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
Open Source Retreat, October 2025: “Golden Wind,” 1st night talks: Tenney, Megan, and Sarah
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Tenney, Megan, and Sarah give brief talks on the opening night of our Fall 2025 Open Source “Golden Wind” retreat.
A student asked Yunmen, “When the tree withers and the leaves fall, what’s that?”
Yunmen said, “The Golden Wind reveals itself.”
Blue Cliff Record Case 27
(talks given October 13, 2025 at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico)
*
About us:
Desert Rain Zen is located in Tucson, Arizona. But almost all our activities take place on Zoom or as hybrid events, so you don't need to live here to practice with us.
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
For more information you can email us at desertrainzen@gmail.com or find us at https://www.desertrainzen.org/ and on Facebook.
You can also find additional teachings and updated information about Tenney's various activities at https://tenneynathanson.com/ and on his Substack at https://tenneynathanson.substack.com/p/about-tenneynathansonzen