Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

Send us Fan Mail SO SORRY THAT AN EMPTY RECORDING WAS UPLOADED LAST WEEK. HERE IS THE CORRECT ONE. Much of our lives is about the desire  to feel loved. We do everything to feel deserving, to be approved of, to receive the acclaim we're hungry for. When circumstances go our way, when friends come and family is close there's a sense that all is well. And that we are worthy. When circumsta...

Send us Fan Mail There is so  much suffering going on today and we grab at all kinds of medicines to feel better. Some medicines give us temporary comfort, others relieve symptoms for a long while. And yet, we seldom pause to ask ourselves and explore what is the illness, really? What is the very nature of dis-ease itself.  No matter how much medicine we take, even when once problem is gone, anoth...

Send us Fan Mail When Dogen, a great Zen Master of old, returned home after years of study and practice he was asked what he brought with him to share? His famous reply was, "I've come with nothing but empty hands."  Empty hands are precious, they cling to nothing, grab at nothing, carry no baggage at all. These empty hands are fully available to reach out, to touch, feel, comfort a...

Send us Fan Mail Although we think we our lives are solid and will go on the same way forever, a beautiful Zen poem reminds us that we are all travelers, passing through the changing seasons of our lives.  Often it's hard to know our destination, or what new turns will appear on the road. We also feel stunned and shaken, when those who have been travelling along with us, suddenly take a diffe...

Send us Fan Mail We all long for close, happy, fulfilling relationships and look for them everywhere we go.  There are many skills we acquire about how to treat another, communicate and hold onto the love we've found. But our relationships have a life of their own, and even if they are wonderful for a while, change is inevitable.  Loss and sorry are common. In Zen practice, however, the entir...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us think we are alone in a world of strangers. We hide from these strangers in many ways, keeping our guard up around us. This gives the illusion that we are safe and protected in a place where no one can touch us. But just the opposite is true. Not only are we never alone, but communication streams forth between us and others all the time, even though we are not aware of...

Send us Fan Mail As summer ends and the holiday season closes, a call comes to each of us. "Linger With Me, One More day."   Before we return to our business, (busyness), become absorbed in schedules, routines, plans and  responsibilities, we are being asked to take one more day and set it aside. We have so many claims upon our attention day after day. So many events and people appear, b...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us feel trapped by having to go through the same activities again and again. The routines of life can seem stifling, and we long for change, adventure and excitement. However, the heart of zen practice is realizing that nothing is ever the same. It's impossible to truly repeat anything. This step will never come again. As we go through what seems like the same, ordina...

Send us Fan Mail This is a season of Rebirth, Renewal and Return.  When we become too trapped in distraction, distortion and confusion, there is a road back to our original wisdom and sanity. The holidays this year all call us to step out of our usual patterns, take time for recollection, look carefully at ourselves and others and extend and ask for forgiveness. It is time for our hearts to be cle...

Send us Fan Mail We hate to make mistakes and will do anything not to. Constantly trying to correct ourselves and the world we live in, there is no end to it. Once one mistake has been corrected another one seems to pop up. Even after expending a great deal of effort, and despite success along the way, in the end many feel dissatisfied, as though something went wrong and they made a mistake. What...

Send us Fan Mail Most of our life is about avoiding  all kinds of storms we hear are coming. Bad news is everywhere, and in a moment conditions change and we fear we will be assaulted by uncontrollable storms without, and within. Our first reaction is to go into lockdown, put our life on hold. We clench up, become compulsively focused on the external world and figure one strategy after another to...

Send us Fan Mail ,As T.S. Eliot reminds us, "Human Beings Cannot Bear Very much Reality." Most of us do all we can to avoid reality as it seems harsh and cruel. Instead, we live in dreams, hopes and assorted delusions thinking these will change things and keep us safe and well. We live in the hope of finding peace and compassion in the assorted images and fantasies we are accosted by. Th...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us think that Zen practice, like life itself is complicated and difficult.  Nothing can be further from the truth. Like the essence of life and happiness, it is incredibly simple, direct and available. It is our longing for mystery and c omplexity that makes life and practice seem confusing and hard. It is our attachment to stoking the fires of endless drama. Caught in all...

Send us Fan Mail Fundamentally we are all sane, clear, happy, loving. We see clearly what's in front of our eyes. However, as life goes forward the storms of our mad minds produce all kind of confusion. We're accosted by delusion, dreams and fantasies that throw us off track. Suffering quickly takes the place of our original joy.  But when we become able to see through the commotion that...

Send us Fan Mail We all want our days to be special and do all kinds of things to have that happen. We plan adventures, meet with friends, plan wonderful dinners. We want something to look forward to, so that we're not caught in the same, old routine. In Zen practice, however, there is no such thing as the same, old routine. In fact, our practice focuses upon our simple, same, daily routine....

Send us Fan Mail Believe it or not, there are simple steps to sanity, which will stop the chaos within. So often we find ourselves twirling around like a top, searching for stability in the middle of the spin. Many feel that the faster they spin, the easier it will be to find, or create that which will produce calmness and satisfaction. But for now, we have to spin. And, it always seems as though...

Send us Fan Mail " "Language issues forth and yet not a word is said." We often feel separate from one another, longing to be seen and heard. There seems to be so many barriers to connection and we rarely feel understood. And yet, all the while, in truth, we are forever connected. In fact, we are speaking and listening to each other and to the whole world all the time. Yet, mostly w...

Send us Fan Mail THIS IS PART TWO, OF THE GREAT CONVERSATION... BROADCAST AT THE SAME TIME AS PART 1.  "Language issues forth and yet not a word is said." We often feel separate from one another, longing to be seen and heard. There seems to be so many barriers to connection and we rarely feel understood. And yet, all the while, in truth, we are forever connected. In fact, we are speaking...

Send us Fan Mail Usually we think we have many chances to do something, say something or have a new experience. If we miss our opportunity today, tomorrow will always come. This poignant, powerful Zen saying is a reminder that tomorrow may not come. It is also a reminder that each moment, each person, each opportunity that arises before us is "unrepeatable". If we miss what is right in f...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us live our lives walking along preset paths. We  follow our plans and expectations and do all we can to  make things work out. When things go  our way, we call the day good. However, Zen practice shows us how to respond when our path is blocked, when sudden events take place, or someone in great need is placed before us. Practice shows us how to let go of our plans and ex...

Send us Fan Mail As the great Zen teaching goes, "When there are no unnecessary thoughts in your mind, everyday is a Good day."  This is teaching us that basically thoughts cannot be depended upon, they are unnecessary to our well being. Not only that, most of the time they act as a block to seeing what is right here in front of us, and truly enjoying it. Our usual thinking is critical,...

Send us Fan Mail How often we wonder where we are, or where someone else may be? There's a sense of being lost in the world, and also a sense that the people we care for are missing. Even when they're right beside us, they can be missing. But the great koan of Zen is, I'm Here!  Not only am I right here before you, so is the entire world. It is only us, we separate ourselves from wh...

Send us Fan Mail Around and around we go in life, enjoying the whirling merry go round. Up and down we go, waiting for the golden ring. Then , at last, dizzy and unsettled, the time comes when it's no longer fun. The golden ring doesn't satisfy, or stop the chase we're on. The spinning wearies us, and we long to step onto the firm earth. That moment of recognition is vital. And then...

Send us Fan Mail Often it's hard to take the next step. We don't know where to go, what will happen, or if we're going n the right direction. We can lose years of our lives wondering, doubting ourselves, or fearing the outcome.  Although we long to start a new era, relationship, or experience, so many of us are stopped, and put our lives on hold.  We don't know if we're re...

Send us Fan Mail We all dash about endlessly, coming and going without end. Where are we going and what are we looking for? Relief, refreshment, fun, success. We start a relationship and then quickly need a break. Maybe there's something better out there? But all the coming and going leaves us exhausted, and ultimately disappointed.  There's a better way to receive what we need. Go nowhe...