Teisho-(Talks)
A teisho is a formal dharma talk, given on a specific koan or zen text. This collection of teishos was given by Kankan Roshi and senior students during a zen retreat (sesshin) or half-day sit.
The teisho name corresponds to a specific “case” or chapter in The Mumonkan, Hekiganroku, or Book of Serenity.
The Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate) and Hekiganroku (The Blue Cliff Record) are two of the best known koan collections compiled during the Song dynasty.
For a modern edition see:
Grimston, A.V., ed. and Sekida, Katsuki, trans. Two Zen Classics. Weatherhill, Inc. 1995.
The Book of Serenity is a translation of Shoyo Roku, a collection of one hundred Zen koans with commentaries compiled in China in the twelfth century.
For a modern edition see:
Cleary, Robert., trans. Book of Serenity. Shambhala Publications, 2005
How to Listen: These audio files are in mp3 format. Double-click a teisho name to stream the audio on your computer, or right-click the name to download the file. You can play the audio file locally, or transfer it to a portable device.
Although there are no restrictions on copying these files, please note that the content is Copyright © Cold Mountain Zen, Inc.
Cold Mountain Zen, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit established with the mission to provide for the preservation and transmission of the teaching and practice of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in New Jersey.
Recent Teishos
Tokusan Visits Issan
Date: March 23, 2024
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#4
Jo Joza Stands Still
Date: March 9, 2024
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#32
Dogo's I Would Not Tell You
Date: Feb. 24, 2024
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#55
Joshu's Three Turning Words
Date: Feb. 10, 2024
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#96
Hoen's Who Is He
Date: Jan. 27, 2024
Book: Mumonkan
Case#45
Caoshan's Fulfillment of Filial Piety
Date: Jan. 14, 2024
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#73
Donshan is Unwell
Date: Jan. 13, 2024
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#94
Hogen’s “You are Echo”
Date: Jan. 12, 2024
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#7
Ummon's Kayakuran
Date: Jan. 11, 2024
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#39
The World Honored One Points to the Ground
Date: Jan. 10, 2024
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#4
Yangshan's Mind and Environment
Date: Dec. 30, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#32
Jiifeng’s Head and Tail
Date: Dec. 2, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#66
A Non-Buddhist Philosopher Questions the Buddha
Date: Nov. 18, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#32
Aṅgulimāla and the Difficult Delivery
Date: Nov. 4, 2023
Book: Concordant Sounds Collection
Case#4
Dizang’s Nearness
Date: Oct. 21, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#20
Yangshan's Mind and Environment
Date: Oct. 7, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#32
Fayan's Boat or Land
Date: Sept. 23, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#51
Baso's Sun Faced Buddha Moon Faced Buddha
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#3
Caoshan’s Fulfillment of Filial Piety
Date: Aug. 27, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#73
Jiashan “Swinging the Sword”
Date: Aug. 26, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#68
Daowu Tends the Sick
Date: Aug. 25, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#83
Yaoshan Ascends the Seat
Date: Aug. 24, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#7
Dizang Planting the Fields
Date: Aug. 23, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#12
Seppo's a Grain of Rice
Date: Aug. 12, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#5
Zuigan Calls His Master
Date: July 29, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#12
Hoen's Who Is He?
Date: July 15, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#45
The Mind That Emerges From The Empty Void Manjushri Asks Vimalakirti About Nonduality
Date: July 1, 2023
Book: Zen Echoes
Case#5&6
Baso’s “This Very Mind Is the Buddha”
Date: June 17, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#30&33
Jo Joza Stands Still
Date: June 4, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#32
Ummon's "Everybody Has His Own Light"
Date: June 3, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#86
Kyogen's Man Up A Tree
Date: June 2, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#5
Ungan's "The Whole Body Is Hand and Eye"
Date: June 1, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#89
Yunyan Sweeps the Ground
Date: May 31, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#21
O Taifu and the Tea Ceremony
Date: May 30, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#48
Joshu's The Great Way Is Not Difficult
Date: May 29, 2023
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#2
A Mistake in Speaking
Date: May 20, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#39
Nansen's Ordinary Mind is the Way
Date: Feb. 25, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#19
Goso's When you Meet a Man of the Way
Date: Feb. 11, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#36
Nansen's This Flower
Date: Jan. 28, 2023
Book: Mumonkan
Case#40
The Woman of Taishan
Date: Jan. 14, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#10
Jinguan and the Price of Rice
Date: Jan. 13, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#5
Faiyan's Hairs Breadth
Date: Jan. 12, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#17
The Invitation of the Patriarch to Eastern India
Date: Jan. 11, 2023
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#3
Gensha's Person of Three Disabilities
Date: Dec. 31, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#88
Ummon's Staff Becoming a Dragon
Date: Dec. 17, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#60
Ummon's One Treasure
Date: Dec. 3, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#62
Seijo’s Soul Separated
Date: Nov. 19, 2022
Book: Mumonkan
Case#35
Ummon's Kayakura
Date: Nov. 5, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#39
Tosu and Every Voice is the Buddha's Voice
Date: Oct. 22, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#79
Not Mind, Not Buddha
Date: Oct. 8, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#28
Fuketsu's One Particle Of Dust
Date: Sept. 10, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#61
Baso's No Mind No Buddha
Date: Aug. 28, 2022
Book: Mumonkan
Case#33
Ummon's Everybody Has His Own Light
Date: Aug. 27, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#86
Linji's True Person
Date: Aug. 26, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#38
Hyakujo Sits on the Great Sublime Peak
Date: Aug. 25, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#26
Joshu's Oak Tree
Date: Aug. 24, 2022
Book: Mumonkan
Case#37
Gensha's Man of Three Disabilities
Date: July 30, 2022
Book: Blue Rock Collection
Case#88
Fungshwei's Single Atom
Date: June 5, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#34
Zhangyei's Monkey
Date: June 4, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#72
Yangwan's Rhinoceros Fan
Date: June 3, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#25
The Flower Ornament Scripture's Wisdom
Date: June 2, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#67
Nansen Draws a Circle
Date: June 1, 2022
Book: Hekiganroku
Case#69
Yangshan Plants His Hoe
Date: May. 31, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#45
Four Sections of the Enlightenment Scripture
Date: May. 30, 2022
Book: Book of Serenity
Case#45
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