Desert Rain Zen
Listen to dharma talks by our teacher Tenney Nathanson Roshi and other teachers in our tradition. Desert Rain Zen is part of The Open Source, a branch of the Pacific Zen School founded by Joan Sutherland Roshi. Our practice centers on an innovative approach to koans and includes group koan conversations as well as individual koan work with Tenney.
Desert Rain Zen podcasts are free. If you'd like to support our podcasting and other activities, you can make a tax-deductible donation on our website at https://www.desertrainzen.org/donate.html
Most of Desert Rain Zen's activities take place on Zoom. For more information you can:
email us at desertrainzen@gmail.com
find us at https://www.desertrainzen.org/
and on Facebook.
You can also find more teachings by Tenney at
https://tenneynathanson.com/ .
Other Open Source groups include Springs Mountain Sangha in Colorado Springs, led by Sarah Bender Roshi, and Crimson Gate Meditation Community in Oakland, CA, led by Megan Rundel Sensei. Desert Rain Zen podcasts will include talks by Sarah and Megan when they are part of shared Open Source retreats and other activities.
Desert Rain Zen
Latest Episodes
Desert Rain Zen Sunrise Retreat, March 2026: 3rd night talk: Megan
Megan gives the third night talk at our spring retreat focusing on Zhaozhou. She explores the crucial ways in which Zhaozhou’s teaching not only emphasizes our ordinary mind and our actual lives, but does so by inducing us to ground ourselves i...
Desert Rain Zen Sunrise Retreat, March 2026: 2nd night talk: Tenney
Tenney gives the second night talk at our spring retreat focusing on Zhaozhou. Bringing in several short Zhaozhou mondo, Tenney talks briefly about some of what he’s noticed keeping company with these short dialogues, and then opens things up f...
Desert Rain Zen Sunrise Retreat, March 2026: 1st night talks: Tenney & Megan
Tenney and Megan give the opening night talks at our spring 2026 retreat, which focuses on the teachings of Chan teacher Zhaozhou.
Desert Rain Zen Desert Sunrise Retreat, March 2024: Refuge Retreat, 2nd night talk: Tenney
Tenney gives the second night talk at our March 2024 Desert Rain Zen Desert Sunrise Refuge Retreat. “There is someone at peace, / walking in the Tao . . . “ (Yongjia Xuanjue, “Song of Realizing the Way”) Is that ab...
Desert Rain Zen Desert Sunrise Retreat, March 2024: Refuge Retreat, 1st night talks: Tenney & Megan
Tenney and Megan give the opening night talks at our March 2024 Desert Rain Zen Desert Sunrise Refuge Retreat, suggesting some ways we can let ourselves fall open to what’s already available, on offer. “There is someone at pea...