Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee
Religion & Spirituality
About
This is a series of newly digitized talks by spiritual teacher, Lola McDowell Lee, spanning two decades—from the early Seventies through the Nineties. Lola was a Zen Roshi whose Rinzai lineage included Doctor Henry Platov and renowned Zen master, Shigetsu Sasaki. Lola was a religious scholar as well as an ordained Christian minister. While the talks are focused mainly on Zen and Buddhism, Lola drew on many spiritual traditions—including those of Jesus, Plato, Lao-Tzu, the Hindu Vedas, Meister Eckhart and Gurdjieff. If you find Lola’s talks valuable, more will be posted in days to come. RSSVERIFY
Episodes
- The Basic Teachings of Zen Meditation. Presented on June 29, 1986
Lola McDowell Lee explains the fundamentals of Zen meditation, emphasizing the importance of posture and breath observation as a path to self-realization and perceiving the universe as it is. She likens the process to escaping a tower usin…
- Accumulating knowledge versus attaining true wisdom. June 22, 1986
Lola McDowell Lee differentiates between accumulating knowledge and achieving true wisdom, contrasting linear learning with vertical spiritual growth. She emphasizes the necessity of an empty mind, free from ego and preconceived notions, t…
- The Lesson of True Listening. June 15, 1986
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee discusses true listening as a path to experiencing reality by dropping mental commentary and witnessing phenomena. The episode contrasts the attainable, dualistic world with the unattainable, non-dualistic trut…
- An exploration of the subject of death. Delivered Jun 8, 1986
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee uses koans and metaphors, like the salt man dissolving in the ocean, to explain that life and death are not separate but two aspects of the same reality. She emphasizes direct experience and dissolving the condi…
- Does an enlightened Zen master live a saintly, extraordinary life? Delivered Jun 1, 1986
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee discusses the limitations of intellect and the importance of trusting immediate experience, using Zen koans and stories to show that truth is found in ordinary life, not in extraordinary feats or intellectual an…
- Give gifts with no notion of reward or praise. Like moving something from one hand to the other. Mar 9, 1986
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the Diamond Sutra's teaching on selfless giving, contrasting it with ego-driven actions. She discusses transcending dualistic thinking and the limitations of the human mind, drawing parallels to spiri…
- Learning to live less from the mind and more from the hara. Oct 14, 1981
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee explains that true unity with the universe is found in the present, not externally. She details how societal conditioning creates internal division, leading to an over-reliance on intellect. Lee advocates for re…
- Allowing Purusha to extricate itself from the mindless play of Prakrit. Sept 27, 1987
In this 1987 talk, Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains Samkhya Yoga's principles of Purusha and Prakrit, advocating for self-observation and self-forgetting to achieve awakened consciousness and realize the non-duality of Nirvana and Sa…
- Plato, art and spiritual growth. Sep 5, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee discusses achieving freedom from the ego by directing straying thoughts and cultivating inner harmony, drawing parallels between Buddhist teachings, Plato's philosophy, and the concept of self-conquest.
- The Middle Way—between the world of appearance and the inner world of consciousness. Aug 29, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee explores the Middle Way, emphasizing vigilance and conscious choice as spiritual success principles. She references the Dhammapada, Sartre, and Buddhism's Four Noble Truths, explaining suffering, desire, Nirvana…
- How do you go in? Simply stop going out. Aug 2, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee discusses the Dhammapada, advising listeners to stop outward mental movement and desires to find truth through personal effort. She highlights Siddhartha Gautama's journey to the "Middle Way" and emphasizes inw…
- The meanings of various Buddhist terms, practices & traditions. July 26, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses Buddhist terms and practices including the Dhammapada, Vipassana meditation, and the goal of enlightenment (Bodhi). She emphasizes self-mastery through thought and conscious transformation, contrasti…
- Dogen: “Not knowing is most intimate.” July 5, 1987
Lola McDowell Lee explains Dogen Zenji's teachings on Soto Zen, emphasizing Shikantaza meditation as resting in awareness. She discusses transcending thoughts to see the mind itself and warns against ego clinging to enlightenment experienc…
- How you form your ego—and can ultimately overcome it. Jun 28, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee explains the ego as a basic human problem, necessary for functioning but a stumbling block to discovering one's true identity. She details how the ego forms in infancy based on external opinions and societal inp…
- Zen and Socrates. Jun 21, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee compares Zen practice and the Socratic method, emphasizing self-knowledge and admitting ignorance as pathways to truth. She argues that superficial pursuits are hollow, and true transformation comes from activel…
- Instructions for Koan study. And true understanding & non-discrimination. May 31, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee explains koan study, using the story of Master Joshu and tea to illustrate non-discrimination. She emphasizes koans as tools to exhaust the rational mind, enabling a direct perception of reality beyond dualistic…
- The limitations of human knowledge. May 17, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the limitations of human knowledge, describing it as fragmented and influenced by desire and habit. The episode discusses the interconnectedness of knowing (Surya) and will (Agni), and presents sin no…
- In the struggle between opposites is the Truth. Mar 6, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, uses Buddhist and Hindu traditions to discuss the human condition, stating that struggles and opposition are partners in growth. She emphasizes finding truth in the balance of inseparable opposites, drawing pa…
- Where is God? Feb 28, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores concepts of utility through emptiness, freedom within relativity, and the omnipresence of miracles, using anecdotes like Swami Vivekananda's experience and the growth of a seed.
- Mystica Theologica, the Sutras of Patanjali and the Book of Genesis. Jan 31, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, compares theological and philosophical concepts of God and self across various traditions, including the Bible, Mystica Theologica, and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. She uses analogies like sculpting and Darwin's o…
- How do you answer: “Does God exist?” Sep 20, 1987
Lola McDowell Lee discusses the difference between religious practice and philosophy, emphasizing the effort required for true understanding and spiritual growth over mere participation. She uses parables and personal reflections to explor…
- A detailed introductory talk about the Bauls — a religious sect of India—and the mystery of consciousness. Sep 13, 1987
This episode introduces the Bauls, an Indian religious sect known for their focus on inner experience, dance, music, and poetry, rather than dogma. The discussion explores consciousness, its relation to spiritual practice, and the ideas of…
- The Bauls religious sect of India. And Prakrit and Parusha. Oct 18, 1987
This 1987 talk by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses the Bauls, a religious sect in India with Vaishnava Hindu and Sufi Muslim members, who worshipped the goddess Kali and explored concepts like the Novel Man. The talk also delves int…
- Zen and the meaning of Easter. Apr 19, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee discusses the meaning of Easter, drawing parallels between religious traditions and the human condition. She explores Christian, Mayan, and Jewish mystical concepts, emphasizing self-realization and the union of…
- Guilt and rejection of life does not make you more enlightened. Lola May , 1987
Lola McDowell Lee discusses the Isha Upanishad and guilt stemming from religious traditions, emphasizing that life itself isn't the cause of sorrow, but rather our demands on it. She explores concepts like desire, ego, and the path to libe…
- What we can learn from Indian religious traditions. May 10, 1987
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee details the philosophical and historical backgrounds of Indian religious traditions like Vedas, Brahmanism, and Hinduism. She explores the Isha Upanishad, concepts of Shakti, Hindu versus Buddhist Tantra, and t…
- How to meditate. And why. Nov 29, 1987
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee provides instructions on Zazen meditation, exploring concepts like ego, pain, and the historical evolution of Zen. The talk, recorded on Nov 29, 1987, emphasizes learning about life through self-awareness and tr…
- The unconscious is the gateway to reality. July 18, 1981
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses the Zen concept of "no mind" and how the unconscious, holding instincts and automatic functions, serves as the gateway to reality. The episode touches upon self-examination, the nature of continuous…
- Why “What is the purpose of life?” is the wrong question. June 28, 1981
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee delves into Chapter 10 of the Tao Te Ching, questioning the common pursuit of life's purpose. She suggests focusing on how to live the present moment rather than seeking an ultimate goal, and touches upon the c…
- The role of patience in Zen practice. July 5, 1981
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee discusses the nature of patience in Zen practice, relating it to the concept of time as a mental state. The episode includes parables about the consequences of haste versus patience.
- Further exploration of the Mystica Theoligica. Dec 11, 1988
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, further explores the Mystica Theoligica, discussing religious life, the nature of unconscious emotions, and the value of self-remembrance and appreciating ordinary life. The talk emphasizes dedicated practice…
- The meaning of the the Mystica Theoligica. Dec 4, 1988
Lola McDowell Lee discusses the Mystica Theoligica, emphasizing mystical experience over words and the importance of self-verification of truth. The episode also touches on Christian Zen, the limitations of dualistic thinking, and the conc…
- Watch how you make your choices. Otherwise, how can you ever change? Nov 6, 1988
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee uses parables and wisdom traditions to illustrate how self-awareness and observing our choices are crucial for change. She emphasizes breaking free from conditioned habits by moving from the known to the unknown…
- How often do we think that we—as individuals—are going to be enlightened? Oct 30, 1988
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee explores the pursuit of enlightenment, suggesting that selfishness and intellectual accumulation of knowledge are barriers. She emphasizes the importance of confronting one's own fictions and admitting the naked…
- Meditate for one hour daily, and truly concentrate, and you can merge with the Ku. July 31, 1988
Lola McDowell Lee discusses Tao Te Ching Chapter 17, contrasting true seeking with consolation and the nature of equanimity. She also explores the internal process of meditation, interdependence, and the concept of merging with "Ku" throug…
- The One-finger Zen of 9th Century Chinese Master Gutei. Jul 10, 1988
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee details Master Gutei's One-finger Zen and the importance of meditation for sesshin. The talk also covers the advanced practice of the monastery's cook (Tenzo), emphasizing service and the Diamond Sutra's concep…
- To meditate no action is required—simply a shift in consciousness. Exploring the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16. Jul 3, 1988
Lola McDowell Lee explores Chapter 16 of the Tao Te Ching, discussing the concept of 'returning to the root' as rest and enlightenment. She contrasts the Self with desires, using the analogy of the sky and clouds, and emphasizes that true…
- How do we cross an icy stream? Exploring the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 15. May 28, 1988
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee discusses Tao Te Ching Chapter 15, focusing on the importance of inner awareness over external actions or concepts. She emphasizes alertness, yielding, and flexibility as keys to navigating life, likening it to…
- A detailed exploration of Chapter 14 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, “Praising The Mysterious.” May 8, 1988
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee analyzes Chapter 14 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, focusing on the concept of Reason as the formless and the limitations of human perception. The episode explores how to perceive the inaudible, referencing the Upani…
- Lao Tzu on two fundamental types of meditation. May 1, 1988
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee explains Lao Tzu's two meditation methods: cultivating a pure, empty mind like still water, and using that mind for concentration. She notes that fulfillment is found within, not solely in outward achievements.
- More Bible parables that can help you practice Zen. Dec 12, 1984
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee examines Bible parables from Luke and Matthew, suggesting they offer insights for Zen practice, emphasizing life affirmation, internal spirituality, and the transformative power of love.
- Bible parables that can help you practice Zen. Dec 9, 1984
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee, also an ordained Christian minister, discusses Bible parables and their relevance to Zen practice, drawing parallels between parables, koans, and the journey of self-understanding and maturity. She interprets J…
- Zen is not a belief system. Zen disturbs the dreaming mind. Nov 12, 1984
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee states enlightenment is not a goal, but the immediate moment is the ultimate. Zen aims to awaken the dreaming mind through methods that create strain, such as puzzles and teacher-student interactions.
- When you learn to accept that you are alone, truly alone, it builds a great strength. Nov 5 1984
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explains that accepting true aloneness, as experienced in meditation, builds great strength. She emphasizes self-knowledge over childish beliefs and philosophical avoidances, likening meditation to tending the…
- Who are you really? Your name is not you. Your photo is not you. Who are you? Oct 28, 1984
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, questions the nature of true identity, distinguishing it from external labels and self-perceptions. The episode touches upon self-deception, the concept of an inner light, and how societal or personal validati…
- We are looking for nothing. Which doesn’t give you much to look for, does it? Oct 21, 1984
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses Zen teacher Ikkyu's quote about wet sleeves and Meister Eckhart's idea of an agent in the soul. The episode explores religion as self-inquiry, seeking nothingness, and the importance of observing lif…
- Lao Tzu: Existence renders actual. Non-existence renders useful. Oct 7, 1984
Lola McDowell Lee discusses Lao Tzu's philosophy that existence makes things actual while non-existence makes them useful. She relates this to Yin and Yang, the utility of empty space in a house, and the mind's state during sleep, suggesti…
- How can Truth be expressed without speaking—and without being silent? Sep 30, 1984
Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee discusses expressing truth beyond speech and silence, using anecdotes of monks, masters, and princes. The episode suggests listening with the mind and observing natural breathing when faced with a problem.
- Is Zen difficult? Also, an in-depth examination of the Mu koan. Sep 23, 1984
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the perceived difficulty of Zen through a story and a detailed examination of the Mu koan. The episode stresses that Zen's difficulty is subjective and emphasizes the importance of living in the prese…
- The story of the centipede, convinced by a fox to start thinking. Sep 16, 1984
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, interprets Chuang Tzu, focusing on non-discrimination and keeping the mind centered. The episode features stories about Omar, a centipede, and a priest, exploring themes of meditation and the cessation of thou…