Reflections on Buddhist teachings and the intersection of Buddhism and Recovery <br/><br/><a href="https://hoantaishin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">hoantaishin.substack.com</a>
Hōan Taishin's Dharma Talks
Claim This Podcastby Taishin Michael Augustin
16 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Reflections on Buddhist teachings and the intersection of Buddhism and Recovery <br/><br/><a href="https://hoantaishin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">hoantaishin.substack.com</a>
Language
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Publishing Since
12/11/2023
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Recent Episodes
June 26, 2026
Returning To Compassion
<p>This talk centers on the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta (“Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dharma”), the Buddha’s first teaching after enlightenment. I explore how the Buddha addressed his five companions and introduce the Middle Way between two extremes. Also, I summarize the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths as practical insights for living nobly and compassionately. While suffering is unavoidable, we have agency in how we relate to it—learning to respond skillfully rather than reactively. The talk concludes with reflections on compassion as the heart of wisdom. I encourage self-compassion in the lifelong process of learning to relate well to suffering and extending that compassion to others.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to A Phoenix’s Hut at <a href="https://hoantaishin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">hoantaishin.substack.com/subscribe</a>
January 18, 2026
Meeting The Sutra, Meeting Yourself
<p>Yesterday, I offered a Dharma talk on the mirror-like quality of all things, including religious or spiritual writings and, especially, the Heart Sutra, to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nobarrierszen.org/">No Barriers Zen</a>. You can listen to the talk via the above embedded audio.</p><p>The recording opens with Ōshin Jennings Sensei signing and Tess Wenderski interpreting for him. I begin speaking around the two-minute mark.</p><p>In time, a video recording with side-by-side and live ASL interpretation will be available <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nobarrierszen.org/dharma-talks">here</a>.</p><p>Enjoy—and thank you for your on-going practice and study.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to A Phoenix’s Hut at <a href="https://hoantaishin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">hoantaishin.substack.com/subscribe</a>
October 5, 2025
Constancy, Bliss, Self, and Purity
<p>Yesterday, I offered a Dharma talk to the No Barriers Zen sangha. You can learn about us <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nobarrierszen.org">here</a> and listen to a recording of the talk by pressing the Play Button above. A video recording, complete with captions and live interpretation in ASL, will be available in the future.</p><p>The centerpiece of the talk are the opening lines of Hongzhi Zhengjue’s poem, “Guidepost for the Hall of Pure Bliss.” Specifically, the couplet that reads:</p><p>[The Way's] purity is constant, its bliss is myself.</p><p>I reproduce the poem in its entirety below.</p><p>The whole of the Dharma talk—the lesson or message I receive from Hongzhi’s words—is expressed in a single line from Rumi: “Your naked freedom is your shield.” It takes time and play in conceptual space to see some of why that is, though.</p><p>Enjoy—and thank you for listening, your practice, and your support.</p><p><strong>Guidepost for the Hall of Pure Bliss</strong> By seeking appearances and sounds one cannot truly find the Way. The deep source of realization comes with constancy, bliss, self, and purity. Its purity is constant, its bliss is myself. The two are mutually dependent, like firewood and fire. The self’s bliss is not exhausted, constant purity has no end. Deep existence is beyond forms. Wisdom illuminates the inside of the circle. Inside the circle the self vanishes, neither existent nor nonexistent. Intimately conveying spiritual energy, it subtly turns the mysterious pivot. When the mysterious pivot finds opportunity to turn, the original light auspiciously appears. When the mind’s conditioning has not yet sprouted, how can words and images be distinguished? Who is it that can distinguish them? Clearly understand and know by yourself. Whole and inclusive with inherent insight, it is not concerned with discriminative thought. When discriminating thought is not involved, it is like white reed flowers shining in the snow. One beam of light’s gleam permeates the vastness. The gleam permeates through all directions, from the beginning not covered or concealed. Catching the opportunity to emerge, amid transformations it flourishes. Following appropriately amid transformations, the pure bliss is unchanged. The sky encompasses it, the ocean seals it, every moment without deficiency. In the achievement without deficiency, inside and outside are interfused. All dharmas transcend their limits, all gates are wide open. Through the open gates are the byways of playful wandering. Dropping off senses and sense objects is like the flowers of our gazing and listening falling away. Gazing and listening are only distant conditions of thousands of hands and eyes. The others die from being too busy, but I maintain continuity. In the wonder of continuity are no traces of subtle identifications. Within purity is bliss, within silence is illumination. The house of silent illumination is the hall of pure bliss. Dwelling in peace and forgetting hardship, let go of adornments and become genuine. The motto for becoming genuine: nothing is gained by speaking. The goodness of Vimalakirti enters the gate of nonduality.</p><p><p>My study and writing about the Dharma is offered freely. If you benefit from what I offer here, please consider sharing and subscribing—even becoming a paid subscriber. You may also offer dāna through <a target="_blank" href="http://paypal.me/mjaugustin">Paypal</a>. I am grateful for your generosity.</p></p><p>Additional offerings are listed below:</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to A Phoenix’s Hut at <a href="https://hoantaishin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">hoantaishin.substack.com/subscribe</a>
16 total episodes available
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