Heather Shoren Iarusso: "Aversion" is one of the mental afflictions the Buddha calls The Five Hindrances, which hinder our ability to experience calm and insight on and off the meditation cushion. By turning toward these uncomfortable feeling-tones, we slowly become less reactive and more spacious. This frees the heart to be compassionate and receptive toward ourselves and others.
Everday Mind is Studying the Way
Shoren Heather Iarusso — Even if you aren't able to make it to a monastery, there are ways to infuse your everyday life with practices to help you awaken your inner monk. Everyday mind is studying The Way.
The Five Aggregates
The Buddhist scriptures speak of 84,000 negative emotions, which is a whole lotta weeds! Fortunately for us, the Buddha and his disciples distilled these afflictive psycho-emotional states into lists that aid in our ability to be mindful of their arising and to experience freedom within suffering. The Five Hindrances is one such list.
The Sound of One Hand Slapping
What happens when we overlay old stories onto new situations? Sometimes these thick karmic filters cause harm to ourselves and others. The Buddha described Nirvana as "free from reference points." How can we discern our "reference points" and practice with them so that we do no harm?
You Gotta Have Faith
Heather Iarusso explores "faith" from a Zen perspective, what it means to her as a priest, and how practicing zazen is a leap--albeit a seated one--of faith.
'Mu' and Buddha Nature
Heather Shoren Iarusso discusses Buddha Nature in relation to the single syllable word ‘Mu’ and the Koan, “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?”
Heather is a resident priest at City Center who arrived at Tassajara in 2008 and was ordained as a priest in 2015. She currently serves as Zen Center's Online Practice Center Director.
A Tale of Drunken Enemies
Heather Iarusso speaks on “A Tale of Drunken Enemies”.
“I am a lover of stories and unfortunately, a binger of Netflix. Since I've spent seven of the past 13 years in a Zen monastery, I had a lot of binging to catch up on! I landed on the ‘Black Mirror’ series created by Charlie Brooker. I devoured all 23 episodes in a matter of days. Most of the stories were haunting, innovative, and prescient; however, there was one in particular titled ‘Men Against Fire,’ that has left an indelible impression because of its Dharmic lesson.”
Heather is a resident priest at City Center who arrived at Tassajara in 2008 and was ordained as a priest in 2015. She currently serves as Zen Center's Online Practice Center Director.
"Mr. Right is Dead"
Buddha describes Nirvana as a nectar-like Dharma that’s free from reference points. What are these reference points and how can investigating them help us alleviate our suffering? A talk by Heather Iarusso.
Smashing Pumpkins
In our increasingly divisive society, how can we see past the external signifiers of "other" and open our heart-mind to all beings. The Buddha's teachings of emptiness and compassion empower us to stand with justice and be with just this.
Shelter in (the) Present
Heather Iarusso leads YUZ on what it means to “Shelter in (the) Present.”
Her description of the talk is as follows: How can paying radical attention to the present moment alleviate anxiety about the future, help us let go of remorse about the past, and infuse our lives with the wonder of now. Although causes and conditions are beyond our control, practicing The Way illuminates the perfection and liberation abiding in each moment.
The Seuss of Zen
Heather Iarusso gives a talk about Mu and the classic question: “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?” which is the first koan in the Gateless Gate (a central collection of Zen koans).
The Three Marks of Existence: Not-Self
This was our final class in the three-part lecture series from Heather Iarusso called "Sitting for Liberation." This series explores The Three Marks of Existence, one of the Buddha's most transformative teachings. During the past two weeks we've investigated how becoming intimate with suffering and how embracing impermanence can bring ease, wonder, and contentment to our lives.
This Tuesday was our last meeting, which focused on the not-self characteristic. The teachings on not-self are an integral part of Buddhist study, providing deep freedom and clarity in daily life.
This series is being led by Heather Shoren Iarusso. Heather is the SFZC program director, as well as a Zen teacher and priest, currently living in residence at City Center. To learn more about Heather you can view her bio here.
The Three Marks of Existence: Impermanence
We continue with our three-part lecture series with Heather Iarusso called "Sitting for Liberation." This series explores The Three Marks of Existence, one of the Buddha's most transformative teachings. We will investigate how becoming intimate with suffering, embracing impermanence, and comprehending the not-self characteristic can bring ease, wonder, and contentment to our lives. As the talk was given on election night, the relevance of this event is woven into the subject matter for the evening.
The series is being led by Heather Shoren Iarusso and is taking place on three consecutive Tuesdays, with one class for each of the three marks. This past Tuesday, 10/27, we focused on the characteristic of suffering.
The Three Marks of Existence: Suffering
Heather Shoren Iarusso, SFZC program director, as well as a Zen teacher and priest, leads us in this three-part lecture series that explores The Three Marks of Existence, one of the Buddha's most transformative teachings. We will investigate how becoming intimate with suffering, embracing impermanence, and comprehending the not-self characteristic can bring ease, wonder, and contentment to our lives.
The Fifth Precept - Refraining from Intoxicants →
Heather Iarusso speaks about the 5th precept often translated as “I vow to refrain from intoxicants” and Heather writes, “Usually when we think of intoxicants, we think of drugs and alcohol. However, viewed through the lens of the Dharma, and amid the crucible of the pandemic, we will explore how the number one intoxicant is our resolved karmic conditioning