Awakening Streams features Dharma talks and Zen reflections from Sensei Michael Brunner of One River Zen Center in Ottawa, Illinois. Each episode explores the living practice of Zen Buddhism through classic Zen koans, teachings from the Shōyōroku and Mumonkan, and direct encounters with everyday life. Discover how awakening flows through every obstacle, every act of compassion, and every moment of wonder. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.oneriverzen.org
Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Sensei Michael Brunner, One River Zen
4.4(14 reviews)
66 episodes
Updated Monthly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
Awakening Streams features Dharma talks and Zen reflections from Sensei Michael Brunner of One River Zen Center in Ottawa, Illinois. Each episode explores the living practice of Zen Buddhism through classic Zen koans, teachings from the Shōyōroku and Mumonkan, and direct encounters with everyday life. Discover how awakening flows through every obstacle, every act of compassion, and every moment of wonder. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.oneriverzen.org
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/13/2023
1 verified contact email on file for Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
April 26, 2026
David Hume’s Zen: Escaping the "Faint Copies" of Reality | Mumonkan Case 19
Are you living in reality, or just a "faint copy" of it? In this episode, Sensei Michael Brunner (Sōen) explores a surprising convergence between 18th-century Western philosophy and the heart of Zen. Drawing on David Hume’s radical empiricism, Sensei Michael identifies a "glitch" in our human operating system: the habit of trading vivid, forceful experience for the stale narratives of the discursive mind. Using the vivid metaphor of a "dog running in its sleep," this teisho examines why we often find ourselves shadowboxing with memories and expectations rather than meeting life directly. By recalibrating our practice through the Four Reliances and the classic Mumonkan Case 19 (Ordinary Mind Is the Way), we learn to drop the conceptual maps we've mistaken for the moon and step into the boundless field of wonder that is already here. Key Themes: David Hume in the Zendo: Understanding "Impressions" vs. "Ideas." The Four Reliances: Calibrating your spiritual compass. Ordinary Mind is the Way: Why "knowing" is a delusion and "not-knowing" is intimacy. The Shadowboxing Mind: How to wake up from the "faint copies" of our lives. About One River Zen: Located in Ottawa, Illinois, One River Zen is a center for rigorous Dharma study and direct realization. Led by Sensei Michael Brunner, our community bridges ancient Soto Zen lineage with contemporary intellectual inquiry, challenging practitioners to find the "Eternal Spring" in every moment. Learn more and join our practice at oneriverzen.org.
March 12, 2026
Right and Wrong — The Zen Koan of Mayoku Thumping His Staff (Book of Equanimity Case 16)
In this episode of Awakening Streams, Sensei Michael Brunner explores the Zen koan “Mayoku Thumps His Staff” (Book of Equanimity Case 16) — a teaching that exposes our deep attachment to judging life as right or wrong. Mayoku performs the exact same gesture before two masters. One says “right.” The other says “wrong.” What changed? Through this classic koan from the Shōyōroku (Book of Equanimity), Sensei Brunner examines how easily we replace direct experience with mental shorthand — good and bad, success and failure, approval and rejection. Zen practice invites us to release those inherited narratives and respond to the living moment itself. Recorded at One River Zen in Ottawa, Illinois, this talk shows how ancient Zen teachings illuminate modern life and how wisdom arises when we stop clinging to our judgments. Listeners who feel called to deeper practice are welcome to connect with One River Zen for meditation guidance, dokusan (private interview), and ongoing Zen training.
February 17, 2026
Book of Equanimity Case 21 — Ungan Sweeps the Ground
In this episode of Awakening Streams, Sensei Sōen Michael Brunner takes up Book of Equanimity (Shoyoroku) Case 21, “Ungan Sweeps the Ground.” When Dogo says, “You’re hard at it,” a simple act of sweeping becomes a doorway into one of Zen’s most subtle traps: the split between activity and commentary. What happens the moment effort becomes identity? What is the “second moon” that appears when we begin narrating our practice? And how do we return to functioning without tightening around a self who is striving—or a self who is beyond striving? This teishō explores the difference between immersion and evaluation, between working and watching ourselves work. Through the koan, Sensei Brunner examines how spiritual life becomes complicated when we refine the self instead of putting it down—and how intention, properly set, returns us to the simple act of sweeping. Recorded at One River Zen in Ottawa, Illinois.
66 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates monthly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.