Zencare Podcast

“Many people can study lots of things, but are you living that way?”

On the 12th day of our Commit to Sit, during a winter blizzard, Koshin Sensei explores a profound question: What's the difference between talking about spiritual practice and actually living it?

Drawing on teachings from Suzuki Roshi and the 13th-century Zen master Dogen, Koshin examines how we often get caught in our thoughts; arguing with teachers in our minds, feeding our sense of entitlement, constantly debating whether we're “doing it right.”

But what would it be like to simply be ourselves, our ordinary selves, without all that noise?

At the heart of this talk is the concept of “transmission” from teacher to student, not as something claimed or awarded, but as something shown through how we live. Koshin asks us to consider: Do we practice only when it's convenient? Do we use spirituality as an identity or a lifestyle brand rather than a lived commitment? And perhaps most importantly: How do we practice when we're alone, when no one is watching?

Koshin also reflects on his own struggles with “why not me?” and shares Dogen's wisdom about safeguarding genuine practice in a world that makes it easy to dilute or neglect.

“Each in breath is bringing life into the body, and each out breath is a death. We never know if there'll be another inhale.”

On the third day of our recent Winter Sesshin (silent retreat), Chodo Sensei offers a profound teaching on the practice of bowing and the art of surrendering the constructed self.

Through the story of Gray Wolf and Zen Master Raven, he explores why true bowing leaves no self left to be humiliated; it is awakening expressing itself.

Chodo Sensei shares his own journey with body dysmorphia, addiction recovery, and the physical limitations that now prevent him from doing full prostrations.

With characteristic honesty and humor, he reminds us that sesshin is “not a spa weekend”, it's rigorous practice that asks us to surrender to the forms, the discomfort, and our resistance itself.

Drawing on Naomi Shihab Nye's poem “Kindness,” he invites us to consider: What stories are we holding onto? Can we surrender to this practice as it is, releasing our expectations of “huge awakenings” and bright lights, and instead bow to reality as it unfolds, moment by moment, breath by breath?

“The best way to observe precepts is just to be you yourself and then the precepts are always with you.”

What does it mean to “be yourself” in Zen, not as self-improvement, but as a direct, embodied intimacy with life as it is?

We were honored to recently host Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, at our zendo in New York for this moving dharma talk on the newly released collection of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s teachings, Becoming Yourself, that Jiryu and the late Sojun Mel Weitsman were co-editors on.

Beginning with the simple form of upright posture, he offers vivid images; zazen as a chrysalis in which we can “melt,” thoughts like a bagel wrapper that’s useful until we keep holding it, and practice as “sharing the feeling” of right here, right now.

In the latter half of the talk, Jiryu also explores Suzuki Roshi’s radical view of precepts: not moralism or rule-following, but the natural expression of a life that remembers its place in the cosmos and a self that includes everything, past, present, and future.

We hope you enjoy this dharma talk and that you'll join us for our upcoming Commit to Sit, in which Becoming Yourself will be our guiding text!

MUSICHeart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

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NYZC PUBLICATIONSUntangled here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book
Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t
Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL
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CONNECT WITH US—Instagram
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“Settling down is a protest against a society that values speed.”

We share this opening talk from our last Commit to Sit in honor of our upcoming 90-day program starting this January.

In it, Koshin sensei invites us into studying Shakyamuni Buddha's final teaching on becoming a great person, explored through Dogen Zenji's commentary and Uchiyama Roshi's wisdom.

Through powerful stories of the Buddha stopping Angulimala mid-chase, Ryokan wishing he could give away the moonlight, a student rubbing fire sticks until they see flame, Koshin explores the eight qualities of an awakened life: having few desires, knowing one has enough, appreciating serenity, making diligent effort, and more.

Koshin shares what it means to live with both hands, to let everything drop, and to become the good adult who can nourish deep roots so that when the winds come, there's no reason to fear.

MUSICHeart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

‍
NYZC PUBLICATIONSUntangled here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book
Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t
Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL
‍
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CONNECT WITH US—Instagram
—Facebook
—Donate

“They will not ask me why I wasn't Moses. They will ask, ‘why weren't you Zosia? Why weren't you more yourself?’”

On the 82nd day of our recent Commit to Sit, Koshin Paley Ellison delivered this dharma talk on the Buddha's final teaching about useless and frivolous discussion.

Drawing from Dogen's commentaries and the Buddha's last instructions, Koshin asks how much of our day we spend entertaining confusion versus actually practicing presence.

Through humor and honesty, this talk illuminates how our tight grip on wanting things to be different than they are creates suffering and loneliness.

Koshin shares the story of Rabbi Zosia and Suzuki Roshi's teaching on “becoming yourself,” clarifying that this doesn't mean reinforcing our opinions, but becoming more ourselves with everyone.

A call to soften wherever we're holding too tight, discriminate what's truly wise, and practice the beautiful way together.

MUSICHeart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

‍
NYZC PUBLICATIONSUntangled here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book
Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t
Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL
‍
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CONNECT WITH US—Instagram
—Facebook
—Donate