying physics; in the same way our body knows emptiness. Whenever body and mind fall away, this knowing is revealed. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 11: Joshu Examines the Hermits (Mountain Cloud Zen Centre)
Carolyn Seburn, January 22, 2025: Jôshû Examines the Hermits
Zuigan calls to himself “Master” and answers “Yes” but he also commands himself not to be deceived. Who is trying to deceive him? How can we avoid being deceived and more to the point, how can we avoid deceiving ourselves. The greatest deception of all is the idea that we are separate, individual selves. How do we see through this for ourselves? To quote Roselyn Stone Roshi – “Don’t deceive your own heart.” (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
This koan is like a little slap-stick comedy. Tokusan is a doddering old man who doesn’t know when to go for dinner. Gantô bad mouths his teacher to try to trick Seppo into becoming enlightened. But who is it that truly gets the last word? See for yourself. (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Teisho on Mumonkan Case 14: Nansen Kills the Cat (Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa) — May 31, 2025
Nansen kills a cat to try to get his students enlightened. This is shocking. How do we reconcile this with the precept of “not killing?”
Nansen is a very, very deep master. The monks have no clue as to the world he is seeing. It is not actually possible for Nansen to kill the cat. So, what exactly is being killed here? And what does this have to do with Jôshû putting sandals on his head? Do you see the real cat? (Teisho recorded with Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa)
Mountain Moon Sangha of Ottawa 