STUDY
Classes
Below are archives of our previously taught classes.
Archives
Over the years, we have offered many series of classes at Appamada. Some explore the foundations of Zen practice: zazen, the forms of the zendo, and the precepts. Others take up a single text, teaching, or question and stay with it over several weeks. All of them come from the same place: our wish to support practice that is lived, not just studied, and that we can carry from the cushion into our relationships, our work, and our daily lives.
These classes are archived below so you can return to them whenever you like. Each class stands on its own. There is no required sequence and no prerequisite, so you can begin wherever your interest or need draws you. You might work through a whole series, or listen to one class and sit with it for a while. Both are good ways to practice.
Each series keeps growing. When we come back to a theme, we add new classes, so the archive changes along with our sangha. We hope these teachings are useful to you, whether you’re new to Zen or have been practicing for many years. If something here raises a question, or you’d like to practice with us in person or online, please reach out at info@appamada.org.
The pillars of practice.
Our longest-running series explores the core teachings of the Zen and Buddhist tradition — meditation, the life of the Buddha, spiritual friendship, the foundations of awareness, cause and effect, and the forms of practice. Not a ladder to climb but supports sunk deep in the ground, each one steadying the whole.
Streams that feed the river.
Alongside the tradition, our teaching has been shaped by streams from other fields — psychology, cognitive science, social systems, and ecology — that flow into and enrich practice. The name is also a tribute, honoring how profoundly these waters have joined the mainstream of our shared life.
Onsite & online
Most classes meet at the zendo, over Zoom, or both. Unless noted, all are open to everyone — no prerequisites.
Yours to keep
Each class page holds the teacher's notes, readings, and recordings, so you can follow along or revisit the material anytime.